Facilitator

Facilitating projects is one of the greatest joys I have had over the years. Any good project starts with a discussion over a coffee, in Germany this was particularly enjoyable with the addition of kuchen (cake).

As a creative I can understand the processes and can visualise the outcomes the artist is wanting to achieve.

With my knowledge gained with over 30 years service in the Army I know what can be done, perhaps offer something that may not have been considered. This is because the knowledge of the Army, and all that we can do, may be limited to what is projected in society. Bringing these two areas together and then watching the creative process unfold in the capable hands of some of the top people in their fields has given me some of my greatest memories.

I thoroughly enjoy opening up the Army to artists, to try and get them to some of the more unusual places so that they have the insight which will give their project an unforeseen edge.

As a facilitator I am also a ‘connector’; seeing how businesses or community groups could benefit from the talents of someone I have met and being able to connect them, has often brought about some unexpected gems of stories and activity.

The range of projects has been from a German enthusiast who was photographing signs in British Camps so that he could make replica models to facilitating artists to deploy on operations as War Artists; organising interview partners for Sir Andrew Motion and his ‘Coming Home’ series of poems for Remembrance to the ‘Singing Kettle’ (now ‘Fun Box’) team coming to visit military school children.

Each project has received from me the same dedication to the planning that the artist has to their craft.

All photos of military activity are subject to © Crown Copyright