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103 Regiment Royal Artillery
a somewhat inconvenient timing to the
offender (for example to show a creased
shirt had been ironed). Lasting memories
include witnessing several students falling
fast asleep during lessons, the Bty has been of running challenges for never having enough time to charity, completing my goals
complete a set of orders, huge
amounts of time cleaning
weapons, polishing parade
boots and several collective punishments/reprimands
but there was a great sense
of camaraderie and mutual
support throughout and we
all learned valuable lessons
in leadership and teamwork
- it really helps if you can work as a team and help each other out - something epit- omised by the Sandhurst motto of “Serve to Lead”. Having passed the course, the Commissioning Parade will remain a very proud memory for my family and I.
Back at the Battery it’s been a big step up in terms of the MS (Military Secretariat) / reporting responsibilities that come with being an Officer, but I’ve been lucky to work under some excellent mentors and the support that the Young Officer contin- gent has brought from Gourley Troop. Whilst the move to 2Lt felt a bit strange at first having spent so much time in the ranks, the Bty has been very supportive and I look forward to serving them to the best of my abilities and to completing my Phase 2 Officer Training with the Command Post Officers course.
On the extra-curricular front, as a 34-year-old, my fitness helped me through the Commissioning process immeasur-
of a sub 3 hour marathon (2:53:27) at the Manchester Marathon in April 2019, and completing the Lake District’s Bob Graham round in 21hrs 1minute in May 2019 (running 66 miles, scaling 30,000ft of elevation and 42 summits in 24hrs) - this took my total charity fundraising
(since 2012) beyond the £10,000 mark (I’ve raised funds for Breast Cancer Now, Cancer Research UK, The Rotary Charity (who also support the military charities) and this year for Tommy’s). Since 2012, I’ve completed 18 ultra-marathons, 21 marathons, an Ironman
and half Ironman triathlon.
I’ve worked as a volunteer
conducting warm-ups
on Sunday mornings at
Parkrun Junior, and I am
an ambassador for a local
fell and ultra-running
event company called
Howler events, where I
help teach on naviga-
tion days and lead recce
runs for the race routes. I’ve also finished in podium positions in their races (more recently I’ve placed 1st in the 45mile “3 Towers Ultra”, Oct 2018 (2nd in 2019), 1st in the Forest of Bowland marathon,
very supportive and I look forward to serving them to the best of my abilities
ably. Running also gave me a lot of time to listen to current affairs, podcasts and audio books! In the lead up to Sandhurst and in the last year I’ve completed a series
Dec 2018, 1st in the Holcombe Howler 10km, Jan 2019, 1st in the West Pennines Double Ultra Marathon, March 2019, 2nd in “The Night Howler”, Dec 2019 - a winter marathon on the fells in the dark, 3rd in the “Holcombe Howler Half Marathon”, Jan 2020 - a local fell race, and 2nd in the “Jackals Trail Marathon”, Mar 2020). In 2020 I was training for Manchester and London marathons and for a third Lakeland 100 (a 105-mile ultra-marathon in the Lakes) until COVID-19 shut all public events down for the year.
Combining my running (I’ve run an average of 6.3 miles a day, every day since 31st Dec 2016) and reserve career with family life can be challenging (particu- larly now we’ve a baby boy, 6yr old girl and 3yr old Labrador at home), and I’m truly grateful to have such a supportive family, but it’s certainly achievable through training early mornings or late nights whilst
they’re asleep. Pitching in on extra duties around the house and with the kids when I’m around helps and it’s always important to maximise the time, we do spend together by making sure we do nice things together. We were working on climbing all the Lake District Wainwrights together until COVID
stopped play but enjoy long walks and meals out. I think it’s always good when we can invite our families to functions with the Reserves to show our appreciation for all they enable us to do.
A History of The Princess Mary’s Hospital
Royal Air Force Akrotiri 1963 – 2013 Written by Colonel David Vassallo L/RAMC
A new 120 page paperback book about the hospital’s history packed with intriguing photographs that raises funds for RAF Akrotiri Station Charities.
If you were posted to Cyprus you will enjoy the memories and delight browsing through the images, if you were born there you will cherish this unique keepsake. Buy it as a gift.
ISBN 978-0992798017
Available to buy online at www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk, Amazon and The Museum of Military Medicine
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Combining my running and reserve career with family life can be challenging