Peter Cantwell
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Peter Cantwell - Moray Sea School, Burghead Scotland, 1969

A few highlights from the Moray Sea School...
As a 19 year old, my employers, Barclays Bank, decided to send me to Outward Bound in January 1969 - in the north of Scotland! It was an experience I will never forget.

To this supposedly 'soft' southerner, the chill temperatures were always with me, although after the 6am run around the grounds, in just shorts and plimsolls (this was January remember!), followed by a very cold shower the cold seemed bearable - once the shock had worn off.

The worst bit ... was the first week - circuit training to unstretched muscles was excruciating, as were the swimming lessons at nearby Gordonstoun School, especially when followed by a run back to Burghead.

The run being made all the 'enjoyable' by the instructor cruising up and down to ensure everyone didn't stop running.

My watch, Shackleton, was led by one Rick Abbot - a jocular individual, with a penchant for patterned woolly jumpers, I recall.

The highlights of the ensuing weeks were orienteering in the densest of local forests, rock climbing on crumbly sandstone, the inter-watch competitions, being lowered over a cliff strapped to a stretcher and trips out in the Moray Firth in 10 man luggers - taking care to pay attention and duck your head, when the order, 'lower & dip' rang out. I also remember the smell of whisky wafting across the Firth from the nearby distillery.

The piece-de-resistance was undoubtedly the final expedition into Glen Affric and the mountaineering - ascending the snow-covered slopes of the nearby peaks, almost vertical in places, and using an ice pick as a brake when you slipped. It was much easier coming down - using your kagoule as a makeshift toboggan!

Lasting impressions... I don't think I'll ever be as fit as when I left the Outward Bound School, but what has remained with me ever since, is the need for self -discipline and the importance of teamwork.

(Peter kindly posted us this story and we have uploaded it to the website with his permission)