Coldstream guards put Barnstaple students through their paces

Public Services students from Petroc in Barnstaple braved the rain and mud last month to be put through their paces by members of the Coldstream Guards.

The Level 2 and 3 students took part in a series of endurance tests to give them a taste of what life would be like training in the forces, and also to increase their stamina.

After a gruelling warm up session, the students were put into two teams and raced each other along a course and under a camouflage net, while carrying tyres, lead weights and jerry cans.

"It's great to have external visitors to the site, like the Coldstream Guards, to give our students a different perspective on training methods," said Paul Williamson, a public services lecturer at the College.

"However, they've never done anything like this before so they'll be shattered afterwards!" added Paul.

Sergeant Marcus Bumby, who was leading the training session, agreed: "This is a tough session, delivered in a way to encourage the students to challenge themselves."

"It teaches them to work as a team, as the equipment is so heavy so they have to communicate and support each other to carry it and get the task done", said Marcus.

The recent training session is just one in a long line of enrichment activities planned for the public services students this year. They have already visited the Imperial War Museum and over the coming months they will be visited by expert speakers from the Army and will be going on a day trip to RAF Brize Norton.

For more information about public services courses at Petroc call the Guidance Centre on 01271 338125.