I... Series Two
The journey continues..
Series Two followed the same format as Series One of I..., carrying on with the popular positive representation message that made the first series. Again, all images taken and shared by those involved were chosen for the positive message they portrayed.
As with the first series, those taking part were initially not asked questions regarding their thoughts on being a veteran, but as the series progressed story's were shared.
If you see yourself below and would like to add details to your story please do get in contact via the welcome page.
The Faces of I... Series Two
Below are the twenty-one posters and stories that featured in Series Two of I...
Les Fletcher
Royal Navy veteran Les continues to serve his community as a police officer.
Emma Fletcher
Royal Navy former Petty Officer Writer, now works for the NHS as a Practice Manager.
Emma’s poster was kindly shared by Veterans UK.
Steve Barker
Featuring RAF veteran Steve Baker, who works as a project manager in Australia this poster was definitely shattering perceptions. This is the energy I... was designed to capture.
Jo Morrin
Self employed remote administrator and veteran (RAF) Jo Morrins photograph was another great image of self-representation that broke the stereotypes of how we view veterans.
Matt Williams
The fifth poster of Series Two features former Royal Engineer Matt Williams, who has completed tours of the Balkans and Southeast Asia. Matt is now freelancing as a business consultant, writer and editor. As with all Veterans, certain habits die hard. Matt is no exception, taking his athletics seriously and competing at local events in his home of British Columbia, Canada. Matt is also partial to the construction of Adirondack Chairs.
Matt’s poster was kindly shared by Veterans UK.
Sally Kale
Former RAF Chef Sally Cale now lives in New Zealand, volunteering as a firefighter in the New Zealand Fire Service. Sally's voluntary service proves that serving our communities is a common theme among service Veterans.
Andrew Sayers
Former Army Major, Andrew Sayers is a qualified pilot with the Scottish Air Ambulance and Eastern Airways. This just goes to show how flexible we Veterans are & how we really can turn our hands to anything. Including flying aircraft in some of the most inhospitable air space in the UK! During Andrew’s service with the Army he wore several cap badges. Initially joining the Royal Military Police he then moved onto the Royal Corps of Transport, where he gained his commission & finally serving with the Black Watch. He completed several tours of Northern Ireland before leaving as a Major doffing his Tam O Shanter & donning his flying helmet to take to the skies!
Fiona Duncan
Former WRAF Fiona Duncan lives in the outskirts of Lincoln where she spends her time fettling her garden and working on commissions and work in her small studio. Originally from Cumbria, Fiona’s art focus’s on her roots. Using acrylics & water colours Fiona paints evocative images of coastal Scotland as well as its many mountains & Glens. Ever the creative type artist Fiona also sells a range of decorative cards to pay for her materials. Click here to visit Fiona's shop.
Fiona’s poster was kindly shared by Veterans UK.
Grant Donnelly
Grant served in the RAF for nine years, working with complex airfield communications & Radar systems. After leaving the RAF, Grant emigrated to Canada and settled in Oakville, Ontario. There, Grant works with fellow Veterans & their families, providing them with social, resettlement and career transition support & advice. Yet again, showing the selflessness that Veterans learn in basic training, regardless of branch of service, rank & appointment, stays with us once we leave the Armed Forces
Verena Smith
From Verena's press release 12 April 2016:
“Veteran flexibility: Telecoms to Teaching”
Veterans working in and with their communities these weeks face poster ten of “I…am a Veteran”, which is most definitely flying the flag for community engagement. Former RAF Telecommunication operator Verena Smith now lives & works in Dundee, where she teaches English at a local secondary school.
Whilst a great many Veterans enter a range of industries that play on their strengths and experiences gained from service with the military, be it management roles to security and logistics, a great many seek out a new vocation that allows them to work with and for the benefit of the communities in which they live.
Aside from volunteering and working within the health and social care fields, teaching is often a favoured profession among our Veterans. Verena chose the road to teaching, saying that it provided her with:
“…the challenge or every day being different and the hope of being able to make a difference to the lives of young people”
This statement echoes the sentiment of a great many Veterans in similar roles up & down the country. Whether they’re volunteering with their local Air Scouts or, like Verena, teaching in our schools, it all goes to show how flexible we Veterans truly are & how much we believe in giving back to our communities.
