We would like to thank everyone who joined us during our ‘Seeking New Horizons’ event which took place on 17th June 2021. This online presentation was organised to introduce members of the Army & Navy Club to the work of The Ulysses Trust and provide a detailed insight into on how the cadet and expedition experience changes lives.
The event was hosted by David Pinchard of Transformation-Leaders.com in association with The Ulysses Trust. It brought together a mixture of guests with a common connection – their lives were transformed through the cadet experience and adventurous activities.
For those that weren’t able to join us on the evening, a copy of a recording of the event appears below.
Our special guest was war photographer, Paul Conroy.
Paul is an experienced freelance photographer, filmmaker and former soldier who has worked as a journalist in some of the most dangerous parts of the world including the Balkans, the Middle East, and Libya.
Paul worked extensively with the renowned Sunday Times war correspondent Marie Colvin.
They were together when she was killed in an attack by Assad’s forces in Baba Amr, Homs, bringing to an end a partnership forged from a shared desire to “bear witness”, even if that meant putting their own lives at risk.
Severely injured, but alive, Paul managed to escape to share his story with the world and reveal the atrocities happening in Syria.
Paul told his story in his book, ‘Under the Wire’ which was made into a movie in 2018 called ‘A Private War’.
Paul shared his unique story at the event to help raise awareness of the work of The Ulysses Trust.
The Trust’s founding father, current vice chairman and Falklands War veteran, Lt Col Philip Neame MBE, interviewed Paul and swapped anecdotes in an eye-opening discussion.
The evening included footage from a selection of expeditions supported by the Trust as well as interviews with some of the cadets who took part.
“That sense of achievement when you climb to the top of the top of a mountain you’re like ‘oh wow I really did this’ or you know when you go to a jungle you’re like ‘Really? I’m in an actual jungle!’
“I remember drinking some water from a waterfall and it was the best water I’ve ever tasted.”
“Cadets has definitely given me massive amounts of confidence and I’ve become a leader I’m not just a team member but I’m able to lead a team now by myself and that’s something that the seven-year-old me with no confidence and not even any English probably wouldn’t have thought I could do.”
There was also an opportunity for our guests to join the conversation through a live Q&A session.
If you are interested in our work and would like to host a similar event, please get in touch.
