Rory served in the British Army as a Combat Medical Technician for nine years. It was three months in to his first tour of duty to Iraq that his early morning patrol was contacted by a roadside bomb; it penetrated the vehicle and tore through Rory's right leg before finally stopping in the chest of the solider sitting no more than a metre away from him. Not only did it result in the loss of Rory's leg, his colleague died instantly in his sleep.
Rory required a sixteen hour long operation to stabilise his wounds. After being flown to Selly Oak Hospital Rory had seven further operations, contracted MRSA, and grew weaker day by day. It was a long road to recovery but after becoming well enough to move to Headley Court, seven months and many hours in the prosthetics department later, Rory made a complete physical recovery. Although now healthy and strong physically, he was angry at the fact that his sports and extreme lifestyle was ruined. It was at this time that he received an invitation via Help for Heroes to go adaptive skiing in Bavaria, Germany, under a new military programme called Battle Back. He took to the sport with ease and he believes it literally healed his frame of mind overnight.
In January 2012, Rory and a team of former servicemen (two able-bodied and four injured) successfully crossed the Atlantic in a rowing boat. TheRow2Recoveryproject took them on a journey of about 3000 miles from La Go Mera in the Canaries to Barbados, with a fundraising target of £1million to support a number of military charities.
As well as working as a motivational speaker, travelling to conferences and events all over the world, Rory is also a Trustee of the charity THRIVE. Rory is a truly inspirational speaker and he recently gave a highly praised speech during the London 2012 Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium where he "delivered that rousing, scene-setting prologue to the Festival of the Flame" (London Evening Standard).
Motivation
Leadership
Conquering Fear
Teamwork
Inspiration
Overcoming Adversity
"Rory is a truly inspirational speaker. His humility combined with passion and easy humour makes a huge impact. He has spoken to the Diageo Board and at various international events and wherever he speaks he makes a huge impact. I strongly recommend Rory."
Diageo
"Rory spoke to our team of 8 reps and it's no overstatement that he brought some of the group to tears such was the emotion engendered in his talk.
Without exaggerating or playing to the crowd he laid out his story in bare, simple truths that had far more effect than any hyperbole could muster. Members of our team described it as the best talk from an author they had heard."
Toby Trotman - Director, Vision Sports Publishing
"I listened to Rory give a talk to the Diageo board where I am a Non- Executive member.
He is an inspiring speaker and I found his talk so interesting I am keen to book him for other events"
Lord Mervyn Davies
A dynamic and versatile speaker, Josh is able to draw upon his experience and expertise to give inf…