Ian Lynch - Aberdovey, Wales, 1984

I came three years running for a week's course with my school, Lyncroft House and our PE Teacher Al Vigus. I was a kid with for too much energy, free will and distraction to fit well into academia. I struggled my whole school life. At Outward Bound I found a release for all that boundless energy and through the activities and guidance I found so much confidence to take things on in other parts of my life. If I could cross 'The Grott Pot" and save my team, I could do an hour of homework without fuss. If I could help build a functioning raft to sail down the river, I could hold down a job. And if I could share chores, daily news and weather reporting, and climb and abseil, I could be part of a work team! I still think of how good I felt as a direct result of being there and I'm now 54. It was a long time ago and yet it had such a positive impact on me, it is still a very clear memory from that time. I don't have photos from the time but I have all the images in my head.