13/12/2013
Alan ran a Mock ML assessment day for me. His knowledge not just of navigation, but land management, outdoor provider licensing, access issues and the outdoor industry, gave me a wealth of information, that has proved useful time and time again. He inspired confidence in me not only for my Assessment but in job applications and interviews as well.
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08/04/2014
I have done two courses with Alan through the BMC. I did my 16hour first aid and a navigation course.Both were extremely useful and lots of fun! Alan clearly knows his stuff and i wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone wanting a course provider or leader.
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08/07/2014
Great all rounder, lots of knowledge and experience in many terrains and situations including Africa , Everest and the Far East.
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25/07/2014
Alan is a very interesting trainer who obviously has alot of experience in hillwalking and navigation. He is very good at explaining things so that they can be readily undestood by novices etc. I really enjoyed my course with him and I'm looking ofrward to future courses.
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27/07/2014
Alan is an excellent trainer and assessor and makes the courses both enjoyable and informative. I can honestly recommend Alan as a perfect choice if you wish to get out and about on the mountains and learn some valuable skills.
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28/07/2014
Alan is an excellent instructor, his courses are interesting and fun
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29/07/2014
A super course. The two days built our skills gradually and in a supportive manner. We had great fun applying the theory on/around/up/down Pen Y Fan. I would highly recommend the course and Alan, who is a passionate and fun instructor. Thank you!
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29/07/2014
Alan tutored our recent Mountain Skills course. It was a excellent two days. He is a very well organised and thoughtful instructor. We were in very safe hands!
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17/03/2016
I have worked with Alan as a fellow IML for Class Adventure in Wales. He is a great leader, very experienced with different groups and this shines through when you see him in front of his clients - he is confident, knowledgeable, and a safe pair of hands. He has led in the Himalayas to Indonesia, the European Alps and beyond. Since then, I have had the pleasure of his advice a number of times - his wide experience and professionalism being a constant source of inspiration. He will no doubt continue to deliver excellent trips both through Bigfoot Services Limited and as a freelancer. I recommend him for his outdoor first courses, expeditions and courses, and indeed any leadership position within the outdoor industry.
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17/03/2016
Alan helped me and many others to prepare for the MLs assessment by running practice micronav assessment days in the Brecon Beacons. He also allows aspirants to assist when He's out working on the hills. Alan is very experienced, knowledgeable and friendly. An easy companion on a hill day or relaxing after. Alan also runs very good first aid courses, full of stories of the misadventures of others that he witnessed or was directly involved in. I would thoroughly recommend Alan, wither it's to lead a trek in the Himalayas or the Alps or attending one of his courses.
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17/03/2016
Excellent tutor for micro navigation.
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29/06/2016
I have completed REC L2 First Aid and a Lowland Leader training course which were run by Alan. Alan is a competent trainer with a vast experience on which to draw on for examples and practical activities. The material is clearly presented and Alan encourages you to provide additional information as support for any answers or decisions made during the outdoor activities.
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01/07/2016
Alan's courses are always well thought through and planned, and cover a lot of material. He's a very supportive leader and trainer and gets the best out of participants in all his groups.
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04/07/2016
Alan is a competent trainer with a huge amount of varied experiences behind him which he draws on to illustrate all sorts of different scenarios.
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04/03/2024
I have had the pleasure of knowing Alan, and knowing of Alan for many decades, but I have only recently had the pleasure of being mentored, coached, and trained by him. I have given much thought as to what it is about Alan that I admire so much. Is it the decades of experience, the breath and depth or his knowledge, or is it his calm and encouraging coaching and leadership style? Is it that everyone feels safe in his care, or is it that you know that he always has your best interests at heart? Or is it simply that you feel relaxed when in his company? Is it that ‘what he doesn’t know, you don’t need to know’? Or is it simply that he’s just a really nice, considerate and kind person? It matters not what it is, but, having had a long a varied career myself, and having had the pleasure and privilege of working for and with, and having been mentored by some of the world’s best (Generals, politicians, Lords and Ladies, captains of industry, UN Ambassadors, and highly successful entrepreneurs), I know a good-one when I see one. Alan, thank you not only for what you have taught me personally, but also for the good things that you have done and continue to do for individuals and the wider outdoor sector. You are up there with the best of the best. Diolch in fawr, JP.
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05/03/2024
I have known Alan Ward for 6 years, my first meeting being a free introduction to navigation course he provided from the Brecon Beacons Visitor Centre. My initial thoughts were this guy knows his stuff I'm going to learn a lot here. At the end of the day Alan suggested that I enroll on Hill and Moorland Leader training and I haven't looked back since. His enthusiasm for the outdoors is infectious, and I will be for ever grateful to him for that suggestion and the constant support he has given me. Alan is a "once in a lifetime" person. By that I mean that you are very unlikely to meet another man like him again. The knowledge he has about his subjects is phenomenal - navigation, the outdoors, legislation, the best place to wild camp, trekking abroad to mention just a few. His training style is very relaxed but extremely thorough, he has endless patience and will go out of his way to help his candidates to succeed at whatever task he has given them. I have been on a number of training courses provided by Alan and each time I've learnt so much, those golden nuggets that he just rolls out with ease in his own inimitable style are invaluable. I've attended a number of walking holidays where he has assisted in group management, assisting in the recce work and finding accommodation. Alan has provided alongside Helen Menhinick (ML) my REC Outdoor First Aid training, which was to the point, up to date and very relevant to the outdoors.
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10/03/2024
International Mountain Leader
I first met Alan around 2011 when I was preparing for ML assessment. He offers his help to anyone who is either preparing for a leadership course or to those trying to create their own Business within the outdoor industry. I got to know Alan better through attending several of his courses, REC L5 and RGS OSSM in particular. His courses are always well presented, interesting and full of personal anecdotes'. I along with other ML's joined Alan on a trip to Morocco to climb Mt Toubkal and introduce us to a wonderful country as well as the Kasbah du Toubkal, laying the groundwork for several of us to plan our own commercial treks to the area. I joined Alan as an assistant leader with a large group to do the EBC trek, which gave me an opportunity to watch closely and learn the finer points of running a trek with a large group for an extended period. A large number of the group who trekked to EBC have since qualified in one of the Leadership courses run by Mountain Training, all supported by Alan. Over the last year I have set up my own trekking company and I'm at present preparing for IML assessment. Alan has been a great source of encouragement and information as I've navigated a very busy year. I know I'm not the only one he's either helped or inspired to follow a similar path. Mentors are very important in an industry where a large portion of your learning and gaining experience is done on an individual basis and I consider myself very fortunate to have Alan as a mentor and friend.
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