The inaugural National Forest Trek 17-19 Sep 2021 proved to be a huge success. Trekkers headed along the 75 mile National Forest Way from Beacon Hill Country Park through to Rosliston Forestry Centre and finished their journey at The National Memorial Arboretum.
Smiling through the pain and blisters, all our participants had a fantastic weekend and many have pledged to return in 2022. Next year’s event is currently in planning with early bird discounts available via National Forest Trek
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Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Benevolent Fund
Stanford Hall Estate, Stanford on Soar, Loughborough, LE12 5QW
Charity number: 1185308
Nicola Norville MBE is the Fundraising Manger for the DMRC Benevolent Fund. She holds this position as a volunteer in addition to her full time clinical role as Lead Speech and Language Therapist at DMRC Stanford Hall. Nicola has been actively involved with the DMRC Benevolent Fund since starting work at DMRC in 2009 and formalised her charity position by joining the committee in 2017.
Gp Capt Myhill joined the RAF as a dentist in 2003. She delivered clinical care to patients in various locations across the UK and whilst on operations in Iraq for over 10 years, before embarking on a career with more of a focus on policy, future healthcare delivery and leadership of all aspects of Defence Primary Healthcare. Appointed as Chief Dental Officer (RAF) in May 2022, she holds a Royal appointment as the King’s Honorary Dental Surgeon and has recently taken on her current role as Commanding Officer Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre.
“It is an absolute honour to be a Trustee of the charity having seen first hand the benefits to patients, as part of the holistic approach to their rehabilitation pathway, as well as to the staff who care for those who serve their country.”
Helenis a founder and Chief Executive Officer of Loughborough Wellbeing Centre, a mental health charity supporting adults with enduring mental health issues. She has recently set up the Veterans Wellbeing Hub at the centre which will provide support for Veterans mental health and wellbeing.Helen has worked in various Civil Service roles in her career as well as serving in the Royal Military Police and experience of operational tours.
James is an in-house commercial lawyer, working with consumer-facing brands. He is presently Senior Legal Counsel at Budweiser Brewing Group. Prior to this he worked for three years at the top-ten global dairy company, Saputo Inc.
James has an Executive MBA from Warwick Business School (2020).
Between 2016 and 2019, James worked as an in-house lawyer at the UK’s largest charitable foundation, Wellcome.
From 2011 to 2015, James served in the Army Legal Services Branch of the Adjutant General’s Corps. During his Service, he was based in the UK and Germany. He deployed on Op HERRICK in 2012.
James enjoys running, swimming and visiting heritage railwayswith his young family.
Craig Haslam served 16 years as a Royal Marine after joining at 17 years old. He served the remainder of his career in the Special Forces before being medically discharged in 2017 after 27 years of military service.
Whilst training for an Ironman in 2015, Craig was involved in a life altering road traffic accident after being hit by a car whilst riding his bicycle. He sustained a myriad of injuries, including a brain injury, and was admitted to the amazing care of the trauma unit at DMRC.
DMRC were instrumental in Craigs rehabilitation and he was humbled by the way that the staff looked after him and aided in his rehabilitation and recovery. The Rehabilitation of injured serving personal is unique and complex. Being a member of the armed forces is more than a career choice, their occupation is intricately tied to their identity. This means that even when seriously ill or injured, most military personal are still prioritising work and their colleagues above their own wellbeing. Looking back on that time Craig is overwhelmed at how the staff had his best interests at heart even when he didn’t, he just wanted to get back to work! Craig credits the diverse, tailored and immersive rehabilitation he received with his recovery.
Craig has passion for supporting charities and the wider military and veteran community. He has supported the Bowra Foundation, the SBSA and in 2019 he raised a substantial amount of money for DMRC Benevolent fund with a solo charity cycle ride.
After adjusting to being a civilian and a small business owner over the last few years, Craig felt that he was now able to give a larger commitment to DMRC Benevolent fund and applied to become a trustee. Craig is looking forward to serving with the rest of the board in his first position as a trustee.
