Latest news with #ParachuteRegiment
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Ex-parachute regiment officer Mike Ellicock sets rowing record
A former Parachute Regiment officer has set a new record for rowing solo around Great Ellicock, 50 and from Lewes, East Sussex, departed from his home town on 30 April and returned to the same spot, the John Harvey Tavern, on Wednesday evening, after completing the 1,820 mile (2,929km) journey in 49 Ellicock was aiming to raise £30,000 and awareness for the charity Support Our said he was "incredibly grateful to have been able to get around safely and so fast". He is also the first person to complete the journey via the Great said: "As a 25-year-old platoon commander, I was wounded in action during a hostage rescue in Sierra Leone but made a full recovery and subsequently had the privilege of commanding paratroopers on operations again before making a successful and rewarding transition into civilian life."Not all my former brothers in arms were so fortunate - and that's why I chose this challenge as a way to honour them and raise money for Support Our Paras." Mr Ellicock had previously completed the 125 mile (201km) Devizes to Westminster canoe 2013 he set a world record for running the London Marathon while carrying a 40lb (18kg) pack in just under three and a half hours.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
What a grandfather's wartime escape taught his grandson about fatherhood and life
THE late morning sun hangs high above Emerald Bay, the heat pressing down on the skin, clinging to every surface. The water shimmers like scattered diamonds, while on the beach, racers and supporters congregate in loose, sun-drenched clusters, waiting for the last of the Chapman's Challenge competitors to emerge from the sea and cross the finish line. An annual endurance race held at Pangkor Laut Resort, the challenge is named after Colonel Frederick (Freddie) Spencer Chapman, a British World War 2 hero. It's a combination of trail running, road running and open-water swimming that retraces parts of the route Freddie took in 1945 during his legendary escape from Japanese forces on Pulau Pangkor. Not far from where I'm standing, partially sheltered from the sweltering sun beneath the generous shade of a dappled tree, stands Stephen Spencer Chapman, a medal strung around his neck, his tanned, well-built frame slick with sweat after the gruelling race. Beside him, his father, Christopher Spencer Chapman, watches with quiet pride, his hat casting soft shadows over features creased in satisfaction. Around them, the air hums with easy camaraderie as friends and family gather, trading laughter, congratulations and the occasional slap on the back. A soft breeze teases through the palms, the clink of glass punctuating the easy conversation, while out at sea, two boats idle against a horizon that sizzles in the heat. The waves catch the light like restless specks of glass, a perpetual dance of sun and tide. It's in this moment of sunlit ease that I make my way towards the younger Chapman, a veteran of the British Army's elite Parachute Regiment and former member of the Red Devils parachute display team. He turns as I approach, and I ask: "Can I steal you for a chat later?" His face brightens as he extends his hand in a warm greeting. "Of course," he says, nodding happily, his father beaming quietly by his side. But before more can be exchanged, a ripple of cheers rises from the beach as the final runner — a staff member from Pangkor Laut Resort — appears through the trees. He's flushed, soaked in effort, but his grin stretches wide as he crosses the line, greeted by the warm applause of a crowd who seem to value heart as much as time. The beach has emptied, and the sharp gleam of the sea has turned to a gentler shimmer, the waves settling into a languid rhythm. I find myself smiling at Stephen, this time clean and calm, a simple shirt replacing his race-worn skin, dark blond hair neatly combed. The handsome Englishman settles into a seat opposite me, the steady hush of the sea our backdrop. The medal is gone, but the flush of satisfaction still lingers in his expression, the quiet glow of a man who has run not for glory, but for meaning. Languidly, he leans back as I switch on my recorder, though already I can tell this conversation will meander — as all the best ones do. It's been eight decades since Stephen's grandfather, Freddie, — a Parachute Regiment officer, Arctic explorer and author of the 