Fellow Coldstreamers, Ladies & Gents
Having had a week to rest and recuperate as well as gather my thoughts on what was a unique and demanding challenge I now set out my report in the hope in giving the efforts, commitment and determination of all concerned the justice they deserve.
The Challenge:
Scotland’s Great Glen Way is renowned for its beauty yet rugged and hilly terrain set amongst some of Scotland’s most breathtaking landscape carved out during the last ice age. Our task was to walk it’s 73 mile route in five days and for a bunch of former Coldstreamers along with other volunteers would prove demanding to say the least.
The Team:
Coldstream Kids - Great Glen Walk Challenge Team 2009
Walk Team:
01 Ted Williams (IC Walk Team)
02 Dee Williams
03 Franco Gasparotti
04 John Routledge
05 Stuart Sutton
06 Simon Peck
07 Capt, Keith Robinson
08 Isabelle Williams
09 Mercy Jeyasingham
10 Gaz Hawkins
11 Nick Mullings
Logistics Support Team:
12 Pete Nightingale (IC Transport Logistics)
13 Ian Ball IC (Food Logistics)
14 Paul Knox
15 Don Castelow
The team formed up at our designated base camp The Loch Ness Lodge Hotel situated at Drumnadrochit at the start of the world famous Loch Ness and renowned for its history of Nessie herself. The team would make its way there by all means, such as Trains, planes and yes automobiles..lol.. before settling in for a good night’s rest before our first days challenge.
Day One The Great Glen Way Challenge 2009
Start Point: Morrison’s Fort William 10:00hrs Marker Stone
After a hearty breakfast the team left our base hotel the Loch Ness Lodge Hotel at 08:30. After an hour and ten minutes drive we arrived at our designated start point at Fort William. We headed for The Great Glen Way Marker Stone which has a connection with the regiment as General Sir George Monck built the original fort there.
Phase one took us along the Caledonian Canal which would include the Neptunes Staircase.
The 10.5 mile Caledonian Canal would take us past both the Loy Swing Bridge and the Moy Swing Bridge before reaching our lunch point. After an excellent packed lunch provided by Ian Ball IC Food Logistics, we then pushed on to Gairlochy at the end of the Canal, where we were met by the logistics team who then provided a welcome tea break
We then pushed on for a further 3 ½ miles and were played in to our designated finish point at Clunes by the fluters. This ended the first day’s 14 mile tab.
We then headed for the Royal Marines Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge where we had a group photo. This was in respect and acknowledgement of the Royal Marines Commando Forces who were killed in the 2nd world war.
On returning to The Loch Ness Lodge Hotel for our evening meal we were then informed that our former drummer’s contingent of Pete Nightingale, Paul Knox and Don Castelow had raised a grand total of £272 whilst performing in Fort William Town Centre. One family gave £35.
Day Two The Great Glen Way Challenge 2009
Fellow Coldstreamers, Ladies & Gents,
Just returned with the team from our final RV on day 2 and will outline the day.
0745hrs: Team Breakfast before a 1hr and 20min journey to our designated start point which would be the final RV of the previous day at Western Clunes Car Park where Don Castelow & Pete Nightingale would play us off on our way.
The first part of our walk would take us along the banks of Loch Lochy through to our half way point at Laggan Locks. This would be a long tab through forrests passing through some terrific scenery.
Laggan Locks would see the team played in by Pete & Don whilst collecting money from tourists coming out to see what was going on. We would then be well catered for by the logistics team with Ian Fluff Ball laying on another brilliant meal and drinks to keep us all going before continuing our journey.
We then continued the second half of our walk which would take us along the Caledonian canal and then along the eastern banks of Loch Oich and the dismantled railway line of Invergarry.
We were also able to see the old ruins of Invergarry Castle on route to our final RV at Alberchalder and the old Oich Bridge which would complete another 14 mile day.
Day Three The Great Glen Way Challenge 2009
Start Time: 08:30hrs Wednesday 16 September 2009. The team departed for our start location of the Old Oich Bridge where we would have an encounter with the bridge keepers dog and a sighting of an Eagle which was rare for this area.
Our walk would take us along the river Oich on our left and the Caledonian Canal on our right. 3 hours later we would arrive at Fort Augustus where Pete, Don & Paul were playing their flutes for the public and running a stand for Coldstream Kids merchandise to be sold and people could have their pictures taken wearing a Bearskin.