Verena's poster was kindly shared by Veterans UK.
Pindi Singh
From Pindi's press release 19 April 2016:
“It’s not just transferable skills, its valuable skills.”
Former RAF "Rigger" (Aircraft Mechanic Airframes) Pindi Singh, now living in Musselburgh, East Lothian, works with Royal Mail as an Automation Maintenance Engineer. When Pindi heard about the "I..am a Veteran" project, he was keen to get involved, saying that he wanted to;
"…break the perception that British Asians don't just work in corner shops but have served Queen and Country."
Today's employers not only seek relevant transferable skills from the prospective service Veteran employee but also seek soft skills. There is, on occasion, a perception by employers that veterans lack the necessary soft skills because of the perceived rigidity of the military mindset. This makes the service Veteran applicant appear 'set in their ways'.
Yet, as we've seen throughout the project, especially with last week's poster of teacher Verena Smith, nothing is further from the truth. Veterans are as adaptable and as flexible as anyone else. On this adaptability and flexibility, Pindi states,
"… the most valuable skill brought over to civvy street is the ability to work with and enable people of all diversities to work together as a team. Putting aside all differences to work towards a common goal. Bringing over the sense of camaraderie you got in the forces."
Our adaptability and flexibility are born from the well-designed learning system that the service veteran encounters from day one of service. Over the period of an individual's service, this system guides and teaches the right approaches to achieving team cohesion through example and structured learning. This same system also teaches Veterans the importance of humility. The humility to learn, to be part of a team, to set aside their own ambitions, to pit in with others, sometimes complete strangers, so they can achieve the team goal.
These valuable skills are something that we as veterans don't boast too much about, probably because they're second nature, but it's time we should start doing so.
Mandie Barker
From Mandie's press release 12 April 2016:
"Old Habits Die Hard."
Mandie initially joined the RAF as a Telephonist, spending four years in the role before working at the Careers Information Office in Leeds for six years.
Now based in Alberta, Canada, Mandie works as an Operations Administrator. Mandie has found that certain habits picked up during her period of service die hard. Mandie cites that her service with the RAF has equipped her with a range of skills that allow her to;
"…multi-task, I crisis manage, and I am very organised… that catches a lot of my colleagues unawares. I retained the phonetic alphabet (what can I say, I'm Comms!!) and use it everyday at work."
One of the key habits that she's kept has been her time management skills;
"I think the timekeeping is my biggest thing, I hate being late."
However, there is always something that perhaps we like to leave behind, such as PT in mid-winter, but in Mandie's case;
"I stopped wearing a skirt [and] only wear trousers now".
Mandie's poster was kindly shared by Veterans UK.
Alan Deans
From Alan's press release 3 May 2016:
“Sometimes it’s about giving back.”
With Armed Forces Day approaching at a pace (27.06.16) and the last poster planned to be launched the preceding week, it's important to remember the work many Veterans do for the wider Veteran community to which they belong. This work is voluntary through a sense of quiet and unwavering kinship instilled during service.
This week's poster features former Royal Corps of Signals Terminal Equipment Technician Alan Deans. Alan is one Veteran who certainly gives back to his communities, both military and civilian.
Now living in Glasgow, Scotland, Alan is a Community Worker with his local council and an active member of the Royal Corps of Signals Association. Alan feels it's important to maintain military connections and support fellow Veterans, saying:
"It's an honour for me to be able to give something back through fund raising or assisting veteran organisations to get funding."
Of his own period of service with the Army, Alan has this to say:
"I feel proud to have served and been part of one of the biggest families in the world.
Being a veteran says it all: proud to have served, proud to have achieved what I have, and if it wasn't for my time in HM Forces, I wouldn't be the person I am today or have the skills I have which have served me well."
Angela Westbrook
From Angela's press release 10 May 2016:
"STEM, Empowerment & Self Belief."
Part-time engineering consultant and Maths tutor Angela joined the RAF in August 1996 as a Fighter Controller, serving seventeen years before leaving and starting her new adventure.
Since leaving the RAF, Angela has been busy with more than a few ventures, including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) projects.
Angela now has:
"…an engineering consultancy, a fitness business and a new franchise business called mum2mum markets. That's all on top of having an investment property, being a maths teacher and doing tutoring."
So how does Angela feel now she's left the RAF and her interests are growing?
