Victory at The Foundry
For us at Victory - well, ok, maybe just for me - today is a hugely exiting and momentous day. And why, might you ask, would that be? Well, partly because I left the Army exactly a year ago today. But also because the lovely directors of The Foundry, Dave, Helen and Graeme, asked me a little while ago if I'd like to set up a proper rehabilitation centre in their premises. So from today, Victory is officially a full-time entity, with two therapy rooms, in the one location - hurrah!
I, my dad and my lovely friends Claire and Jono have spent the weekend repainting the therapy rooms, and you'll also see logos appearing over the next few weeks and a bit more clinic furniture. Dave's also suggested holding a launch party - definitely something to think about in the near future!
In the mean time, I'd like to introduce you briefly to a few of the characters you might meet when you come to Victory. When I get a chance, I'll blog properly about each of them - this really is just a very brief hello.
Sarah Harvey is my lovely PA. She keeps me on track with all the myriad things I'm supposed to do but keep forgetting. She organises the team's diaries and makes sure I don't double book myself and do remember to pay bills and invoice clients. If you ever need to contact anyone about the administrative side of Victory, or to arrange an appointment, Sarah's your girl - e-mail her here.
Dr Victor Thompson is a clinical psychologist who specialises in sports and performance. I met Victor nearly ten years ago when I became interested in sports psychology as a way of improving my results on the tennis court. After four hours with Victor I won 20 tennis matches in a row, and I've been recommending him ever since. At the moment, he consults with me on clients who have an emotional, psychological or stress-related component to their physical pain; so far this has been very successful and I look forward to being able to offer this service more frequently in the future.
Jake Thackray is a former Physical Training Instructor in the Royal Navy and is still a serving policeman. He's been working at The Foundry for some time now as a specialist in sports massage and remedial therapy, and will continue his sports massage work with Victory. At the moment he is mainly available on Monday evenings but over the next few months he will hopefully be around more regularly.
Busy bee Sarah Franklin is - by day - a fitness manager at Virgin Active Moorgate; but she is also qualified in sports massage therapy, and is available to see clients at Victory some evenings and weekends. Although she has been working at The Foundry for some time, Sarah and I haven't yet swapped treatments (something I like to do regularly with all the Victory therapists) but I hear great things and am really looking forward to it.
Flight Sergeant Paul "Spot" Leppard leads the multidisciplinary Spines Team at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court. A qualified Exercise Rehabilitation Instructor (ERI), he also received his BSc in Sports Studies from the University of Wolverhampton in 2003. He is available in the evenings and at weekends to provide exercise therapy for clients with back pain and spinal injuries.
Graduate Sports Rehabilitator Cat Cornwell is also currently working at Headley Court as a civilian ERI specialising in complex trauma. She holds bachelors degrees in Sports Rehabilitation and Sports & Exercise Science, and is currently working towards an MSc in Neuromusculoskeletal Healthcare. Last month she was also part of the Team True Spirit squad of Headley Court patients and staff to complete the Iron Man UK Triathlon. With a very solid history of working with high level sportspeople including GB Women's Basketball squad, Cat is definitely the girl to take you from getting over an injury to being ready to start full-on personal training. She is available in the evenings and at weekends.
Ryan Walsh is a former member of the Parachute Regiment and of the Army Rugby team - and is now a professional boxer - see him in action here. He's a qualified Personal Trainer who has worked with Bath Rugby and was seen on the 2010/11 School of Hard Knocks series on Sky Sports One. I've known Ryan since he was 17 and was surprised when he called to tell me he had qualified as a sports massage therapist; but even more surprised when he proved to be really rather good at it, with a good range of techniques and an instinctive touch. You really can't teach someone to have good hands!
Former Royal Marine Phil McDougall is currently in the process of completing his Level 5 Sports Massage qualification at the London School of Sports Massage, and is due to start training at the British School of Osteopathy in September. A thoughtful and instinctive therapist who is keen to learn, Phil will be available on Friday afternoons, and on other days by prior arrangement. Given the famed riva
lry between the Paras and the Marines, I'm intrigued to see how Phil gets on with Ryan...!
Capt Harold Ackroyd and Maj William Allen were the first two members of the Royal Army Medical Corps to be awarded the Victoria Cross. Sarah suggested that we should name our therapy rooms in their honour - so we have. For those who are familiar with Victory's layout, Ackroyd faces you when you reach the bottom of the stairs, and Allen is on the left.
Finally, there's Starvin' Marvin (on the right) - the leanest member of Victory. He was named on 2 Feb after The Foundry held a Facebook competition. He hangs around generally looking like a bit of a cool dude, and is always available to show you what bones look like and how joints should work.
The only down side to this is that - with not enough hours in the day - I'm having to give up my clinic at The Back Shop. But the staff are great, and I still really rate the equipment they sell (particularly the Mobiliser!) and their ergonomic assessments, so I have no intention of losing touch with them completely.
Right - that's it, I've said enough. You've met the gang: what are you waiting for? Come on in and meet us: get in touch to book that appointment you've been needing for ages....!
Blog for Victory
Hi, I'm Nell Mead. I'm a former Army physiotherapist and I specialise in sports medicine and back pain. This is my blog, where I write about issues that are on my mind. Some of these are about issues that are specific to particular injuries or medical conditions but I will also be updating you on events occurring inside Victory and in the wider world of medical rehabilitation. I also publish guest posts by Victory's other therapists whenever I can persuade them to sit still for long enough to write something!
When we're not writing, we're offering appointments at The Foundry in Liverpool Street. We'd love to see your comments on our posts - and we'd love to meet you even more, so do pop by and meet the team.
Posted by Vic at 08:18 on 8 Aug 2011
Super excited for you! Happy launch day!
(Also, looking forward to being fixed :) )
Posted by Helen at 13:52 on 8 Aug 2011
Fantastic news! Really excited that you finally have premises, and definitely approve of the idea of a launch party ;)
Love the photos, btw! You look fab.
Posted by Nell Mead at 22:46 on 8 Aug 2011
Thanks for your kind comments! Had a very good day, and am pleased to report that the dark grey colour we spent the weekend painting over is no longer showing through the white!
Helen, the pics are by the lovely Andy Main, a former Army Lt Col turned photographer, based in Telford. I think I've linked to him from the photos - certainly intended to ;-)
xx
Good luck
Posted by Adam carpenter at 14:37 on 11 Aug 2011
Good luck to you all in this worthwhile venture, in particular Ryan Walsh.
He's my cousin and i'm glad he's doing well since "coming out" of the army.
I saw your boxing video Ryan on the link, nice work mate.
I'm ex forces myself and work with the troops on pre deployment training, so I know this kind of support is absolutely vital.
@Adam
Posted by Nell Mead at 22:13 on 15 Aug 2011
Many thanks Adam! Please do tell your friends and colleagues about us - we're signed up with Rewards for Forces which makes our prices that bit more accessible to our military and ex-military friends.