The Teams

  • |Jan Koops|
    |

    Jan Koops

    |

    Inspired by memories of those who did not return with him from the Falklands, Jan Koops together with Rod Morgan, will walk the entire 870 miles of the beautiful Welsh coast path, accompanying the 11 relay teams and the commemorative baton on their journey.

    Jan says "This is a very personal journey of remembrance for me, a pilgrimage that I have wanted to do for many years."

    Read more
  • |Rod  Morgan|
    |

    Rod Morgan

    |

    Walking the entire coast with Jan, Rod says "I spent 22 years in the Welsh Guards and enjoyed it immensely. So did my family.

    I left unscathed. I was a lucky man, many are not. They have scars both mental and physical.These people need our support."

    Read more
  • |Team 1 - Paul Conlon|
    |

    Team 1 - Paul Conlon

    |

    Paul joined the Welsh Guards as a boy soldier in 1979 and left in 1990 after serving in many locations around the world.

    Paul says, "To be asked to lead the first leg of Walk on Wales made me feel that at last I could give something back to families and friends of the Welsh Guards who have always been there for me. I am looking forward to getting together with members past and present and seeing what we can achieve."

     

    Read more
  • |Team 2 - Billy Mott|
    |

    Team 2 - Billy Mott

    |

    Warrant Officer Class 1 (Garrison Sergeant Major) (Billy) W D G Mott OBE MVO enlisted into the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in April 1979. He has served with the Battalion in Belize, Canada, Cyprus, France, Germany, Kenya and the USA.  Billy will be walking the second stage and says "I was first informed of the proposed walk by Jan Koops and Dai Graham, during the Weekend of the Welsh Guards service of commemoration, for all those killed in the Falklands campaign in Wrexham earlier this year (2012)."
     

    Read more
  • |Team 3 - Keith Lewis (2nd left)|
    |

    Team 3 - Keith Lewis (2nd left)

    |

    The first half of Anglesey will be walked by Keith Lewis and his team. Talking here about his motivation for Walk on Wales, he says: "Lesley and I have been married for 26 years and we have four children, two grandchildren and a son-in-law who is currently on his third tour of OP Herrick with 32 Regt RA.  My son Jason and nephew Andy Woosnam have both served with the Welsh Guards; I also have two great nephews Joe and Guy Woosnam currently serving, who have both recently returned from OP Herrick."

    Read more
  • |Team 4 - Mark Horwood|
    |

    Team 4 - Mark Horwood

    |

    Mark Horwood will be leading the fourth team as they make their way along the coast. He says of Walk on Wales, "This fundraising walk, to me, not only supports two fantastic charities, it's much more. It also says to the families of our fallen brothers, and those that are injured both physically and mentally, that we will never forget their sacrifice. Once a member of the Welsh Guards, always a member of the Welsh Guards family. Cymru am Byth. LETS GET WALKING!"

    Read more
  • |Team 5 - Steve Jones|
    |

    Team 5 - Steve Jones

    |

    Steve Jones has stepped in as team leader for stage 5 as Henry Vaughan Jones had to step down for geographcial reasons. He says: "I was attached to the Scots Guards during the Falklands conflict and the majority of the Welsh Guards killed on the Sir Galahad were from my platoon - this is why this event is an absolute "have to do" for me. I feel it is the very least I can do to keep their memory alive."

    Read more
  • |Team 6 - Andrew Speed|
    |

    Team 6 - Andrew Speed

    |

    Lieutenant ColoneL Andrew Speed went to school at Winchester and studied for a degree in French and Business at Oxford Polytechnic. Despite being a Scots Guards officer he was posted to be the Second in Command of the Welsh Guards in 2007. Heading up a team means a lot for Andrew who says "Leading a team for Walk on Wales represents an opportunity for me to raise funds in the memory of those Welsh Guardsmen that have been lost since World War II but particularly those that were killed in 2009."

    Read more
  • |Team 7 - Jim Salmon|
    |

    Team 7 - Jim Salmon

    |

    Jim Salmon is heading up the seventh stage. Jim says "I'm privileged to be part of a team involved in raising funds for the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal and Combat Stress."

    Jim was born, and still lives, in St Davids, Pembrokeshire. He joined the Army in 1978, later to join 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in Berlin. He served in Northern Ireland, Falklands, Germany and Pirbright Surrey.

    Read more
  • |Team 8 - Mal Davies|
    |

    Team 8 - Mal Davies

    |

    Malcolm (Mal) Davies is a 62-year retired police officer from Markham in Gwent. He says: "On hearing of the WOW appeal, I thought that this was a challenge and worthwhile cause. I would like to say that I have had a good life, and if my small contribution towards this worthwhile cause can give a little help to the Guardsmen and their families who need it, I am more than willing to give up my time for them."

    His team will be made of retired Welsh Guardsmen all over the age of 60.

    Read more
  • |Team 9 - Rob Davies|
    |

    Team 9 - Rob Davies

    |

    Rob joined the Battalion in 1985 and served in Northern  Ireland, Belize, Canada and a few other places until 1997. He says ‘I absolutely loved my  time in the Regiment and really enjoy getting involved with all  things to do with the Welsh Guards, so when the message came to me that Walk on Wales was looking for someone to lead a team from Freshwater West to Burry Port, I jumped at the chance.”

    To quote Rob he is "the slim good looking one pictured second from left

    Read more
  • |Team 10 - David (Dai) Graham (left)|
    |

    Team 10 - David (Dai) Graham (left)

    |

    Dai will be walking stage ten with Brian Elliot, Swill Hinder and Ernie Whitehurst, here he recollects his time in the Welsh Guards and tells us why the Walk is important to him: "Although my time in the Welsh Guards was short and fairly sweet, (nine years), I can only ever remember the good times and the camaraderie. I joined in Sept 1975 and after six very testing months passed out a Welsh Guardsman."

    Read more
  • |Team 11 - Sam Bossi|
    |

    Team 11 - Sam Bossi

    |

    Sam Bossi is leading the final leg from Porth Cawl into Cardiff and is the current Commanding Officer's wife, Sam says "I am looking forward to being part of this fantastic challenge that brings so many people of the Welsh Guards family together for two very special and important charities.

    The Welsh Guards pride themselves on being a family regiment and challenges such as WOW are a perfect demonstration of everyone pulling together."

    Read more