"Honestly, I feel like I can take on the world and achieve absolutely anything I choose to take on; so far, I am managing to do that with everything I have attempted, and it's the ultimate buzz. My kids at school are thriving, the kid I tutor has come on leaps and bounds, and my business allows me huge flexibility and a chance to change and grow, learning new skills all the time.
That's what I tell the kids at school. Build lots of small, simple things together, and you can achieve amazing results."
Angela's transition from front line Fighter Controller to inspiring young people to investigate the importance of STEM provides an insight into how flexible we are as Veterans & how open we are to adopting new ideas, adapting new ways of learning and empowering our own lives and those of the communities in which we live, work and serve.
Angela’s poster was kindly shared by Veterans UK.
Jean-Claude Hedouin
From Jean-Claude's press release 16 May 2016:
“Advocacy and Humour.”
This week’s poster represents Veterans who work with differing communities and cultures. Often, they become a bridge between two separate cultures, using their unique insights to tell both sides of a story in an easily understood way.
Former Royal Corps of Signals member Jean-Claude (JC) Hedouin now works as the director of a veteran-only recruitment agency. It wasn’t his first choice of career:
“Strangely enough I did not choose recruitment, it chose me, I stumbled into it and found that I was good at it and I like helping people achieve their goals.”
That was over eleven years ago, and during that time, JC had to work closely with veterans and employers to determine the expectations of each party. These expectations are about identifying the most practical workplace skills needed by employers that enable veterans to succeed in their post-service careers by helping employers understand that veterans are rarely like Pike or Blackadder and that they come ready-equipped with unique skills.
When asked what the best asset a Veteran brings to any employer, JC has this to say:
“What can a soldier [Veteran] bring to the workplace? There are a lot of things they can bring, but the best thing is a good sense of humour, because when things get tense, a good laugh can bring the tension down, and get everyone looking to get back into the groove…”
A common feature that has cropped up time and again is the theme of resilience & determination, most notably demonstrated in the recent Invictus Games in Florida. Humour is one key element in maintaining that resilience, whether on the parade square or in the board room, for as many an SNCO has remarked:
“If you can’t take a joke you shouldn’t have joined!”
Jo Watkinson
From Jo's press release 24 May 2016:
"From Helicopters to Teaching & Motherhood"
Every poster featured in "I…" tells the story of a Veteran's life, be it past, present and in some cases, future. This poster is most definitely one of those. Jo Watkinson has gone from flying combat missions in Afghanistan as an experienced front-line RAF Merlin helicopter pilot with 28 (Army Co-operation) Squadron to teaching science at a Lincoln Academy and raising two children.
As has been seen already in this series of posters, Jo is one of several featured Veterans who have left the Armed Forces and found a new life in the classroom.
When asked what the best advice she could give to fellow Veterans who are considering teaching as a future career, Jo had this to say:
"Pick a subject that you love and remember that the more you love the subject, the more inspiring you will be."
When asked about what have been the most challenging facets of service life to give up, Jo hit the nail on the head with two of the all-time 'greats':
"Use of the 24hour clock.... And abbreviations"
As with everything, there is always another side to the coin; what were the easiest habits to break?
"Not sure about the easiest, but I love having control of where I live and not having to deploy out the country now I'm a mum."
Jo’s poster was kindly shared by Veterans UK.
Liam DeMarney
From Liam's press release 31 May 2016:
“Management & Camaraderie”
This week's "I…" poster features London-based Transport for London (TfL) Service Manager Liam DeMarney. Liam joined the RAF as part of Trade Group 11 (Communications), serving twenty-four years before working with TfL.
Atypical of many Veterans who leave the Armed Forces, Liam moved into a management position. Liam now works on one of the busiest rail networks in the world, supporting staff and service users of the Bakerloo underground line, home to the famous Marylebone and Bakers Street station stops.
When asked what the most rewarding part of his role was, Liam's response was characteristic of any Veterans outlook on management and teamwork:
"… [the most rewarding element] is to manage an incident from start to finish, being part of the team that helps finding a solution that brings a swift conclusion to any incident."
Liam is also a London Transport Old Comrades Association (LTOC) member. As part of LTOC, Liam helps to conduct the annual poppy collections at stations along Bakerloo and elsewhere. He also joins fellow Veterans and members of London Transport who have served on the Home Front on their annual Remembrance parade along The Mall, where they pay their respects to the fallen at the Cenotaph.
