CAREERS AND AWARDS
The Sovereign ’ s Parade was a grand occasion and a great opportunity for the Fenwick-Smith boys to reunite , celebrate with Jacob and be proud of their Pocklington roots . They all enjoyed the day and the camaraderie which they summarised with the following quotes :
Jacob ’ s former Housemaster , Patrick Dare reflected : “ It was a fantastic occasion and an honour and privilege to be invited to attend by Jacob and his family , who I got to know well during Jacob ’ s time as a boarder in Fenwick-Smith House . To witness the progression of a former pupil , from young CCF Cadet to a now fully-fledged serving officer in the British Army was a very proud moment for all of us who knew him at school .”
OP Rob Smith commented : “ Celebrating Jacob ’ s King ’ s Commission into the Regular Army at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst was a fantastic day for us . We were very proud to observe this immense achievement and the beginning of his military career as a brotherhood of Fenwick-Smith House boarders . It has been fascinating to reflect on how the CCF continues to inspire and shape our lives and careers since leaving the school over five years ago , with Jacob ’ s recent commissioning into the Royal Signals having been a prime example of this . It is particularly exciting that he is expected to be joining the British Army ’ s new Army Special Operations Brigade . We wish him the very best in all his endeavours , certa cito .”
Henry Foster concluded : “ The FSH boys consider us a one-unit team so naturally , when one of us achieves an accolade , we all have also . That said , in all seriousness , to say we are proud of Jacob would be an understatement .”
Reflecting on his memorable day , Jacob said : “ After 44 weeks of officer training , I am incredibly proud to have commissioned from Sandhurst . As I now move onto the start of my career in the Army , I am reminded of how much I owe to my time at
Pocklington School and the impact it continues to have over my life . Whether it be from the classroom , the rugby pitch , the boarding house , or the parade square on Thursday afternoon CCF , I left instilled with the virtues , confidence and determination which have shaped me into the person I am today .” He continued : “ Pock will always be a place I hold close to my heart , and I was warmly reminded of this on my commissioning day where I was humbled to share it with lifelong friends from Fenwick-Smith and even Mr Dare himself . Their support and guidance over the years have been invaluable in setting me up for success .”
Jacob ’ s commission follows on from fellow OP James Harrison ’ s ( 11-18 ) commission to the Yorkshire Regiment . He graduated from Sandhurst in August 2022 in the last Queen ’ s commissioning intake .
We wish both Jacob and James well in their army careers and look forward to hearing how they progress .
FROM VOLUNTEERING TO A NEW JOB AT 60 !
At the age of 60 , people might start to plan for a life of leisure and relaxation – OP Tim Brear had other plans !
Tim Brear ( 74-81 ) took up volunteering in his spare time after he retired in 2017 from a 25-year career in financial services . Little did he know at the time that several years later this would lead to a whole newfound ‘ career ’ and a full-time job at 60 ! We caught up with Tim at a recent OP event where he updated us on his role and how he got there ! “
After leaving Wilberforce Boarding House I moved through Newcastle University to Sandhurst and on to a short commission in what is now the Yorkshire Regiment . I then had a 25-year career in financial services , leaving in 2017 to ‘ retire ’ – I started volunteering ; coaching rugby in Africa for Bhubesi Pride Foundation and disaster-responding for REACT , previously Team Rubicon UK . Whilst apparently retired , I was persuaded to work as Chief of Staff for an intelligence agency , Othrys , founded by my brother , Andy ( 73-78 ), who some OPs will know , following his 25-year post-military service working for HMG .
In the six years responding to ‘ natural ’ disasters , I have spent time in Mozambique , Sierra Leone and the Bahamas , Ukraine / Poland at a less than natural disaster , as well as coordinating disaster responses to floods in Fishlake ( Doncaster ) and Arkengarthdale near Reeth ( I met Boris at Fishlake and Rishi in Reeth !). I have found a new passion and purpose , helping others in their moment of need alongside other committed humanitarians . Late last year I was offered a fulltime role at REACT as lead for Yorkshire and the North East of England , tasked with assisting the blue light responders and Local
( Left ): Tim , pictured right , in Biera after tropical cylcone Idai . ( Right ): Tim in the cleared out High Rock police station on Grand Bahama after Cyclone Dorian .
Resilience Forums in the region as and when called to do so . Having been able to extract myself from Othrys , I started my new role in March 2023 and am loving being so busy again !
In recent years REACT has recognised that not all well intentioned and well-motivated humanitarians are military veterans by any means , and I am looking to recruit willing people of all ages , genders and backgrounds to join me in this great venture . We have been involved with undertaking welfare checks on Ukrainian refugees seeking shelter in East Sussex , covid testing and tracing and assisting at NHS Nightingale hospitals . We have also assisted on several BBC DIY SOS builds , disinfected NHS ambulances , supported those in hours of queues to the port channel terminals , along with partner agencies and recently supported evacuees fleeing the Sudan conflict and flying into UK airports .
We are also regularly engaged in our core response of reacting to flash flooding , coordinating ‘ spontaneous volunteers ’ at sudden UK events as well as providing assistance to those in greatest need and the hardest to reach in weather torn counties , who feel the brunt of a changing climate more than we who arguably create it ! I did not expect to be finding myself in full-time employment again , but I have a new lease of life and purpose . I can highly recommend it !”
Thank you , Tim !
If any OPs would like to find out more about Tim ’ s role , the REACT organization , or volunteering opportunities , please get in touch with Tim directly at : tim . brear @ re-act . org . uk or visit the REACT website : www . re-act . org . uk / about
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