Outward Bound® Generations eNewsletter: June 2010 What a few months it has been for Generations.
at Ullswater while completing 43 marathons in 51 days for Sport Relief, please click the image below. Alternatively, if you can’t view it, please follow the link below.
Since our first eNewsletter back in February we have been extremely busy! The campaign has been developing at rapid speed and we’ve been inundated with online posts and letters sent by Outward Bound alumni from all over the country (and further afield) who have reconnected with us. We’ve heard from participants who attended our first courses in the 1940s and some who took part in courses earlier on this year. We now have over 200 stories from past Outward Bounders on our website, www.outwardboundgenerations.org.uk, and more coming in every day.
Eddie Izzard visits The Outward Bound Trust’s Ullswater centre - click to view
All the stories we’ve received in the last few months, although all very different, share a similar theme; they reveal unique experiences, special memories and the lasting impact that our work can have on an individual, in many cases throughout their life. Whether it’s the physical memory of a 6am ‘jog and dip’ in icy water in the deepest, darkest depths of winter, or a new found realisation of confidence and self-belief after taking part in activities that they thought initially impossible – Outward Bound has and still does change young people’s outlook on life. We want to thank you for sharing your stories with us, and if you haven’t already done so then please do, we’d love to hear from you. You can tell us your story at www. outwardboundgenerations.org.uk or by post using the contact information at the end of this newsletter. Someone who has recently shared their story is well-known comedian Eddie Izzard, who participated on a course with his brother at our Ullswater centre when he was a child. To watch a video of Eddie reminiscing about his experience
In this issue The outdoors is a powerful thing: Anya Finch’s story Turning Outward Bound into a career: Sue Carter’s story Memories that last a lifetime: Ian Major’s memoirs of O.B.S.S
We hope this newsletter gives you some insights into the interesting stories emerging as a result of our Generations campaign. Please tell as many people as you can about Generations so we can continue to share memories and experiences of the Outward Bound, and we’ll be in touch again soon with our next update.
Nicole McIntyre Kristina Fitzpatrick The Generations Team
The outdoors is a powerful thing: Anya Finch’s story
Anya Finch, 23, completed an Outward Bound Classic Course last year after receiving a grant from the Prince Andrew Charitable Trust. She had recently lost her father and explains how her exerience led her to believe that anyone can achieve all that they want to, no matter how tough life is getting. “Things change in our lives all the time; but you will always remain you. In order to face all that life has in store, an individual must know and be true to themselves. My time at Outward Bound Loch Eil had me smiling for its entire duration and since returning home I need only think of any of the countless brilliant moments to make my grin the broadest around, no matter how tough life is getting. Last year for me was hard. My father was very ill and he sadly died in May. As well as the obvious emotional implications of losing someone dear to you, there are also financial implications. Money becomes tighter, and experiences which were perhaps quite accessible in the past, become out of the question. My trip was generously supported by the Prince Andrew Charitable Trust and without their support I could not have made the trip to Scotland. My experience not only made me smile, but made me believe anyone really can achieve all that they want to; lots of tiny steps will still get you to the top of a mountain!
People try and put what has changed inside you since Outward Bound into boxes, but it is just not as simple as that. You feel solid. You were a part of a team and key to the successes you encountered. You knew people would pick you up if you fell and you were under the guidance of amazing instructors. No one was left behind and everyone wanted to achieve. When you leave this group, the initial separation makes you feel vulnerable, but you soon realise your team is still the same team; it’s just further apart and has more members. Each of these members can still accomplish all that was possible whilst on the course. It is simply a case of transferring the skills you learned from being so wet and cold that the only thing to do was smile, climbing Ben Nevis the hard way with each step making your entire body scream, feeling the rush of the zip-line and the heartstopping moment where you leapt for the trapeze, or took that first step back over a sheer drop, into everyday life. I know all the above sounds terrible, but it absolutely wasn’t - it was totally and utterly brilliant and I wish everyone could have the chance to experience that which is so unexplainable to those who haven’t taken part.
Jacobs ladder
When you’re on the course you don’t feel like you are changing, or indeed that an activity is anything more than just fun, but it is upon returning home, where thoughts can be collated and each thing you learnt has emerged and proved itself to be invaluable, that you come to realise an Outward Bound experience lasts longer than the course duration; it lasts a lifetime”. Anya is now in her fourth year of studying music at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, which is she is greatly enjoying, and spends her spare time listening to her friend Ollie play the drums or looking after her new puppy, Plum, at her family home in Cornwall.
jGroup canoeing
www.outwardboundgenerations.org.uk
Smile!
Ridge up to Ben Nevis
Group photo
What’s your Outward Bound story? Tell us your story online at www.outwardboundgenerations.org.uk
Wet!
Email: generations@outwardbound.org.uk Call: 0207 610 4218 Post to: The Outward Bound Trust, Generations, 4th Floor, Charles House, 375 Kensington High Street, London W14 8QH
Turning Outward Bound into a career: Sue Carter’s story
Sue Carter, now one of our senior instructors at our Ullswater centre in the Lake District, took part in an Outward Bound course in 1995 when she was in sixth form. Sue’s Outward Bound adventure week made her realise that she could make a career of being an outdoor instructor. “I have always loved the outdoors and from an early age I started doing various outdoor activities with a local centre, as I loved the challenges they provided. So when the opportunity came my way for an Adventure Week at the Outward Bound Ullswater centre, I snapped it up. It was open to the sixth formers in my school and there were five places available, but I just had a gut feeling this trip was for me and I would benefit from every moment, so the next day I turned up with my money to guarantee my place! I had just passed my driving test and on the drive there I could hardly contain my excitement and curiosity. I was however a little worried about the expedition in the mountains, as I had never been very athletic. I also was to be in a group with total strangers, which excited me but also made me a little nervous, but I quickly settled in and almost immediately felt at home with my new roommates. My most vivid memories of the activities on the course were the high ropes, the expedition and rafting across the
lake. I loved heights and was the first to complete the high ropes course; I was a little nervous being the first, but soon found that I was in a better position to support the more nervous people by knowing what and how to do it! One thing I had not counted on was how difficult the expedition was to be. Looking back at it I realised that it was by far the biggest challenge for me. I had camped before, but a two night camp carrying all our expedition kit and climbing equipment seemed impossible. We spent our first night camping below Helvellyn then summited and walked across the ridge down Grisedale to climb at Eagle Crag. I remember being the biggest moaner in the group about the weight of my rucksack on the uphills and when my instructor said “take mine”, I soon stopped complaining! (A technique I now use myself when students are complaining!)
