Part Two: Ashley’s Story. A Conversation with Ashley Bowmer – The Person Behind the Specialism

Behind JB Property Law's commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community is a story that began long before the firm was founded.

For Ashley Bowmer, ten years of military service, including operational tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, helped shape the values that still influence family life today. For Joanne, living alongside military service provided a first-hand understanding of the challenges faced by serving personnel, veterans and their families.

During Armed Forces Week, Ashley reflects on his own experiences, the realities of military life, and why supporting the Armed Forces community remains so important to both of them.

Q: Ashley, can you tell us a little about your time in the Army?

Ashley: I served in the Army for 10 years, including operational tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was a Kingsman with the 4th Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, and also completed tours attached to the Welsh Guards.

Those ten years shaped me in ways that are difficult to fully put into words. The Army taught me discipline, resilience, teamwork, and how to keep moving forward when things are difficult. It gave me experiences that challenged me, friendships that will last a lifetime. Some of those friends never had the opportunity to come home and build the lives they deserved. The army give me and a strong sense of purpose and belonging.

Like many veterans, I've never been particularly comfortable talking about my own service. In fact, one thing that might surprise people is that I've often felt slightly uncomfortable attending military parades and events. Not because I'm not proud of my service, but because when you look around, you see people who have achieved extraordinary things or made sacrifices that seem far greater than your own.

I remember coming home from my first tour of Iraq and feeling like a bit of a fraud because I hadn't even fired my rifle. My grandfather, who was a Second World War veteran and a tank driver during Operation Market Garden, quickly put me straight. He reminded me that many soldiers in both world wars never fired their weapons in combat either, and that was often a good thing. The objective was never to seek out conflict; it was to do your job and come home safely.

That conversation stayed with me. It helped me understand that service isn't measured by comparing experiences or achievements. It's about commitment, responsibility, and being willing to serve when called upon. Looking back now, I realise that's something Joanne has always reinforced as well. Over the years, she's constantly encouraged me to be proud of my service and to recognise that every person who puts on a uniform contributes in their own way. Whenever there's a parade or military event, she's usually the one reminding me that I earned my place there and that I shouldn't downplay what those ten years meant.

I'm proud of my time in the Army, and I'm grateful for everything it taught me. But I'm equally grateful to have had someone beside me who has always encouraged me to recognise that service matters, and that it's okay to stand tall and be proud of it.

Q: How did this influence Joanne’s work and the direction of JB Property Law?

Ashley: Joanne lived through some of that life with me. She didn't just marry a veteran and cash in on this. She experienced the deployments as my girlfriend. We married towards the end of my military career. She took those experiences and turned them into something meaningful. When Armed Forces personnel and their families started reaching out to her, she immediately understood their challenges because she'd lived many of them herself.

What began as helping a few military clients naturally grew into something much bigger. It wasn't a business strategy or a marketing decision. It was driven by her desire to help people she could relate to. Over time, she made a conscious decision to dedicate a large part of her career to supporting serving personnel, reservists, veterans, and military families through some of life's biggest milestones.

I've always admired how passionate she is about it. She doesn't just see clients; she sees people, families, and situations she can genuinely understand. That's why so many members of the Armed Forces community trust her, because they know she's invested in helping them, not just completing a transaction.

Q: How do you feel seeing Joanne support Armed Forces clients in this way?

Ashley: I’m incredibly proud of her. I’ve seen first-hand how much care and effort she puts into her work, and how seriously she takes the responsibility of supporting people in those situations.

It’s not just about the legal side, it’s about making things easier for people who already have a lot on their plate. And she does that exceptionally well.

Q: What would you say to members of the Armed Forces who are going through a property transaction?

Ashley: Work with someone who understands your situation. It takes a lot of pressure off when you know the person handling things “gets it” especially when you might not be able to be there in person or when timelines are tight.

Having that trust makes a big difference.

Q: What do you think sets JB Property Law apart when working with Armed Forces clients?

