Group Leader
I’m Jon, Walk Leader for Dereham. I’ve always had a passion for walking, having grown up on a Wiltshire Farm. After 7 years in the RAF as a communications engineer, working in Search and Rescue and overseas, I moved into engineering manufacturing. I kept my outdoor passion going by training as a course director and mountain guide for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Unfortunately, my mental health took a dive when I lost my mum back in 1974 whilst serving in Cyprus during the Turkish invasion. I was diagnosed with PTSD and depression. I didn’t get much help from the MOD, so I decided to find help myself. I found support much later from two amazing British Army veterans. I then decided to leave my safe Job in corporate and started my own business in 1989.
That year, the interest rate hit 17.5%, and I was forced into liquidation. I had to return to the rat race again. To cut a long story short, I left corporate again in 2004 and retrained as a therapist. In 2010, I lost a close friend to brain cancer; she was my business partner and just 52 with 2 kids, which triggered my PTSD again, and resulted in me having a breakdown. I then found a great team of private therapists who guided me back.
At 65 (now 70) I was diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia, which made a lot of sense. Walking with my wife and 2 dogs is my way of staying grounded. We have only just moved into the area. I immediately joined the Dereham Men Walking and Talking group, deputising for Steve, the founder and leader of our group. Steve is taking some time off, so I have stepped in as leader. We are a very new group and are steadily building the numbers. We are all loving it.
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