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From Lifeguard to Body Guard for Leisure Officer
Wednesday 19th Novemeber 2008
Jonny Gwynne is used to being thrown in at the deep end. He is most usually found poolside at Durham’s new leisure complex Freeman’s Quay, but life is about to change dramatically for this quiet local lad.
Jonny, who is in the Territorial Army, has
been called up to serve in one of the most dangerous
places British troops are currently serving, Afghanistan.
Well known for his good manners and patience at work Johnny, who has a BTech in Sports Science, joined the City of Durham 9 years ago, becoming a member of the TA only 13 months ago. Since then he's trained at Catterick and in Germany and enjoys both his leisure and army jobs, "I feel like I get the best of both worlds by balancing 2 careers. One teaches you to be pleasant and the other to defeat the enemy."
The 26 year old, who lives in Stanley, is a rifleman in the Fifth Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and will swap his poolside job for a tour of duty with the force protection platoon. Duties in Kabul will include stop and search, convoy protection and the protection of VIPs. Is he worried?
"I'm looking forward to it but I'm nervous because I don't know exactly what to expect. I want to do this for my own self-respect, to make a difference and because it's all about looking out for the man next to you." Freeman's Quay Manager Kay Smith says everyone wishes this brave young man all the very best, "We are all so proud of Jonny. There's no doubt he is a big asset to Freeman's Quay but duty calls. We will all miss him and look forward to him returning safe and sound next year when we hope he will be back poolside again."
Rifleman Gwynne's tour of duty in Kabul will begin in the New Year as soon as his intensive training programme is complete, but he'll be back "Everyone at Durham Leisure has been great. I certainly plan to be back at Freeman's Quay when the tour of duty ends. I will miss everyone and hope to entertain them with my action stories when I get back."