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BEGINS
A team of former Royal Signal soldiers, all over 60 years of age, will take part in the Dartmoor Ten Tors expedition 2010. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the start of the event they have been allowed to enter a team. Bob Etherton, who took part in the very first one in 1960 said, “We are looking forward to the event and it will be quite a physical challenge but it will bring back a lot of pleasant memories. It will be great to get together as a team after all these years. In addition to enjoying the event, we hope to raise money for service charities”.

The team are now in full training and a recent event took place in Nidderdale to 'stretch the legs'. Since they took part in the early events in the 1960s there have been vast changes to the Ten Tors format. In those days the health and safety approach was really 'use your common sense' and equipment was rather 'spartan'. Since then, all aspects of safety have been paramount. It is with this in mind that the team are undertaking their own personal fitness training and some scheduled group walking up and down the country.

Major General David McDowall, the team Patron says, “I am delighted to be intimately involved with this the 50th anniversary of the Ten Tors event and as a former boy soldier myself I am proud to be associated with the ex-Denbury boy soldiers who are taking on this very strenuous task. They have my heart felt best wishes in their endeavours and I would encourage you to support them throughout this arduous expedition”.

As Bob Etherton said, sponsorship is part of the exercise. The team are looking for all manner of sponsorship from organisations that could provide equipment, training support and accommodation and of course money. Help for Heroes and the Royal Signals Association are the two service charities that the team are supporting. For more information on how to donate contact the team manager John Topping.

Brigadier Stephen Hodder, Commander 43 (Wessex) Brigade and Director Ten Tors, said he was delighted that some of the founding participants of the event were able to take part as a team, “It is an example to all the young people to be able to see that the impact of Ten Tors remains with you even after 50 years.  We are looking forward to this exciting anniversary and would welcome any assistance or ideas that people can provide to help celebrate this magnificent event.  Details of Ten Tors 2010 and the 50th Anniversary will be available on the web site soon”. 

ENDS

For more information please contact:

John Topping
Team Manager
Denbury Boys Ten Tors Team
South Appleton
Bellman Walk
Woodlands
Ripon HG4 2TY

Tel: 01765 609449
Mobile: 07905 065966
Email: john.topping@btinternet.com

For more information on the ex-Boys see
http://www.denburyjuniorleaders.com 

For more information on Ten Tors see
http://events.exeter.ac.uk/tentors/welcome.htm