1949 war memoir The Jungle is Neutral, swam from these same rocks to rendezvous with the submarine HMS Statesman while escaping the Japanese-occupied island. Freddie was one of the few British soldiers in Force 136 who fought the Japanese and survived the harsh jungles of Malaya during World War 2. Today marks the 80th anniversary of that indomitable act. And in an extraordinary confluence of time and memory, this moment also coincides with the 70th anniversary of YTL Corporation, whose Pangkor Laut Resort now foots the island's sands. For Stephen, this annual pilgrimage isn't just athletic — it's deeply personal. "When I stand over there..." he says, gazing in the distance, "I recall Freddie's words in his book about a little fresh water stream, and I think how different it must have been for him." 3 GENERATIONS, 4 MEN The 39-year-old Stephen belongs to a line of stewards of resilience. His great-grandfather died in the trenches of World War 1, leaving his grandfather Freddie an orphan. "Right from the start, he had an adverse upbringing. He grew to have a real sense of independence, which is what I think led to his survival through the war years," shares the affable father-of-two, tracing the hidden roots of his grandfather's courage. Christopher, Freddie's son and Stephen's father, served briefly in the Royal Navy. "My father was very adventurous too, but he served only for three years. My mother was a chef on the yacht he captained." I get the sense that you come from a military family, I find myself blurting out. But Stephen quickly shakes his head, before replying: "I've never really thought of myself that way. I didn't grow up in an army base or anything like that, and I wasn't really aware of my dad's service when I was young. "I actually joined the military a little later — in my mid-20s with the Parachute Regiment. Before that, I spent a few years travelling, picking up languages and working odd jobs along the way." He spent most of his career in the army before canoeing into the tech world and founding a firm that "build(s) software systems to look at the health, performance and well being of people in large organisations". The common thread for him has always been working from mission to mission. Shares Stephen: "I spent some time in sustainability, looking at how technology could help us address some of the global environmental goals we're all trying to reach. Then the opportunity came along to build software that could support the soldiers I used to work with — to help them be better soldiers." "I didn't really know my grandfather as he'd already passed away when I was born," confides Stephen when asked how close he was to Freddie. Continuing, he says: "But growing up, I was aware that my grandfather had done some stuff and written some books. I grew up with lots of interesting paraphernalia around the house... ice axes, pickaxes, model kayaks..." Did your father talk much about his own father to you? I probe. He shakes his head before replying: "Not really. That's why coming to Pangkor for the Chapman's Challenge is so special for me. It's a chance to learn about my grandfather, of course — but in doing that, I also get to learn more about my own father. "Being here, surrounded by people asking him questions and sharing stories, he opens up in ways he normally wouldn't. I hear things I've never heard before." Suffice to say, returning to Pangkor Laut these past seven years has deepened his understanding of Freddie. "I've met families of people who were involved in some of the other things he did," says Stephen softly. Continuing, he adds: "When Freddie was extracted from the island by submarine, he wasn't alone. There was an officer called Richard Broome with him together in Force 136. And that made me think about the other people involved in that moment." Expression earnest, he continues: "While this event naturally focuses on Freddie's story, I find that quite interesting. That reflection has broadened my own perspective. It's no longer just a personal story about my grandfather, but a reminder of a shared experience; of the many others whose courage and sacrifice were part of that chapter in history." When asked what question he would have liked to ask his grandfather if he were still alive, Stephen, who has an equally adventurous sister, pauses before replying: "How did he endure that isolation, the uncertainty... and just keep going?" It's a question that quietly haunts many in the modern world. The charming Cancerian admits