The impetus for forming a team came from a number of us former Denbury boys who had already taken part in Ten Tors 2005 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the formation of Junior Leaders Regiment, Royal Corps Signals. This was the organisation that administrated the inaugural event. It is only fitting that the boys who originally were the guinea pigs for this very first one in 1960 do take part in the 50th Anniversary of Ten Tors Expedition, remembering that we will all be aged 60 and older!

There are numerous sources that have already compiled a detailed history of the development of the Denbury Boys and the two web sites where these can be found are www.denburyjuniorleaders.com and www.denburydays.co.uk.

But let us explain the background behind the decision to take part and provide people with some idea as to why Denbury Boys are proud to have been ‘processed’ through Denbury Camp (Rawlinson Barracks), Newton Abbot and how they have formed this very deep loyalty and spirit amongst themselves.

The Denbury boys are a unique bunch in that they came and went so quickly. Formed in September 1955, their short life span ended with their demise in 1967 with only 2,500 passing through this very intense military and adventurous training establishment. The emphasis throughout was on leadership with the term ‘use your initiative’ and ‘get on with it’ being the most popular phrases uttered.

Ten Tors was developed as an adjunct to this type of leadership training. It is because of this attitude, that having decided that we should enter a team for the 50th event, the next thing we considered was how we could use it to other people’s advantage.

Looking after our colleagues has always been a major part of our ethos and it was because of this we decided that we would support the Royal Signals Association (RSA) and Help for Heroes (H4H). We want people to support us by contributing as much as you can to these 2 charities. Individual team members will be supporting these and obtaining other individual sponsorship.

One of the most striking aspects between the original event and today’s event is that if we had the Health and Safety legislation we have now we doubt if it would have ever got off the ground and gone ahead! This is not a criticism at the present situation in 2010 but a straightforward comparison with what the lads had to endure at the start in the 1950s and how the event has changed.

The first teams did not even have enough sleeping bags and bivouacs for every entrant. Army blankets with very large safety pins (Blanket Pins) and a waterproof cover was the norm.

When the lads did the 2005 event they were very impressed with the rigorous safety inspections that take place before every event. There is a detailed checklist that has to be satisfied before any team is let loose on the moor. Oh what a difference from when we used to take part all those years ago!

We had the old fashioned studded boots (Boots Ammunition for the use of!), 2nd world war webbing equipment, big heavy ponchos; in fact in today’s safety conscious environment we doubt if we would be allowed on the moor dressed like that!

Today’s event has become very sophisticated and all Denbury Boys are naturally proud to have been part of this. The event is now open to every part of the youth spectrum with the special Jubilee Challenge event for those with disabilities and special needs, what a fantastic example of what young people can do against adversity! In the “bad old days” of the early 1960s it would never have been considered to allow such young people out onto the moors for the event.

Thank goodness times have changed for the better and how fantastic it is that everybody still feels the same spirit of exhilaration when they cross the finish line.

We might change but Dartmoor does not. It is still one of the most remote and isolated areas of the UK with all the inherent challenges still there for every one to pit themselves against. As they say in the military “stag on” and we hope Ten Tors continues for a very long time to come.

Good luck to everyone taking part this year, and if you should see a team with greyer hair than most, and maybe a lot slower than everyone, do give us a wave – 50 years ago we would have been up there with you!

We sincerely hope that the inspiration that Dartmoor gave us half a century ago does the same for you and that maybe, just maybe, there will be a team this year who returns for the Ten Tors 100th in 2060!

Best wishes from the Denbury Boys Team 2010