Roland first came to Brathay in 1969 as an 18‑year‑old trainee at Marconi Instruments in St Albans. Sponsored by his employer, he travelled hundreds of miles to the Lake District to take part in a four‑week residential course with other young people from across the UK. It was a huge step into the unknown: a new place, new people and new challenges unlike anything he’d experienced before.

During his time at Brathay, Roland learned to work with his new teammates to navigate the fells through map reading and to stay on course while rowing and sailing on Windermere. He and his teammates were encouraged to take responsibility for themselves, rely on each other, and understand the real value of teamwork.

For many young people like Roland, this was a rare chance to travel far from home and experience something completely different. The month‑long course gave him space to develop new skills, push his boundaries and discover what he was capable of. He left Brathay feeling fitter, more confident and with a strong sense of achievement, qualities that stayed with him long after the course ended.

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