Wayne Pope is the Bridgwater ex-Royal Navy veteran who is making a name for himself fundraising for the Blind Veterans Charity by running Marathons. He’s also now turning his hand to military history as part of the Waterloo Uncovered project sponsored by Utrecht University.
Wayne was born in Bridgwater on November 28th 1980 and went to Friarn and St Mary’s primary schools, Haygrove Comprehensive and Bridgwater College. After working in factories around Bridgwater the military in his blood got to him and he headed to Taunton one day and signed up. His grandfather had served in the army in African campaigns in the 50s and Wayne wasn’t sure whether he wanted army or navy. In the end he chose the Royal Navy. He wanted to see the world and to come back a different person.
Military
His service was aboard the Type 21 Frigate HMS Chatham which took him around the Mediterranean to Gibraltar, Malta, Crete and Alexandria in Egypt where he headed inland and got sight of the Pyramids.
He spent time in the Gulf now specialising in radar. He took part in containment operations against Iran and dealt with Pirates in their dhows.
After 4 and ½ years in the forces and a stint with HMS Monmouth an injury and a change of life saw him head back to Bridgwater where he determined to get married and bring up a family. Back home we worked in Security and at shops and factories .
A wave on the ocean lives.
Adapt
It was while he was working for Bonded Fibre in Bridgwater that a degenerative hereditary sight loss disease was diagnosed by a laser scan and he began to realise that this would be life changing for him.
First he had to go through the grief of losing his sight, a key part of him, things would be different and accepting this was difficult. With ‘Adapt and Overcome’ as his motto driving him he resolved to fight it and not let it get the better of him.
Crucially at this point the Blind Veterans Charity intervened and gave him the support and encouragement he needed. Spending time at the Rustington Centre in Sussex he became inspired and even more determined to make a difference not just to his own life but for others.
Overcome
Always good at running, he determined this would be the medium for his message. His first triumph was at the Worthing Marathon. 10k(6.2miles) and got down to training for that with personal trainers who also ran alongside him in the runs. At Worthing he stumbled and fell within sight of the finish line but got up and was cheered across it.
Back in Bridgwater he ran a half marathon over some 13 miles which took him out onto the moors and up along the Polden ridge including some steep climbs. He completed it in 2 hour 9 minutes breaking his own target of 2 hours 30.
His target was now set on the London Marathon. All 26,2 miles of it and this is set for the 26th April.
He’s training hard , running 2 to 3 times a week. First 5 miles, then 10 miles, driven on by his faith in the message behind Blind Veterans simply that a disability doesn’t stop you achieving your dreams.
Encouragement
He’s proud of Blind Veterans, thankful to the people who have helped and encouraged him and he’s proud of Bridgwater. Where he comes from.
And where’s he going? He has thoughts about Paris where there’s another marathon to be run and he’s even toyed with Lands End to john O Groats which another Blind Veteran supporter managed.
But he’s also developing his interests far and wide and through the project Waterloo Uncovered, part of Utrecht University in Holland, he’s been encouraged to pursue his interest in military history and battlefield archaeology.
Drive
On top of this his love of music drives him on. When he runs he has headphones on and has a run-track pounding through his head as he pounds the roads. The sounds of Neil Young through to Led Zepplin set the beat to his footsteps.
He also plays guitar and joined up with other local musicians recently in the SEED project.
Whats his secret? He mentions healthy living, stability, fitness and the correct diet. Apart from this it’s basically determination, devotion, duty and dedication.