Major Oliver O’Sullivan joined the British Army as a Medical Cadet in 2009 whilst a medical school undergraduate at the University of Liverpool Medical School. Upon graduation, he undertook house jobs in Birmingham under the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, before Phase 1 & 2 training, and subsequent posting to 1 Armoured Medical Regiment, Paderborn, Germany in 2015. Returning to the UK in 2017, he underwent Core Medical Training in Portsmouth, supported by Joint Medical Group (South).
In 2019, Maj O’Sullivan joined the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) Stanford Hall as a Specialty Registrar in Rehabilitation and Rheumatology. He supported, and benefited from, the DMRC Benevolent Fund, and took up a position on the committee as the Treasurer in August 2020. Working as a clinician at DMRC Stanford Hall, alongside his work on the committee, allows him to see the benefits in action, as well as new opportunities for the benefit of staff and patients across the site.
Maj O’Sullivan is married with two young children (and a third on the way), owns a cocker spaniel, and enjoys long distance running, reading and all manner of sport when he has the time.
Lt Col Clarke joined the Royal Marines in 1987, specialising as a Physical Training Instructor and Exercise Rehabilitation Instructor. After leaving the RM, he became a qualified Physiotherapist and joined the Army in 2005 working at DMRC in 2007/8, again in 2015 and is currently the Professional Lead Advisor for Physiotherapy. He joined the charity committee in 2016 and has been a Trustee since 2019. “I see 1st hand the positive benefit the charity brings to our patients and staff, enhancing the rehabilitation experience of our patients and supporting them to meet and overcome the complex challenges along their rehabilitation pathway. Being a part of a charity that delivers directly in support of DMRC is incredibly rewarding and I’m immensely proud of the all the volunteers that run this charity at the heart of military rehabilitation.”
George joined the charity as development and events manager in April 2020 upon leaving the Royal Marines in March 2020 after 39 years of service.
He joined the Royal Marines in 1981 and served a range of military appointments before taking the role of Military Liaison Office for Headley Court in 2013. He transitioned with the role to Stanford Hall in 2018. Post Headley Court he completed operational tours of Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. His role as Military Liaison Office Headley Court he would see 1st hand the impact the Benevolent Fund had in supporting the patients and staff of the DMRC. In 2014 he volunteered to take the committee role as patient advocate until leaving service in 2020 a role he was immensely proud of.
George joined the charity as Charity Development and Events Manager in March 2020 following a 39 year career in the Royal Marines.
George joined the Royal Marines in 1981 and served a range of military appointments before taking the role of Military Liaison Officer at Headley Court in 2013. He transitioned his role during the relocation of Headley Court to DMRC Stanford Hall in 2018.
Prior to arriving at Headley Court he completed operational tours of Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. During his role as Military Liaison Officer at Headley Court he saw first hand the impact the DMRC Benevolent Fund had in supporting the patients and staff on unit.
In 2014 he volunteered to take a DMRC Benevolent Fund committee role as Patient Advocate and held this position until leaving service in 2020. This final role is something he remains immensely proud of.
Lucy is a Senior Associate at the City law firm, Bates Wells, where she specialises in advising charities and social enterprises, including many armed forces charities. She has held a number of trustee roles, latterly on the board of a charity supporting prisoners in England and Wales.
Group Captain Rowley joined the regular Royal Air Force in 1994 and is presently serving as Commanding Officer to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Stanford Hall. A member of the RAF Medical Support Officer branch, his background is predominately focussed within the operational medical planning domain, complemented with completion of several other senior healthcare executive appointments within both the RAF and Defence Medical Services. He has deployed operationally to Iraq, Afghanistan, Oman and in support of the Libya conflict.
Maj Matt Perkins is the previous treasurer of the DMRC Benevolent Fund (2016-2020) and now sits as one of our board of trustees. He has been with the charity since before we grew and became a CIO(F).
