I did as much research as I could – I’m fortunate in that I know a couple of Guinness World Record holders in polar exploration! And while the conditions were hard, they were manageable provided you kept your wits about you and your kit in check - that was part of what the DS (Drill Sergeant) taught us. It was more the combination of different factors that was designed to wear us down and ultimately get recruits to VW (voluntary withdrawal). The fact that we had to contend with regular intense physical exercise, at altitude and in those harsh conditions, whilst being tested mentally and emotionally, under constant assessment, so you can’t lose focus for one second - that’s going to be hard for anyone. Q: What were Ant, Foxy, Ollie and Billy like? The DS were brilliant. Ant, as Chief Instructor, was a little further removed but I have the utmost respect for Foxy, Ollie and Billy. Foxy is a giant of a man both literally and figuratively speaking who has come through some rough times and is humble and wants to help others because of what he has experienced. From Ollie, I got the sense that he would move mountains to come to the aid of anyone who needed help, and Billy was a laugh a minute with some of the things he said but also incredibly patient throughout the process. Q: This series was quite novel in the sense that female recruits took part for the first time, and it also aired in same the year that the Ministry of Defence opened the SAS selection process up to women. Do you think gender made a difference in the show? I don’t think it’s possible to generalise that easily, because there’s no sweeping statement that applied to either gender. It didn't come out as either the men or women being 'better' as shown by there being equal numbers in the final eight.
Every member of the special forces has their own unique set of skills and strengths and the job of someone in the position of the DS is to bring out those strengths, whilst helping recruits learn to deal with any weaknesses. For example, we had both guys and girls afraid of heights, but they overcame these fears through dogged determination. The most pertinent lesson I learned from the experience is that it's not about being the fittest or fastest, it's about being the most resilient and resolute. Q: What was the best part of the series for you? The last couple of days and being part of the final eight were incredible. I think by that stage we had earned the respect of the DS and they were willing to give us slightly freer rein, which meant we could really enjoy and appreciate the experience. We also did some fantastic things which will stick long in the
memory - flying up a stunning mountainous valley in a helicopter was a highlight - and being able to laugh and joke around with the DS was great. I got a sense of having 'made it', knowing that I had got through to the interrogation phase, and while that was probably the most tortuous experience of my life, it gave me an enormous sense of fulfilment. Q: Now that you’ve been through this experience, would consider joining the Special Forces? I think I've missed the boat unfortunately because I'm at that stage of my life where I'd like to settle down. But knowing what I know now, if I were to do it all over, I may well do things very differently. Q: If you could take part in Who Dares Wins again, would you? Absolutely. I'd go tomorrow. Today even!
SHARE YOUR STORY Everybody has a story to tell. To share yours, contact: tonbridgesociety@tonbridge-school.org
APRIL 2019
27
