johnsunter.com >> pictures >> fairbridge drake
My collection of old pictures, of my sister Emma and her friends.
As mentioned elsewhere on the site, I worked as a volunteer at the Fairbridge Drake Society (now called Fairbridge).
They motivated unemployed and people with various problems, using outdoor pursuits.
I did loads of really smart courses with them, and in this picture we are about to set off for 10 days in Scotland, visiting the Isle of Skye (see my return to the isle of Skye).
FD had 12 centers throughout the UK.
On one of the trips, we canoed the length of the river Thames.
Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures from that trip, but here are the canoes, which I used to clean regularly.
FD also had a center in Applecross, in the Northwest highlands of Scotland
I did several courses here, the outdoor pursuits were obviously excellent, but it also had a community feel to it, and I saw several people who initially seemed "rough" really come out of their shell.
Some of the happiest times I can remember in my life, were here.
After nearly 14 years, of not hearing anything from/about Fairbridge Drake, I am out walking in the Brecon Beacons, and come upon a Fairbridge van, which I couldn't resist photographing.
The first course I did with them, was 4 days away from home, for which I was completely unprepared. After a day of activities, we were taken to a large cave in the middle of no-where, handed some essentials, and left to fend for ourselves.
I think I probably progressed more as a person in those 4 days, than I had in the previous 5 years (in the first evening, I had to work out how to cook, work out how to operate the stove, make up my sleeping bag for the night, sleep on the ground, make friends etc).
Nearly 20 years later, Lee, Cazzy and I managed to find out where the Cave was, and we decided to re-visit it.
I wont write any more about it, as it would be impossible to capture the feelings I had whilst in there.
