DOUGLAS BADER FOUNDATION AMBASSADORS are acknowledged for their outstanding support of the charity.
We are greatly indebted to them all.
- PHIL PACKER
Phil Packer
“To be asked to be an Ambassador for a Trust set up in memory of a man who epitomises inspiration and courage and whowas a forerunner in displaying what you can do and not what you cannot, is an absolute honour. To support the Douglas Bader Foundation and in particular the Bader Braves initiative, giving children with limb loss and other disabilities their first experience of flight in a light aircraft, fills me with immense pleasure and delight. Giving children this opportunity provides self-belief, self-confidence, excitement and sews a seed of what they can do; I hope that those introduced to the Foundation will support this initiative and the aeronautical industry and pilots throughout the country will continue to be involved and assist to give more children this wonderful opportunity.”
Phil Packer MBE Founder of the British Inspiration Trust and Ambassador for the Douglas Bader Foundation
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- DAVID GARDNER (entry to follow)
- ADAM LAYER
Adam Layer
“I am very proud to be an ambassador of the Douglas Bader Foundation. I have been drawn into the world of aviation head first, and have felt first hand the ecstatic feeling of being in the air above the earth, and taking control of a light aircraft. By giving young people in difficult circumstances the opportunity to do this, the foundation provides them with an experience they will never forget. I remember after my first flight, thinking; ‘if I can do this, I can do anything”. I have been inspired, and I hope many more children can be.
Adam Layer. Amputee, Aircraft Engineer and Ambassador for the Douglas Bader Foundation
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- MARGARET BIGGS (entry to follow)
- WYN JENKINS
“I remember distinctly the first time I saw a false leg – I was 7 years old. I know that, because I was attending a 7th birthday party at a friend’s house and he was the same age. I can’t describe my emotion at the time but it must have been a shock as I can still vividly see the image of this “thing” against the wall with a shoe stuck on the end.
This negative mental image stayed with me until I went to the cinema to see “Reach for the Sky”. All my friends went and being children of post-war Britain we were riveted by the heroics of our pilots in their Spitfires and Hurricanes – we watched all the war films of that era. I remember squirming when Douglas Bader found out he’d lost his legs in the aeroplane crash but I also vividly remember how my feelings of unease changed during the film to one of admiration as I watched this hero battle not only the enemy but his disability. Watching the screen adaptation depicting his enormous strength of character and the way he overcame adversity was a significant moment in my life – it’s still one of my favourite films and I’ve shown it to my children and grandchildren who also love it!
Imagine how I felt therefore when, by a strange quirk of fate, I lost my own leg and ended up meeting members of Sir Douglas’ family at a meeting in Bath to discuss ways in which the Foundation could assist in setting up a Peer Support programme to help new amputees and their families. For me, it was a huge pleasure to be amongst people who were determined to carry on the good work of Sir Douglas who spent much of his time helping other amputees and people with congenital limb-loss.
When I was invited to become an Ambassador of the Foundation I felt extremely honoured and felt a connection that cannot be adequately described.
The Foundation represents the spirit of a man who had a ‘can do, will do’ attitude to his own life but who was also selflessly committed to improving the quality of life for people living life with limb loss. It’s a charity that I am proud and honoured with which to be associated”
Wyn Jenkins – Ambassador for the Douglas Bader Foundation
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- NATHAN DOIDGE
Nathan ‘Reached for the Sky’ to achieve his Private Flying License at Goodwood Airfield on Monday 13th August 2012.
Supported financially by a number of private individuals and selected for the Flying Scholarships for Disabled People, The Douglas Bader Foundation awarded a 2012 Bader Grant to Nathan to enable him to achieve his goal of gaining his Private Pilot’s Licence.
Nathan will be flying in to visit us at our 2013 Bader Braves Flying Days at White Waltham, Goodwood, Dunkeswell, RAF Cranwell and Bodmin.
‘’Congratulations on a great pass on your GST today. I thought your flying was well above average! Apart from the fact that you flew really well, it was even more special for me considering you had an ASI failure after the first circuit and you flew the rest of the circuit detail, on a test, without any airspeed information!!! Simply outstanding! It just goes to show, you can fly by attitude and power! I feel very confident in your ability to deal safely with a similar situation should one ever occur… As you know, it subsequently transpired we had a “Bee Strike!”, the attached photo shows it was a direct hit on the pitot head! It’s just as I said, every flight is different and you always have to be prepared for an unexpected situation! ATC said your landings were good….. well they were…. and even better considering some were without an ASI! A good glide approach without an ASI is exceptional for anyone!’’ Steve Bradd –Examiner.
Nathan was born with cerebral palsy and is passionate about flying. At the moment he is thought to be the most profoundly disabled solo pilot in Britain. Nathan, 32, lives in Hayle, Cornwall.
’’Regarding your question about whether I’m finding it more difficult than I expected, I’d have to answer ‘Yes and No ‘, considering I began hoping to get my licence within the four weeks of my scholarship and it’s now two and a half years later, the answer is a resounding yes!’’ Nathan responded.
’’There have been many hurdles along the way I’ve found extremely difficult to overcome and everyone else has often seemed to have had more faith in me than I have, particularly since my first solo.’’
’’While this is nice,’’ he continued, ’’the downside I’ve often found is this added a lot of extra pressure on me to succeed. With just about everything else I’ve done throughout my life, I’ve become more used to believing in myself and having to fight to convince everyone else, with the exception of my parents, of my ability. ’’
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