Abbotsholme School welcomed Guy Disney to speak specifically to the Year 11’s following the finish of their GCSE mocks earlier this week.
Guy is a former army officer for the Light Dragoons who following a tour of Afghanistan in 2009 was at the wrong end of a mortar shell attack which left his best friend dead and him an amputee.
This did not deter him from a trek to the North Pole, another tour in 2012, and then in 2013, he applied to walk to the South Pole as part of the Walking with the Wounded.
He explained to the Year 11s about the routines, the hardship and never giving up – as a team. They heard a humorous and at times humbling account of the men and women involved.
Pupils – especially those interested in a career in the army – spent time talking with Guy about his experiences after and lots of the Year 11 pupils thanked him for his time and coming to speak.
Guy did a shortened version of his endeavours to the whole school which captivated the audience from age four to 60 as everyone marvelled at how these incredible men and women navigated minus 40 temperatures, the routine, the environment and their injuries including a double amputee and a blind man.
After the chapel, the Prep School who had lots of questions stayed behind to ask “Are you wearing your leg now?”, “Can we see it!”, “How long did it take to get to the South Pole”, “What is your next expedition?” and finally – and most poignantly – “Do you miss your friend from the army?”
Guy was inspirational to the pupils showing them just what can be achieved with a little determination, perseverance and a can-do attitude, even with just one leg.