Xplore's very own action man!

Neil Marchant is Xplore’s very own Action Man!  
We could listen to his stories all day long but here is just a snap shot of his 29 years of service in the British Royal Air Force and why he is now an asset to the Xplore team…

‘At 17 years old, I joined HM Forces for excitement and adventure, to travel, be challenged and make new friends.  Looking back on 29 years service in the RAF Regiment I achieved them all and more.

During my career I visited some beautiful places and had some brilliant postings, living in Germany and Cyprus twice. I was lucky to go on some fantastic detachments and exercises - from Arctic Warfare Training in Northern Norway to the dusty planes of Kenya, where in addition to our military training we worked at a local orphanage installing fresh water showers and playing with the children. I visited countries I never would have dreamed of visiting; an exchange with the Royal Australian Air Force is up there with the best. I went on Operational Tours to Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Afghanistan.

I pursued my passion for rugby and even played for the RAF with some great and talented rugby players and toured, playing at some impressive grounds. I had the opportunity to compete in half marathons and triathlons.

I organised and participated in some fantastic worldwide expeditions from white water rafting the Rio Grande Gorge in New Mexico, scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef and skiing in California and Colorado.  They were all challenging and exciting in their own way.

I was part of some things that I was so proud of including:

SIREN SONG: I organised and took 28 wives of serving military personnel for a 24 hour period into the mountains in Cyprus on a survival and fun exercise, pulling together various agencies, and bringing everyone back home safely; it was just fantastic. But the best part for me was that all those overseas wives made new friends.

BATTLEBACK - before my own injury, I achieved my dream to become an Alpine Ski Instructor and volunteered to instruct a group of wounded soldiers, sailors and airman from Headley Court. Teaching single, double and triple amputees to ski was just immense and I’ll never forget it.  The guy I had, with all his injuries, has gone forward for trials for the Great Britain Adaptive Ski Team.  It was such a fantastic, humbling experience.

Throughout my career I knew I wanted to better myself. I was so proud to have served in the RAF Regiment. I made some fantastic and loyal friends. I worked for and with some very professional, hard and dedicated Officers, Airman, Solders, Sailors and Marines.  However my dream of being a Warrant Officer wasn't to be, I reached the rank of Sergeant. My final posting in the RAF was cut short following an emergency operation on my spine and losing the use of my leg for 4 months. I was away from work so much, being in hospital and in and out of Headley Court on rehabilitation, I knew my military career was ending.  So I refocused, furthered my education and learnt new skills enhancing the skills and experience I already had.

So that brought me to the end of an unbelievable 29 years - I had a fantastic time with so many great memories! I had so many great laughs! I travelled, I challenged myself mentally and physically, I had excitement and plenty of adventures!

But as one door closed, another opened and here I am as the Facilities Manager for Xplore. Utilising my experience and qualifications I look after the company's Health, Safety and Security. I am now looking forward to new challenges in an exciting, vibrant company. I have already made contact with a forces charity and am looking at the possibility of Xplore forming some kind of partnership with them in the future, which would be brilliant.

We all have many knock backs in life, we get knocked down, but we brush ourselves off and get back up again. Possibilities are endless!’