Ashley: Joanne combines professional expertise with genuine understanding. Having worked at firms across the UK, she's familiar with the local nuances and practical differences that can arise from one area to another. That experience means she doesn't just understand the legal process, she understands the people going through it and that every brick tells its own story.

She's proactive, organised, and committed to making the experience as straightforward and stress-free as possible. Clients know they're working with someone who respects the demands of military life, understands the challenges Armed Forces families can face, and genuinely cares about achieving the right outcome for them.

For me, that's what makes the difference. It's not just conveyancing; it's trust, understanding, and having someone in your corner who gets it.

Q: What impact do you think this focus has had on the firm?

Ashley: It's given the firm a real sense of purpose.

What I've watched over the years is a business grow around values that genuinely matter to Joanne. She's built a firm that people trust because they know she understands their circumstances and cares about helping them through important moments in their lives.

That approach has shaped the culture of the business. The focus isn't simply on completing transactions; it's on making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible for every client.

The military community remains an important part of our lives. During Armed Forces Week, Joanne and I will be making a 400-mile round trip to attend a Welsh Guards Afghanistan memorial. One of the soldiers being remembered served alongside me on a deployment and he never made it home.

For us, attending isn't about nostalgia. It's about remembering friends, comrades and families whose lives were changed forever. As the years pass, it's easy for people outside the military community to see those conflicts as distant moments in history. For the families and friends left behind, they never really become history.

That's why remembrance matters. It's why things like Armed Forces Week matters. It's about ensuring that those who served, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, are never forgotten.

The biggest impact is seeing how many people have benefited from the commitment & compassion Joanne shows. Knowing that the firm is helping people through some of the most important moments in their lives gives the work a real sense of meaning, and that's something that's reflected in everything JB Property Law does.

Q: Looking ahead, what do you hope for JB Property Law in this area?

Ashley: I'd love to see JB Property Law continue to grow its support for the Armed Forces community and become the first name people think of when they need conveyancing from someone who genuinely understands military life.

I also hope the firm continues to build on the reputation Joanne has earned.

If JB Property Law can continue making what is often a stressful process feel simpler, smoother, and more manageable for Armed Forces families, then that's something I think we can all be incredibly proud of. Most of all, I'd be proud to see Joanne recognised for the difference she's making to a community that means so much to both of us.

Q: On a more personal note, would you like to see your children follow in your footsteps and join the Armed Forces?

Ashley: It's something I've thought about many times over the years. The Army played a huge role in shaping the person I am today. Because of that, there would naturally be a part of me that would feel incredibly proud if one of my children chose to follow that path.

At the same time, I also understand the sacrifices that come with military life. I've experienced them personally, and so has our family. Service can be incredibly rewarding, but it also demands a great deal from those who serve and from the people who support them. Because of that, I've never wanted to push my children in any particular direction.

What matters most to me is that they find something they genuinely care about. Whether that's the Armed Forces, a profession, a trade, a business, or something completely different, I'd want them to have the same sense of purpose, pride, and fulfilment that I found in my own career. Ultimately, it's about becoming good people, working hard, and finding something meaningful to dedicate themselves to.

That said, I do occasionally remind them that if they don't start tidying their rooms and pulling their weight around the house, I might have to look into sending them straight to the French Foreign Legion. Although, judging by the state of their bedrooms, I'm not entirely convinced they'd pass basic inspection.

Closing Thoughts

Military service doesn't end when a uniform comes off. The values, friendships, memories and sacrifices remain long after service has finished, shaping lives, families and communities for years to come.

For Ashley and Joanne, supporting the Armed Forces community is not simply a professional focus. It is rooted in personal experience, shared memories, and a genuine understanding of the challenges that military families often face.

This Armed Forces Week, they join countless others across the country in recognising the service and sacrifice of those who have worn the uniform, those who continue to serve, and the families who stand beside them.

Because behind every deployment, posting and homecoming is a story. And behind every story is a person who deserves to be understood, supported and remembered.