We left Fort Augustus and encountered our first steep climb of the day and pressed onto the car park on the forrest walk North East of Cherry Island (A Crannog) for lunch.
We then continued onto Invermoriston with a great view of Telfords Bridge before climbing our steepest hill of the day out of the village and passed the last Clog Shop for 52 miles before the Isle Of Sky.
We then moved on through the forrest where we passed a stone cave onto our finish point at Alltsigh, 16 1/2 miles further along our challenge with four generations of Coldstreamers represented from 1950 - 2009
Day Four The Great Glen Way Sponsored Challenge 2009
We started at 08.30 and drove 15 min to our start point at Alltsigh.
The group started our first steep ascent to 350m overlooking Primrose Bay, Loch Ness. We pushed on through Ruskich Wood and onwards to the Iron Age Fort of Dun Scriben.
A long slog of road walking was next until we turned off at Borlum Wood. We passed through the woods down to the River Coiltie to our lunch stop at Borlum Bridge.
We then passed through Drumnadrochit and for the morale of the team passed our hotel. More road walking followed then a long steep climb up towards Corryfoyness and on into the Abriachan forest and the highest point of the walk so far at 375m.
The team tabbed on along the forest track to our finish point at The Abriachian Forest Trust trail, which would mean another 17 miles under our belt.
Day Five The Great Glen Walk Challenge 2009
Start 0830 hrs for our 25 min journey to Aloriachen Forest where we headed for Inverness passing by the Caiplich Prehistoric Settlement. Quite a bit of road walking which was heavy on weary feet but we marched on through the woods at Craigleach.
Our first view of Inverness was from the side of a small Loch near Dunain Hill at around 288m and our first sighting of Inverness Castle in the distance. It was all downhill from here to our lunch stop where Ian Ball had prepared another fine lunch for us and where we were also met by two mad Jocks, alias, Pete & Don who along with Stuart and two German backpackers and an English couple, played us most of the 3 1/2 miles to our final check point, Inverness Castle.
Once the finish celebrations were out of the way it was straight to Hair Works hairdressers on Castle Street where Karen the stylist performed the GI haircut on Gaz Hawkins. Thanks to Don, Pete and Paul the hairdressers volunteered their services free of charge and raised £90 for the charity.
We then marched to the Castle Tavern 51 paces from the Castle where we had a celebratory drink as we had just completed the 73 mile Great Glen Walk.
Final Summary:
Where do I start in beginning to praise the efforts of so many for what can only be described as an outstanding achievement encapsulated by so many contributory efforts of those involved and by those supporting us in other important ways.
As I did after The Hadrian’s Wall Challenge, I feel it only right to cover every member of the team individually to befit their efforts so here goes.
Ted Williams (IC Walk Team)
As a close friend from my time in the 1st Battalion, I could not wish for a more trusting and reliable person to lead these events as you know exactly what you are going to get. As a former Section Commander of mine as well as Guards Depot Instructor, Ted is now a Crew manager at Hastings Fire station and represents Sussex Fire Brigade in various competitions up and down the country. He is a leader who plans things with meticulous precision and takes challenges in his stride. He has a relaxed manner about him but everyone feels assured that he knows what he’s doing and how we are going to go about it. He makes it his job to ensure everyone is ok and up for the challenge and is encouraging at all times. A proud Coldstreamer and an invaluable asset to the Charity
Dee Williams:
It was great to see Teds wife Dee on the challenge who beforehand had been put through Guards Depot style training by her husband in preparation for this event. Dee was most certainly up for the task and I was impressed by her fitness levels and determination to complete the task. Always smiling but knew when to dig in and find that last bit of energy when the day was dragging on and there was still some way to go. Dee has a lovely presence about her and doesn’t look a day older than when I first met her in Hong Kong. Well done Dee.
John Routledge:
How can I describe John, John will be the first to admit that this was no easy task but if you wanted someone in the trenches with you then he’s the one. He told me after the Hadrian’s Wall Challenge that this would be his last challenge and he has repeated the same this time. However, we shall wait and see as I have never met a more stubbornly determined person who doesn’t know when he is beaten. John suffers with diabetes and carries a number of injuries but never knows when he is beaten. Many of us tried to put him on the transport on days where you wondered how he could possibly finish in the state he was in. All I will say is that we would have had to shoot him with a tranquilizing dart to have achieved this as he was determined to complete the whole task of which he did. Well done you stubborn old git for never knowing when you were beaten and for putting in a great shift!
