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John March - Moray Sea School, Burghead Scotland, 1968
I attended the Moray Sea School in 1968 as a member of Drake Watch and successfully completed the course. Only one member didn't get through the course and went home early.
Sadly I don't have any photos of my time in Moray in the summer of 1968. It was a great experience, as I came from a children's home in Kent and was very uncertain of myself at 17. I remember the physical training, the climbing and the sailing. At the time the Centre was run by someone who had been a British pentathlon athlete and the British Hockey Team was there, training alongside us in the sand hill. Our Watch Instructor was a good climber, a kind man, but no sailor - we sailed over the Firth in the dipping lungs and he had to be taken onto the safety boat as he actually turned green!
As I had done some sailing before I really enjoyed the rough weather. The whole thing gave me something for the rest of my life.
And I remember the long expedition; somewhere in the Cairngorms suddenly crossing a peak, and seeing a magnificent deer with antlers, a real monarch of the glen
I have travelled many places, done many things since then. Today, I am 60, living semi-retired in Germany where I have been living for the last 30 plus years. I am still fit, and still go out in the hills walking
The Outward Bound experience left a mark on me that has been with me for the rest of my life. When times got tough, I remember getting through and not giving up. And still feeling part of a team. I still have that respect for others and the understanding of what teamwork is.
Long live OB!
John March
Bad MĂĽnstereifel, Germany
Sadly I don't have any photos of my time in Moray in the summer of 1968. It was a great experience, as I came from a children's home in Kent and was very uncertain of myself at 17. I remember the physical training, the climbing and the sailing. At the time the Centre was run by someone who had been a British pentathlon athlete and the British Hockey Team was there, training alongside us in the sand hill. Our Watch Instructor was a good climber, a kind man, but no sailor - we sailed over the Firth in the dipping lungs and he had to be taken onto the safety boat as he actually turned green!
As I had done some sailing before I really enjoyed the rough weather. The whole thing gave me something for the rest of my life.
And I remember the long expedition; somewhere in the Cairngorms suddenly crossing a peak, and seeing a magnificent deer with antlers, a real monarch of the glen
I have travelled many places, done many things since then. Today, I am 60, living semi-retired in Germany where I have been living for the last 30 plus years. I am still fit, and still go out in the hills walking
The Outward Bound experience left a mark on me that has been with me for the rest of my life. When times got tough, I remember getting through and not giving up. And still feeling part of a team. I still have that respect for others and the understanding of what teamwork is.
Long live OB!
John March
Bad MĂĽnstereifel, Germany