Patron - Robert Lawrence MC
Born in 1960, Robert joined the Army in 1977, and was commissioned into the Scots Guards. He served in West Belfast and qualified as a jungle warfare instructor in Brunei, later working in Africa. He was selected for 14 Intelligence Company and also participated in Operation Corporate.
Robert was awarded an MC for his involvement in leading the final assault on Mount Tumbledown, East Falkland. During the clean-up phase Robert was engaged and hit by a 7.62 round to the head.
Wheelchair bound for about two years he still carries a paralysed left arm, foot, ankle and left leg. Attempting to champion the plight of returning veterans in 1988 Robert made the film ‘Tumbledown’ with the BBC.
Robert is also Patron for Tickets for Troops and Mentor for Heropreneurs. In 2009 he was Patron to a group, raising well over £100,000 for Combat Stress.
Robert also runs Global Adventure Plus (GAP) that helps Britain's ex service personnel get back on their feet after serving their country in the forces. Through the challenges of adventure, teamwork and carmeraderie, GAP re-inigorates and re-motivates service personnel who have lost their way since leaving the job they knew and loved.
In 2010 Robert kindly invited two members of the VIA Team along with other veterans and civilians to take part on an adventure of a lifetime driving to the highest point in the Himalayas which was a fantastic experience.
VIA is proud to be associated with Robert and GAP and is honoured to have him as one of our patrons and hope in the future to do a joint venture with GAP on one of their future expeditions.
“Having been injured whilst serving with the Scots Guards on Mount Tumbledown, I have personal experience of the consequences and dichotomy of participating in armed conflict. Many who have not served find it hard to understand that the very activity that could have scarred an individual may remain the very thing they wish they could still do. I’ve always felt that it wasn’t the going to war that was hard, it was the coming home after. In my experience service personnel are proud to serve and accept the danger of death or even, as I see it, the ultimate sacrifice of living with a severe injury".
Robert A. D. Lawrence MC
Captain (Ret’d) Scots Guards