An Army physiotherapy officer with experience across international Sport and Defence healthcare both at home and on operations.
Matt has served at RRU Halton, PCRF Bordon, RRU Aldershot, RRU Catterick, RM Poole, responsible for treatment and medical management in support to UKSF, ATR Winchester responsible for initial phase 1 training. Following promotion, he was posted to DMRC Headley Court, joining the charity and serving as OC Spec rehab, followed by OC Lower Limbs and was part of the transition to DMRC Stanford Hall. Following this he moved to PCRF Chilwell and now is serving in British Army, Germany, re-establishing PCRF Sennelager as part of the enduring presence left as part of the NATO mounting Base.
He has deployed to Afghanistan, Falkland Islands and various locations in Europe, Middle east and USA support of UK operations.
Sue Huggins is the Director of Strategy and Communications at Thomas Pocklington Trust, joining in the summer of 2012 to lead on charity wide strategy and communication activities. More recently, Sue has been working in partnership with the RNIB and Guide Dogs to refresh the UK wide Eye Health and Sight Loss Strategy and is currently involved in the delivery of a National Eye Health Survey.
Sue initially trained as a nurse at the Westminster Hospital in London but spent the majority of her career at the Post Office. After completing her MBA in 1998, Sue was promoted to the position of General Manager, running the nationwide network of post offices and Director of Strategy. In the latter role, Sue was instrumental in securing government funding to protect the nationwide network and for the creation of Post Office Ltd in preparation for the privatisation of the Royal Mail.
Sue was awarded an OBE in the 2010 New Year’s Honours list for her services to communities across the UK and the Post Office.
Sue’s interest in charitable work began with her involvement with The Rowland Hill Fund – the Post Offices own Benevolent Fund where she served as a Trustee for over 9 years. At the same time, Sue was a serving board member of the Prince’s Rural Leadership Team under the Business in the Community umbrella. Pub is the Hub, now a well-established charitable organisation, had its genesis in this group and Sue went on to serve as a Director to oversee its launch as an independent organisation. More recently, Sue has served as a Trustee of the Prince’s Countryside Fund – having been personally asked to take on the role by HRH Prince of Wales to assist set up and establish the charity. Seven years later, it is time to stand down as a Trustee but her involvement with the Countryside Fund continues as she stays on their Grant Committee and in providing strategic planning support.
Sue has two children, Andrew and Nicola. Andrew is a commercial pilot but served in the Royal Artillery, seeing active service in Iraq. He spent time at the RMA Sandhurst instructing officer cadets in radio communications. More recently he has volunteered his time to the Army Cadets and the Royal British Legion of which he is an active member. Sue’s brother Kevin, served 21 years in the Royal Air Force, also seeing active service in the first Gulf War and, in a support role, the Falklands conflict.
Peter Corbett is a retired accountant and became a trustee of DMRC Benevolent Fund in 2020.
After training as a Chartered Accountant with a large London firm, he held senior financial and general management positions in the UK, USA and Europe and in the private, public and third sectors.
Peter also has 12 years experience as a charity trustee across various sectors including health, housing and disability. Married with 4 children and 2 grandchildren (so far!) , he grew up in Bolton and continues to be a Bolton Wanderers supporter but now lives in Epsom.
Lt Col Clarke joined the Royal Marines in 1987, specialising as a Physical Training Instructor and Exercise Rehabilitation Instructor. After leaving the RM, he became a qualified Physiotherapist and joined the Army in 2005 working at DMRC in 2007/8, again in 2015 and is currently the Professional Lead Advisor for Physiotherapy.
He joined the charity committee in 2016 and has been a Trustee since 2019. “I see 1st hand the positive benefit the charity brings to our patients and staff, enhancing the rehabilitation experience of our patients and supporting them to meet and overcome the complex challenges along their rehabilitation pathway. Being a part of a charity that delivers directly in support of DMRC is incredibly rewarding and I’m immensely proud of the all the volunteers that run this charity at the heart of military rehabilitation.”