manage other instructors working with client groups and help to develop projects within the centre. I work in the outdoors to enable young people to realise that ‘they can’. I occasionally recount my feelings about my own expedition to groups who I feel are in the same position as me, to show them that with a positive mindset they can achieve anything. I didn’t realise I could achieve quite as much as I did on that course and without it I would not be where I am now...I couldn’t have wished for anything more.”
Rafting across the lake was our final major challenge and as I had built a raft before, I felt amazing when I helped design the raft and learnt a few new tricks along the way. The paddle across was extremely windy and the rain was pelting down hard, which made the task seem nigh on impossible but with 12 of us giving it everything we had we made it across the 900m in 21 minutes! I had considered being an instructor as a career and after realising what I had achieved on the course, there was nothing to stop me. I started enquiring at local outdoor centres for work and after a little while, I found the perfect job doing a year’s voluntary work for food and accommodation. Through this I gained lots of outdoor training awards and passed my assessment, which helped me to gain further outdoor employment in the Lake District and a place on an outdoor course at university. So here I am today, a senior instructor at the Ullswater Outward Bound centre, I have worked here for six years and it is the most perfect job in the world. I instruct groups,
1st Oct 1995 - top of Helvellyn
www.outwardboundgenerations.org.uk
2nd Oct 1995 - return to centre
Feb 2010 - jog and dip
Sue Carter - Senior Instructor
One thing I had not counted on was how difficult the expedition was to be. Looking back at it I realised that it was by far the biggest challenge for me. I had camped before, but a two night camp carrying all of our expedition kit and climbing equipment seemed impossible. Feb 2010 - the wall
Sue Carter, Course Participant, Senior Instructor
Memories that last a lifetime: Ian Major’s story
Ian Major and his late wife, Grace Hamilton, met and as a result married after meeting at the Outward Bound Sea School in Aberdovey (O.B.S.S) in its very early days. Grace was pivotal in setting up the school when it opened in October 1941, being asked by Kurt Hahn to become its female housekeeper and move from the Gordonstoun School in Scotland to the O.B.S.S. in Wales. Read Ian Major’s fascinating memoirs of their time at Aberdovey below... “I was a senior cadet captain at HMS Conway and as many may know, we sent some of our cadets on courses at the O.B.S.S. right from its opening in October 1941. I was in my last term on Conway prior to taking up my duties in the Royal Indian Navy following first appointment as a Midshipman at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich and onwards! My mind was opened the moment I arrived in Aberdovey as prior to Conway I had spent ten years at boarding schools. What’s more, as my father was
the principal of Carnegie P.E. College in Leeds, all my holiday time had been spent in the gymnasium or swimming pool of the college, - the O.B.S.S. was an instant pleasurable change of routine! During my first course at Aberdovey in 1942, I became the first cadet to obtain the Senior Silver county badge which was presented to me, as I recall, by the general who was commanding the army in Wales at the time. Jim Hogan, who ran the school, then wrote to the captain of the Conway and asked if I could stay on until I had to report for duty, so I spent three months assisting with the discipline and organisation of the new attendees each month. It was at O.B.S.S. at this time that I also met a certain Grace Hamilton, who was later to become my wife. Grace had been sent from Gordonstoun School by Kurt Hahn to become lady housekeeper at the Aberdovey School from its opening and we eventually married in 1947. We had fifty happy years together and throughout our marriage often talked about her time there during the war, the many funny times, events and people she had met during that period. One tale that I remember being the most amusing is the relay of Chinese cooks that were sent to her from the Blue Shipping Line, who she never really got a hold of!
Grace Hamilton
I hope my story and photos will help you in finding other people who had connections with the O.B.S.S. in days long ago, which have been such a big part of my life”. Mr Major now lives in a cottage in the Yorkshire Dales and would be pleased to share a cup of coffee and a natter with anyone else connected to the O.B.S.S. in the area!
One of Ian’s course groups
www.outwardboundgenerations.org.uk
One of Ian’s course groups Prince Louis arriving at Aberdovey in 1942
Tell us your story... Please email us at: generations@outwardbound.org.uk or write to us at:
One of Ian’s course groups
The Generations Team The Outward Bound Trust 4th Floor, Charles House 375 Kensington High Street London, W14 8QH
The Outward Bound Trust Head Office
Hackthorpe Hall, Hackthorpe, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 2HX Tel: 01931 740000 Email: enquiries@outwardbound.org.uk
The Outward Bound Trust Fundraising & Events
4th Floor, Charles House, 375 Kensington High Street, London W14 8QH Tel: 020 7610 4218 Email: fundraising@outwardbound.org.uk
The Outward Bound Trust Centres
Aberdovey, Snowdonia, Wales Ullswater, The Lake District, England Howtown, The Lake District, England Loch Eil, The Highlands, Scotland
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We are all better than we know; if only we can be brought to realise this, we may never again be prepared to settle for anything less. Kurt Hahn, Co-founder of The Outward Bound Trust