that he's always been someone who likes to have answers, to fix what can be fixed. "I'm probably a person who wants to have an answer for everything and a solution," he says, smiling wryly. When asked what his grandfather's story of resilience still teaches us today, another pause ensues before he replies: "Probably that we're capable of far more than we think, especially when things are stripped back." In an age where discomfort is something to be numbed or avoided, he believes it's precisely in those moments of unease that we meet ourselves. "Freddie's story reminds us that resilience isn't built in easy times. It's shaped by adversity, uncertainty, by the decisions made when no one's cheering — and I imagine that's how he spent most of his time. That lesson still holds," muses Stephen softly. He's careful not to over-romanticise the parallels between past and present, but the connection is impossible to ignore. "I try not to get too philosophical about it," he says, though his voice softens as he adds: "...but I think about Freddie's book, The Jungle is Neutral. And I realise the jungle isn't always a place. Sometimes it's a state of mind — anxiety, grief, burnout, self-doubt." Adding, Stephen elaborates: "These are the battles people fight now. And the tools for survival aren't so different: patience, perspective, small wins. The ability to keep moving even when you're not sure it's making a difference." It isn't, he insists, about grand gestures or heroics. It's about consistency. "About not giving up when it would be easier to do exactly that." VALUES THAT OUTLAST TIME In one of his books, Freddie wrote that the roots of true happiness could be found in three things: companionship, a connection with nature or a craft, and a touch of danger. It was his quiet philosophy for a meaningful life — the idea that happiness wasn't passive, but something to be pursued by pushing one's limits, while staying grounded in the natural world. "For me," Stephen reflects, "that's what this island has come to represent. That connection with nature. The conservation work happening down at Emerald Bay is something really special, and it's something I often think about. "I believe Freddie would have appreciated it too — the spirit of people immersing themselves in it, and the simple, unpretentious joy of being out there". That spirit has been carefully preserved and nurtured over the decades, thanks in no small part to YTL's stewardship of the island. More than just a luxury resort, Pangkor Laut has become a living, breathing sanctuary where conservation and community matter as much as comfort. Through its commitment to protecting the natural environment and honouring the island's layered history, YTL, founded in 1955 by Yeoh Tiong Lay, has ensured that Freddie's spirit — and his love for wild, untamed places — endures in quiet, meaningful ways. Emerald Bay isn't just a theatre of endurance; it's a living example of YTL's values in action. Continues Stephen: "What makes a story or a business endure is around the values that underpin it... purpose... that's what will keep things sticking." In this sense, the double milestone is more than coincidence. YTL's 70th year is no mere statistical echo of Freddie's story: both are anchored in purpose, in values being passed down, weathered by time. The Chapman's Challenge itself is more than a competition. It's a rite. A communion with the landscape and the man who made it immortal. This year, as Stephen powered through dense undergrowth and across rocky coastlines, a friend close behind, he felt it — the race against time, against himself, against the ache of distance from his young daughters. "It's always a mental game," he admits, adding: "You push yourself because you know he did too." His finish time, 55:35, a slight dip from his lifetime best of 53:00 in 2018, arriving at second place, mattered less than the act itself. In the sweat and sting of salt, in every footfall over soil Freddie once crossed, Stephen finds a conversation with a man he never met. These days, with two small daughters waiting in west London, Stephen no longer lingers long on the island. "For me, it's all about my family. Of being the best husband and father that I can be. That's the adventure now," he says, smiling softly. Perhaps when his girls are old enough, he'll bring them here too — not to chase ghosts, but to swim, to run, to listen to the wind. And to know that they too belong to something ancient, fierce and quietly unbroken.