Stuart Sutton:
At 74 years old Stuart is most certainly a one off. If you can show me a fitter and more energized 74 year old anywhere on this planet then bring it on. This man certainly defies his years and as co navigator and experienced hill walker took this challenge in his stride with an ease which had to be seen. As a former member of the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Battalions Stuart is a rare commodity in this day and age and just shows that you can achieve anything if you look after yourself. Well done Stuart for being an example to us all!
Simon Peck:
Pecker has become a close friend of mine and has been a tremendous support to Coldstream Kids. A hard working but generous person who like others gave up a week from his busy work schedule to take part in this event and was not totally able to switch off as work related calls still managed to reach him in the Scottish highlands. I can’t thank Simon enough for all he does and for making the effort to participate in this challenge. Well done mate for digging deep and pushing through this tab!
Capt, Keith Robinson:
As a former Sgt Major, now retired Capt, I was pleased when Keith agreed to take up a position as one of the charity’s Vice Presidents and he most certainly proved his worth on this challenge. I’m sure none of us will forget some of the stories from his time serving which had many of us in stitches during meal times as well as times during the walk. A great sense of humor and dogged determinedness to complete the task. Keith however did come in for some pretty humorous stick from a number of people who served under him of which he took on the chin in true Coldstream style. Well done Sgt Major for a solid performance and for the encouragement you gave others in pushing through this challenge. On a personal note, I would like to thank you for the support you have given myself and the charity.
Isabelle Williams:
I would like to take this opportunity in thanking Isabelle who kindly volunteers her services to the charity by helping with the administrative side of things in a capacity as a chartered accountant. Isabelle kindly looks over the charity’s books before our year end and works closely with our advisor and treasurer Miss Mercy Jeyasingham MBE. Isabelle wanted to take part in this challenge and helped not just with the walking side of things but to also ensure the administrative end was taken care of. I would like to thank Isabelle personally for all that she does for our charity and praise her for her efforts in walking the distances she did. Well done Issy.
Gaz Hawkins:
Gaz Hawkins, what can I say to describe what Gaz brings to these events. Myself Gaz and Fluff Ball joined up together along with Axeman and I’m sure everyone will back me up in saying what a unique bloke he is. Gaz has a brilliant sense of humor and is as fit as a butchers dog! For all his fitness levels as a competitive cyclist, Gaz makes it his task as he did on the Hadrian’s Wall Challenge to stay at the back and support anyone who was struggling. He’s like another Ted Williams with regards to how he unselfishly supports others. An unsung presence who quietly goes about business with an ease which has to be seen. I have a lot of time and respect for Gaz through the support he gives others but most importantly his old mate Fluff Ball. Gaz would be up early each morning helping Fluff prepare sandwiches and food for the team out of Ian’s van when he should have been in bed sleeping. Gaz, Your sense of humour and corps di spirit are second to none my friend and I can’t thank you enough for all you do. Well done mate!
Nick Mullings:
Nick, Well done for joining us at such a late stage and stepping into the breach. It was good to meet you for the first time although our paths must have crossed at some stage during our careers. You were a strong member of the team who stepped in and helped others when it was needed. It was good listening to some of your stories of which some were pretty funny. I look forward to working with you on other events and wish you well in your new career in civvy street. Well done and thank you for your support.
Logistics Support Team:
Pete Nightingale (IC Transport Logistics)
I would like to take this opportunity in thanking Pete for his efforts, time and energy both before and after this event. Pete who now enjoys retirement took on the task of IC Transport Logistics and coordinated things as one would come to expect of a former Drum Major. Pete was instrumental in organizing a team vehicle which he managed to secure through sponsorship of which we will dully give the rightful praise and acknowledgement on our website. Pete was a great asset to the group and his sense of humor and determination to support the team and charity were second to none. It was great to see Pete and Don walking a mile or so up the track at the end of some of our daily walks playing their flutes which let us know we were nearing our final RV. To see Pete, Don and Fluter playing us into Inverness dressed in William Wallace regalia had to be seen and not to mention some of the stirring Coldstream marches we were treated to. Well done Pete for your hard work, enterprise and unselfish commitment to the cause. Nulli Secundus my friend!