This honour was granted by King George V to London Transport in 1923 as recognition of the service of those who drove Buses to the front lines in France during World War 1. This parade is a "… simultaneously a humbling and proud experience…" for Liam.
What about Liam's unique poster photograph? Liam wanted to show that he still "…retains the [famous] military sense of humour".
I can't argue with that.
Hannah
Bosomworth-Bolger
From Hannah's press release 7 June 2016:
“Turning old passions into a new future”
This week’s poster features self-employed artist and veteran Hannah Bosomworth-Bolger. Hannah's service role was in logistics, during which she served nine years with the RAF, followed by a further three with the Army. Hannah now lives in Pontypool, where she produces works of art known as “Scherenschnitte”. These works are created by cutting designs into paper using scissors and knives.
Hannah was asked what drew her to the art of Scherenschnitte and how it has developed.
“I have always been arty, I studied art and design as well as dress making and design prior to joining up. I chose to follow paper cutting as it helped focus my mind with all the intricate detail during a low time in my life where I was struggling with civilian life (I’ve been a civvy for 4 years). I started out using it as therapy, however the demand for examples of my art has allowed me to start my own full time business.”
When asked what advice Hannah would give a fellow Veteran or service leaver considering self employment, Hannah had this to say;
“Service in the Armed forces encourages you to be self motivated, so self employment is ideal. It allows you to put all the self discipline you’ve gained into practise for your own benefit.”
Hannah's poster was kindly shared by Veterans UK.
Eddie Cooper
From Eddie's press release 14 June 2016:
“Cool Britannia –Supporting our Heritage”
This week’s poster features Retired Veteran and Railway Heritage Volunteer Eddie Cooper. Eddie works as a Ticket Collector on the Nene Valley Railway in Cambridgeshire as one of a team of volunteers who freely give their time to help promote heritage within various sites across Great Britain.
With an overall contribution to the tourism economy in 2013 of £126.9 billion GVA, the heritage is hugely important. Not only in terms of strengthening the UK Brand, but its continued growth of 3.8% annually* helps generate income into areas which host Heritage Sites and provide career opportunities for all. For example, there were some 4,526 trainees and apprenticeships in heritage-related craft skills in 2013/14* alone, with the industry set to grow over the next decade, that number will also increase.
As for the critical role of volunteers in this growth industry, the DCMS estimates that nearly half a million (423,000) people volunteer in heritage activities every year, which is approximately 1.1% of the UK adult population.
What are the benefits to the individual volunteer? The new service leaver can help create and build relationships with others outside the forces environment. It allows the individual to share their previous experiences and professional knowledge in a manner & theme of their choosing.
Volunteering has been shown to provide a sense of purpose for those recently retired. It can also uphold both physical and mental health. It can also be the catalyst that teaches new skills and provides an entry into a new professional field.
A great many Veterans freely volunteer their time, not only to local Heritage attractions but also to charitable and community organisations. Eddie is one of the volunteers who help support our important heritage industry and make it an attraction to over 20 million visitors a year. His input, along with that of his fellow volunteers, helps make Cool Britannia just that little bit cooler.
Sarah Rea
From Sarah's press release 21 June 2016:
"Skills for life"
This week's poster is the final issue of Series Two of "I…am a Veteran". The poster features financial project manager Sarah Rea. Sarah served in the RAF for nineteen years, working in personnel support. When asked what her most memorable experience was of her service, Sarah's response was simply;
"…helping run the repatriation ceremonies at RAF Lyneham for nearly two years."
Now working in the financial sector as a project manager, I asked Sarah what advice she would give anyone seeking a change in direction post-service.
"Don't underestimate your experience and your value to an employer - the skills life in the military gives you (leadership, communication, teamwork etc) are much sought after and can't be quickly learned, which lots of companies are starting to realise".
Sarah's poster had been kindly shared by Veterans UK.
Series Two Compilation Poster
This poster features the faces of the twenty veterans who kindly volunteered to be a part of I... Series Two.
Series Two
Promotional Posters
These posters were included in the lead up to and used for the duration of Series Two of I.... Series Two was later rerun in a project simply referred to as Rewound, as a precursor to Series Three.
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