Wellington College

Jim has voluntarily worked with Wellington College Field Gun Crews since 2005.  He has passed on his experience of running Command Field Gun with The Fleet Air Arm at The Royal Tournament to our students who, since 1984, have displayed with half size guns but otherwise full size kit.  Turning out in rain or shine Jim has worked with our crews to put together displays for The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst Town Council and The British Military Tournament, where our students participated alongside regular military units between 2010 and 2014.

Jim is a great motivator and has expectations of high standards of himself and the teams and individuals he trains.  The age of our crews ranges from 14 – 18 and Jim gets the very best out of them all.  He has a real empathy with young people whom he inspires to achieve incredible things; well beyond the limit of capability that some think today’s youth might have.

The value in the challenge of Field Gun is really one of team-building and leadership.  Jim works with our students in teaching them to operate as part of a close knit unit and to take responsibility for themselves and recognise the reliance of others within that group upon each individual. The effect his work has, as part of our small coaching team is astounding and is readily seen in the personal development of our boys and girls, who grow in confidence and begin to develop a vision of what they are truly capable of.  The discipline and focus students develop in Field Gun is invaluable in all areas of their life at college.

The Field Gun task in itself is a potentially, daunting, hazardous physical and mental challenge, for most adults, let alone our students who join our crews with a range of pre-experiences, aptitudes and physicality.  Jim’s calm authority and experience is pivotal in them getting the best out of themselves and a huge sense of enjoyment and achievement in what they have done.