Ian Ball IC (Food Logistics)
Ian Fluff Ball, I’m a bit lost for words on my old friend whom I have the most tremendous respect for through his dogged determination to overcome the levels of disability he does on a daily basis. Ian has sustained terrible injuries and to be able to produce the levels of support he gave to the team can only be described as supper human and I do not say this lightly. To have a motor placed in your body to help stimulate the nerves in your legs to enable movement and to permanently be on one crutch and suffer excruciating pain is one thing. To be able to run a whole food logistics support system for the team which consisted the following would put most people in oar of your courage and determination.
To be on daily doses of morphine yet still drive to local shopping facilities, work on a strict food budget of £1:50p per man and still turn out a scoff which a platoon on exercise would be proud of, had to be seen to be believed. To walk into our lunch time check points starving and knowing we would be fed with fresh Scones, cream and jam, fresh sandwiches, crisps, malt loaf, cake, fruit, chocolate biscuits, sausage rolls hot tea and much more was the biggest morale booster we could wish for.
You are one of the bravest people I know Ian and a modest man who likes to sit out of the limelight and quietly go about your work with no fuss. A true and proud Coldstreamer who I’m sure others would back me in describing as a true gentleman and a gentle giant! I felt privileged to have someone of your caliber on this event and can’t thank you enough for what you provided to the team as without this we could not have achieved our task! Thank you my friend and take care of yourself.
Paul Knox:
I would like to take this opportunity in thanking Paul for giving up his time to come up to Scotland and spend his days with Don and Pete visiting towns and villages promoting the charity by carrying collection boxes and raising more than £1000 pounds. This was an idea thought up by yourself Don and Pete and must be commended as an innovative idea which worked but only through your hard and determined endeavor. It was great to see people posing in a bearskin for photographs which they dully paid for the privilege and I have to say that your efforts where just as important as those on the walk as it showed how important it is for people to know who Coldstream Kids are as well as the regiment. To know that a former instructor of Guardsman Anthony Wakefield placed £20 in the bucket just shows what a small world we live in. Thank you again for your efforts Paul as I know it was no easy task!
Don Castelow:
I feel it is important to acknowledge the work of Don as he worked hard behind the scenes to produce memorabilia for the charity which was sold during the week whilst he and Pete played their flutes to the public and Paul raised funds. To walk into Fort Augustas to the sounds of regimental marches and to see the charity’s banner along with table draped in a blue red blue flag with merchandise and bearskin was a site to see. A piece of the regiment on display in Scotland and I felt pretty humbled by the efforts of yourself Pete and Paul.
The way you encapsulated your German audience in the Hotels restaurant with your humor and grasp of the German language will remain with me for some time. If there was anyone that could pull that off then it was you.
Your enthusiasm and determination cannot be faulted and I would like to put on record my appreciation for your efforts. Thank You Don.
Mercy Jeyasingham MBE:
I have purposely left my dear friend Mercy to the end as I feel it important that I do so. From the very outset of Coldstream Kids, we owe a great deal of gratitude to this remarkable lady. Mercy who has just been awarded an MBE in the Queens honours list for her work to charities was instrumental in putting Coldstream Kids on the map. Mercy who has managed multi million pound charity projects both as a fundraiser and fund giver is a highly sort after consultant who sits on many governing bodies. To have her knowledge and expertise is a valuable asset which the charity is fortunate to have. Following a very tough year in which she nursed her terminally ill sister I cannot praise her highly enough for her remarkable energy and commitment to her work and Coldstream Kids through what was an extremely sad and emotional time.
Thank you Mercy for being a true, trusted and valued friend whom I have the utmost admiration and respect for.
Finally:
I would like to acknowledge the help of Bivi who has given me tremendous support through Coldstreamers as well as advice and guidance when I’ve needed it. Thank you my friend as always for all you have done. To Mac Finkill, who has been a true mentor and father figure as well as my guide when it has come to understanding the complexities of the regimental system and its history. To the many others who are too many to mention. Thank you for your support in keeping me focused through what has been the hardest year of my life both on a personal level and pushing forward the charity’s plans for the future.
To Ted Williams, Thank you for being there for me when I needed it!
To the team who sacrificed a week’s wages to come on arguably one of Britain’s toughest walks and prove that we as Coldstreamers can still tough it out when the need arises.
My respect and Admiration goes to everyone for what can only be describe as a Nulli Secundus Effort
Franco Gasparotti
Chairman / Founder Coldstream Kids
