News

Three Peaks Challenge

14 October 2007

By Malcolm Mayoh

It was whilst attending the funeral of Gdsm David Atherton that the horrors of war hit me straight in the face. As Les Scholes and I sat in the congregation, two Grenadiers were helped into the church by their comrades. It was at this point that I realised how lucky I was to serve the Regiment for twenty three years and come out at the other end relatively unscathed. I decided that the only way I could contribute now as a civvy was to help raise money for our injured soldiers.

Upon discussion with other ex-Grenadiers, we decided to organise a three peaks challenge, getting sponsorship for climbing Ben Nevis, Ska Fell and Snowdon. We also thought that this would mix with the sense of humour that a squaddie would appreciate, retired and serving Grenadiers sweating their butts of over mountains in the name of charity. I discussed this with members of the Grenadiers Forum and also one night whilst out in Nottingham on the lash with fellow Grenadiers. So as black adder would say, 'we had a plan'.

I tried, with some success, to cajole fellow ex-Grenadiers into competing in the challenge. The lads that volunteered were those that knew me personally. First and foremost was Tom Schofield who is my left hand man at Guardsman Gas Services, Tom has never been in the forces but bless his cottons he was the first on the nominal roll, then we had an experienced 3 Peaker Pete Sergeant whom I had served with in the Gulf War. Also joining us was Chris Plant who I had the privilege of being Chris's squad instructor at Pirbright. Another comrade offering his participation was Andy Dillon; both myself and Andy were Junior Bleeders back in 81 at Shornecliffe and it was looking like twenty six years later I would have to drag him up hills again. Another willing volunteer was Darren Smith who was in my section during Gulf War one Darren is an experienced police officer in Somerset and his humour on the peaks was gratefully received.

Representing the Regiment was the Regimental Recruiting Team and after a poor response from ex-Grenadiers it was the RRT that helped boost our numbers. I also realised that in order for the peaks to be successful I would need to get a 'paybloke' (Company Quarter Master Sergeant) team together. Luckily we had Steve Morgan who is the Colour Sergeant at St James's Palace to sort out all our admin needs.

At this stage prior to completing the peaks, it suddenly dawned on me that the task of getting the loan of a minibus was a hard act to organise. Bless her cotton socks my old recruiting officer Lt Col Leanda Pitt in Preston came to our rescue. Leanda lent us a crew bus which meant that we could now get to the base of the three mountains. The ball was now rolling and we managed to cajole our way onto the local North West TV station and get mentions in various press releases, cheers Les Scholes. So all we had to do now was climb the three peaks!!

After an evening ascent of Snowdon and my boots falling apart, we were really gelling as a team, we stopped on the top of Snowdon for supper and photo's and then it was in the bus to Cumbria for a bit of shut eye and then an early morning tab up Ska Fell.

At this stage Pete's dog (Billy) was starting to feel his hamstring but bless his cotton socks he carried on. Ska fell was a bit of a bugger as it is a bit more akin to rock climbing rather than hill walking, but we all managed to complete it in good spirits and even got twenty quid off some kind soles at the summit.

England completed, we were now off to Jock land to bag the big one. So, a night time manoeuvre to Fort William followed by a fantastic breckie supplied by Steve and we started the long and winding road up the Ben, knowing that we were two thirds of the way there. Flipping heck the weather on Nevis was awful! Gale force winds driving the sleet into our clothing. Tom took it like an SAS trooper, in fact he would never make a Guardsman as he never once moaned. Sarge was off with Billy like he had been doing it years and Chris thought he was on a jolly day out. Darren Smith because of family commitments had to do the whole challenge on his own, the Somerset constabulary are made of strong stuff. Also Andy Dillon the week prior to the peaks had a family bereavement and it shows the measure of the bloke that he also completed the whole challenge on his own. The lads from the Regiment were also in good spirits and after piccies and tiffin we made the slow descent back to Steve and the jack wagon.

All in all, everyone had a thoroughly good time. But more importantly the real hero's from the battalion would hopefully realise that there are people that value the sacrifices they have made and at the end of the day we managed to raise a mere 8 thousand pounds, there heroics had contributed a far greater price.

So our efforts to raise money for injured Grenadiers will not be stopping here we have since completed the London to Waterloo cycle ride and rumour has it that Operation Market Garden is going to be reconstructed in 2009. So if anyone would like to take part in our planned cycle ride through the French, Belgique and Dutch countryside or fancy jumping out of a perfectly good aeroplane, then why not volunteer your services!!