Wounded ex-Para "yomps" 14 miles for a job!!

When faced with a dilemma on how to get to a remote location on a farm in Oxfordshire from Reading train station, Polease provided supporting artiste Barry Phillips called upon his training learnt in the British Army.

"I had lost my wallet, and the credit had expired on my mobile", said Barry. "I'm not one to let people down it was late there was no one about to turn to."

So using the basic map he had printed off at his home in Manchester the day before he set out into the night. All went well until he jumped on to the grass verge to avoid a speeding motorist on a dark lane "I felt my knee go as I put my foot into a hidden rabbit hole" but still he pressed on.

Production staff were amazed at his tenacity when he arrived at his destination, the film company temporary base, on time at 0715 am, but with with a heavy limp. He explained " I'm an ex Para!, we find solutions to problems - it's what we do!!"

Polease owner Chris Hipkiss said "loyalty like this is so rare these days, I am proud of my team and their personal standards, and Barry in particular". Needless to say loyalty deserves reward, and Barry's Christmas box will reflect that!

Barry Phillips
Served 8 years in British Army, Parachute Regiment. Been with Polease since its creation, appeared in  numerous Film & TV productions - often in accurate Police uniform. 

Barry is Northern Section contact for Polease group service Squadease - the supplier of uniformed military personnel to the UK Film & TV production industries.

"Yomp" - this expression came to the fore during the Falkland Islands War in 1982, when famously after disembarking from ships at San Carlos on East Falkland, on 21 May 1982, Royal Marines and members of the Parachute Regiment yomped (walked) with their equipment across the islands, covering 56 miles (90 km) in three days carrying 80 pounds (36 kg) loads.

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