A FORMER Kidderminster carpet worker has paid tribute to an adventure course he was sent on that transformed his life.

The Outward Bound Trust is celebrating its 75th year of providing outdoor learning programmes for young people in its six centres across the UK.

But for 73-year-old Brian Mann, being sent on an Outward Bound course as a 20-year-old by his then employers Brintons Limited in Kidderminster led to him making huge changes in his career path to become a sailor.

Mr Mann joined a host of other Trust alumni for a celebration of the special anniversary and shared his memories of his time in Devon.

He said: “I was sent on my course by Brintons which, at that time in 1963, was the largest privately owned carpet company in the country if not the world.

“I started working there at aged 16 as an apprentice textile engineer and at the age of 20 the company sent me on the course.

“We were put into different patrols and our patrol was Drake D22. It was there that I met lots of others and we’ve been friends ever since.

“So then they put us on various challenges to find out who was who and what was what and I ended up by some small miracle as being the captain.

“My course brought out something in me that I didn’t know was there at the time. I certainly didn’t think that I would become a mariner and that to this day I don’t remember why I was chosen as captain all those years ago.”

Mr Mann added: “The course did actually make me discontented with what I was actually doing at the time. It made me realise that I was capable of doing more with my life than I actually was at the time.

“In the end I did leave Brintons and left to go sailing a 54ft staysail ketch which I took from Stourport through to Majorca.

“I was supposed to stay there for a couple of years and Brintons said they would offer me my job back.

“But having seen the med and the life I could lead, I actually got back 25 years later – travelling all over the world to places such as Cuba and the Cayman Islands.

“I honestly think that is part and parcel of my time at Outward Bound because it taught me that I had a capability that I didn’t know I had before.

"The photograph shows our outward bound reunion flag which supported many world-wide outward bound reunions where reminiscences over the ‘odd’ beer were discussed. 

"Included a three day expedition when Drake patrol set the all-time record for crossing from Trebarwith to the Outward Bound School at Holme Park, Ashburton in just two days! 

"Sadly, due to the inevitable ageing process the reunions are now attended only by myself and fellow outward bounder Mr David Mitchell. 

"However, this does not deter us and we look forward to many more reunions, remembering the old school moto ‘To Serve, To Strive and not to Yield’.

"Sir Chris Bonington, Outward Bound Deputy Patron and life long mountaineer, is a great advocate for fitness and adventure.  At the grand age of 80 years he climbed the 449 ft Old Man of Hoy sea stack in the Orkney Isles. 

"A remarkable feat that a much younger person may well have found a challenge."

A spokesman for Outward Bound said: "The Trust works hard at fundraising, it’s a fundamental part of what it does to ensure courses continue to be accessible to as many young people as possible, irrespective of their financial circumstance.”

Anyone who has been on a course and would like to reconnect with others or support the Trust should visit: www.outwardbound.org.uk/about-us/alumni