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: TV explorer Levison Wood embarks on biggest adventure - fatherhood with Brazilian model
Trusting in what he describes as 'almost blind optimism', he never envisages failure – an indomitable spirit which sustained him on active service in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention when circumnavigating the Arabian Peninsula or walking the length of the River Nile or the Himalayas, where he flew off a cliff when the brakes on a car failed. But even Levison Wood has admitted that he's struggled in one often bewildering environment – the 21st century dating scene where, he told me a while back, he hoped to encounter 'a woman with a sense of adventure and a sense of fun'. So I'm delighted to reveal that the former Parachute Regiment officer turned explorer, author and broadcaster, has pulled off what he can justifiably consider his greatest triumph to about to become a father after falling for Brazilian firecracker Ana Protasio, a beauty whose accomplishments traverse numerous fields. 'Ana's a therapist and a yoga instructor and a model,' Levison, 43, tells me from the Alps, where he and Ana are on currently on holiday, relaxing in what, for Levison, is trademark manner – 'climbing mountains'. It would seem an appropriately invigorating prelude to the impending addition to the Wood family. 'We're happily expecting our first child at the end of July,' confirms Levison, who's travelled across at least 120 countries, contending with broken bones, tigers, crocodiles and – so far – one cannibal. It's tempting to see the couple's romance as the perfect incentive for a chap to hack his way into the undergrowth. 'We met travelling in Costa Rica and stayed friends,' says Levison, adding that they 'reconnected' last year. Being an officer and a gentleman, he declines to disclose Ana's age and even refrains from saying whether they are engaged – or married – but assures me: 'We're very serious in our commitment to each other. 'I've got some very exciting projects I'd love to do in South America,' adds Levison, whose latest book, The Great Tree Story: How Forests Have Shaped Our World, was published this spring. That should earn Ana's seal of approval. How Princess Anne put boot into rugby star Princess Anne enjoyed cutting her pal Scottish rugby international Kenny Logan down to size when he was bursting with pride at representing his country. 'I remember playing in the World Cup in 2003, when England won, [Scotland coach] Ian McGeechan said, 'Think about the five million people in Scotland supporting you'. And running out on to the pitch and turning around and meeting Princess Anne,' 53-year-old Logan recalls. 'She said to me, 'You all right, Kenny?' I said, 'Yeah, yeah,' and shook her hand. She said 'I can't believe you still get a game'.' He adds of the princess, who's patron of Scottish Rugby: 'She was horsey, I was horsey, farming, and outdoors. We had a great relationship. And even when I see her now she'll always say hi or try and sell me a horse or something like that.' There's no place like home for Sir Michael Palin, who still lives in the 'modest' family house in unfashionable Gospel Oak, north London, that he bought with his late wife, Helen, in 1966. He has resisted the celebrity tendency to move somewhere bigger and swankier. 'Helen influenced our living an unostentatious life,' says the former Monty Python star, 82. 'I like meeting people. I like hearing their stories. I don't want to be cut off because of what I do and [it] is such a nice little area. You've got everything you want here. So why move? Unless you feel you want to or your status demands it.' His only concession was to buy the cottage next door and combine the houses. Lady Amelia takes a twirl at art show... Lady Amelia Windsor, whose sister Marina announced her engagement this week, is clearly in the mood to celebrate. The Duke of Kent's 29-year-old granddaughter gave a twirl in the courtyard of Burlington House as she arrived at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition preview party. Lady Amelia, who was once named as the 'most beautiful royal' by Tatler magazine, wore a one-shouldered, lime green mini-dress to the art event. Her sister, Lady Marina, 32, is to wed IT specialist Nico Macauley. ...While potter Perry really is a picture There was little chance of Sir Grayson Perry failing to stand out from the crowd at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition preview party. The cross-dressing potter, 65, was a riot of colour in a purple wig and an orange and yellow jumper featuring exaggerated puff sleeves. He paired the eccentric top with blue satin shorts, orange tights and fuchsia pink laced boots. The ceramicist has been a member of the Royal Academy since 2011. Kemi Badenoch says she has received advice from every living former Tory leader, with one exception. 'They've all offered me, actually, all except Liz [Truss], have offered advice,' she says. Interviewing her, comic
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Soldiers on alert over ‘Lee Rigby-style' threat to behead paratrooper
