Help for Heroes Patrons
Hero Patron:
Johnson Beharry VC of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment is a British soldier who, on 18 March 2005, was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration for valour in the British and Commonwealth armed forces, for twice saving members of his unit from ambushes on 1 May and 11 June 2004 at Al-Amarah, Iraq. He sustained serious head injuries in the latter engagement.
Patrons:
Founder
Jeremy and Francie Clarkson have been involved with helping and supporting wounded servicemen and their families for the last year both at Selly Oak and Headley Court.
Corporal Mark Sutcliffe is serving with the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment "The Poachers". He lost his left leg in Basra in July 2006 after being hit by an RPG. He has made a successful recovery and hopes to become a Military Liason Officer at Selly Oak hospital.
WO2 Andy Newell PARA is serving in 16 Air Assault Brigade. In July 2006 his right arm was shattered in the bitter and prolonged fighting at Musa Qua’leh in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He has undergone extensive surgery including bone grafts but expects to make a full recovery and hopes to extend his service in the Army.
Chris Holmes MBE MA is Britain's most successful Paralympic swimmer ever winning 9 gold medals, 6 at a single games. Despite loosing his sight overnight aged only 14, Chris gained straight A's at A- level and a place at Cambridge University to read politics. While still at University Chris won 6 gold medals at the Barcelona Games in 1992. He is now an international lawyer and sits on the board at UK Sport, the Disability Rights commission and was an Ambassador to the London 2012 Olympic bid.
Andy Stockton, served with 32 Regiment Royal Artillery for 19 and 1/2 years reaching the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2. Andy, originally from Chester, has served three tours of Northern Ireland, three tours in Iraq and more recently Afghanistan. Andy lost his arm during an ambush by the Taliban in Sangin, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on 11th June 2006 . Andy was medically discharged from the Army on 23 September this year and lives with his wife in Wiltshire.
Viscount Brookeborough was involved with the Security Forces in Northern Ireland for 30 years and is only too aware of the vital part Headley Court has played in the recovery of the hundreds of servicemen and women wounded in that time. Now that the conflict in Northern Ireland is resolved, the need for our world class rehabilitation centre continues and he is delighted to offer his support to Help for Heroes fund raising appeal to enhance the facilities at this wonderful example of such excellence.
Lady Victoria Leatham was Honorary Colonel of 158 Royal Anglian TA from 1996 until 2003. She managed her family home, Burghley House, home of the International Burghley Horse Trials, until this year when she retired. She is a member of the Court of Drapers Company and one of the experts on The Antiques Road Show. She is a keen supporter of the Armed Forces.
James Blunt was commissioned an officer in the Life Guards regiment, a unit of the Household Cavalry of the British Army. He rose to the rank of Captain and served as an armoured reconnaissance officer in the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo. He was put in charge of leading 30,000 troops into Pristina as the first British officer to enter the Kosovan capital. It was while on duty in Kosovo that he wrote the song "No Bravery".
Monty Halls is a high profile figure in the worlds of diving and adventure. This ex Royal Marines Officer has led numerous expeditions and projects throughout the world, and is a marine biologist, travel writer, television presenter and public speaker of note. Monty’s work, undertaking all manner of unusual projects, has taken him around the world to a huge variety of environments.
David McDonough OBE is a Trustee and honorary advisor to a number of charities and has particularly close links with The Royal Hospital Chelsea where he is a member of the Executive Committee of the Chelsea Pensioners' Appeal. He runs a communications consultancy in St. James's.
Andy McNab: After being abandoned as a baby he was adopted and was brought up in the Peckham area of South London. A life of minor crime followed until he joined the infantry with the Royal Green Jackets in 1976 progressing to the SAS. In the Gulf War, McNab commanded the Bravo Two Zero patrol, given the task of destroying underground communication links in Iraq and mobile Scud launchers. Three of the eight man patrol were killed, one escaped and four were taken prisoner by the Iraqis and tortured over a six week period. He's been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal and was the British Army's most highly decorated serving soldier when he left the SAS in 1993.
Anneka Rice has worked with the forces for over 20 years. Memorable (to her anyway) projects include becoming an Honorary Sapper in the Royal Engineers and getting stuck half way down a death slide; landing a helicopter on top of a submarine during "Treasure Hunt", and presenting "Combat" for ITV, where regiments competed in gruelling physical challenges. The forces have helped her on numerous "Challenge Annekas" and she is delighted to be involved with Help for Heroes.