Military staff at an Army base have been put on alert over a 'Lee Rigby-style' threat to behead a paratrooper. Security has been tightened at the Colchester garrison, where Parachute Regiment battalions are located, after online threats were intercepted by Nottinghamshire police. All military staff at the base have been warned not to wear any uniforms or clothing outside the camp which would identify them as military personnel. The families of service members have also been sent warnings. Police are investigating the online threats, which come 12 years after the beheading of Fusilier Lee Rigby stunned Britain. Fusilier Rigby was murdered by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale on May 22 2013, outside the Royal Artillery barracks in Woolwich, south London, after he was seen wearing a Help for Heroes hoodie, which was popular with troops. The alert sent to families and service personnel at Colchester Garrison, where 3,500 troops and 750 civilian workers are based, says: 'Urgent. All, please disseminate to all your people in camp. 'We have received a warning that a man has made threats against members of the Para Regt and wants to carry out a 'Lee Rigby' style attack. 'The SCC [Security Control Centre] and main gate have been informed but ensure no Para Regt/military clothing is worn outside camp and remain vigilant.' The messages specifically named the suspect and stated other identifying details. It is not known whether he has yet been apprehended. The Ministry of Defence said: 'The safety and wellbeing of our personnel is our top priority. We are aware of an online threat, which is being investigated by the civilian police. 'Personnel are always advised to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to the Royal Military Police.' Colchester's military history dates back to the late 18th century when the first barracks were built in the city. The garrison is the home of 16 Air Assault Brigade and troops from the Parachute Regiment's second and third battalions, alongside other infantry and aviation units and supporting detachments such as logistics and medical personnel. Airborne forces are notorious for wearing regimental clothing outside working hours, particularly distinctive maroon-coloured T-shirts and fleeces, most often worn with tight jeans and desert boots, a tradition that goes back many decades. Fusilier Rigby was a father of one from Middleton, Greater Manchester, and had served in Afghanistan. At the time of his death, he was working in army recruitment. He was a trained machine-gunner and a regimental drummer. He was given a military funeral at Bury parish church on July 12 2013. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Police foil 'Lee Rigby style' threat to behead British paratrooper as security tightened at base in Colchester
A 'Lee Rigby-style' threat to behead a British paratrooper has been uncovered by police, the Mail can exclusively reveal. Security has been tightened at bases in Colchester where two Parachute Regiment battalions are located and Army families have been warned to protect their children. Defence sources have confirmed the suspect's identity and an image of him which was circulated by security officers at the Essex base. All military staff at the base have been warned not to wear any uniforms or any clothing which would identify them as being military personnel. The families of service members have also been sent warnings. Today, the Ministry of Defence confirmed the ongoing incident. The suspect's chilling threat is being investigated by Nottinghamshire Police which intercepted his online messages. It remains unclear whether the suspect has been apprehended. Twelve years ago, the beheading of Lee Rigby, 25, outside a Royal Artillery barracks in Woolwich, south London, stunned Britain. He was murdered by Michael Adebolajo and Adebowale on May 22nd 2013 after he was seen wearing a Help for Heroes hoodie popular with troops. The Mail has obtained copies of the warnings sent to families and service personnel at Colchester Garrison, where 3,500 troops and 750 civilian workers are based. In total, the military community in the city is estimated around 10,000. The Mail is not naming the suspect at the present time for legal reasons. The instructions to soldiers responsible for security at the base state: 'Urgent. All, please disseminate to all your people in camp. We have received warning that a man has made threats against members of the Para Regt and wants to carry out a 'Lee Rigby' style attack. 'The SCC [Security Control Centre] and main gate have been informed but ensure no Para Regt/military clothing is worn outside camp and remain vigilant.' These messages specifically named the suspect and stated other identifying details. The MOD said: 'The safety and wellbeing of our personnel is our top priority. We are aware of an online threat, which is being investigated by the civilian police. Personnel are always advised to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to the Royal Military Police.' Colchester's military history dates back to the late 18th century when the first barracks were built in the Essex city. Today, it is the home of 16 Air Assault Brigade and troops from the Parachute Regiment's second and third battalions are based there alongside other infantry and aviation units and supporting detachments such as logistics and medical personnel. Airborne Forces are notorious for wearing regimental clothing outside working hours, particularly distinctive maroon-coloured t-shirts and fleeces, most often worn with tight jeans and desert boots, a tradition that goes back many decades. Fusilier Rigby was a father-of-one from Middleton, Greater Manchester, and had served in Afghanistan. At the time of his death he was working in army recruitment. He was a trained machine-gunner and a regimental drummer. He was given a military funeral at Bury Parish Church on 12th July 2013.
