Why is this man being celebrated?

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq8rz38jr50go

so when his child was 8 years old he decided to leave the country and undertake a 28 year walk around the world, setting himself a rule that he couldn’t come back to the UK until he’d completed it, and we’ve celebrating him why?

Wow!!! Yes. That IS worth celebrating!

It wasn't just a random country though was it. She moved back home after having moved with him to his own home area.

I'm not interested in defending a man I've never met and know little about. But I wanted to add evidence to the correction of the circumstances.

One of the things I like about mumsnet is how you can gain different perspectives on public events because people share from a wide range of sources. Something I like less about mumsnet is how some posters jump to highly specific speculation based on one source and then repeatedly hammer their point home while ignoring any information that gets added to a discussion.

I assume critical, but I don't agree with that wrong.

I'd prefer more respect for individuals overall not less.

None of that is any of your business.

Soap operas were invented to fulfill the need some people have to pick into private matters that don't concern them.

She moved back home.

None of us have any idea what he might have seen and done in service. At the time there was no mental health support in the army and frankly active service could pickle your brain, I love how we all write away from the comfort of our homes with no understanding of the PTSD. My brother served in the troubles as a green beret and frankly I am really grateful that he is still here and overcame his PTSD. To say that it impacted him hugely is an understatement and the only people who understood this was my father who was mentioned in dispatched for running into enemy fire and my uncle who was awarded the military medal. He met his wife whilst serving in Northen Ireland - forget being allowed to go back to NI - it would be hugely unsafe for him to do so. once your brother sits with his back against the wall of a pub or launches onto the pavement because a car back fires you will truly understand PTSD and it’s not the pathetic ‘oh I have PTSD’ from a 5 mile rear shunt I had to deal with every day in my profession. Sadly as my mother was shot in the Second World War saving an Englishman I have reall experience of PTSD and its long term impact on families.

That was my primary thought about it.

Have to admit when I first read about him a week or so back, I also wondered how long it would take for there to be a MN thread pulling him down and criticising him. That article didn't even say anything about an ex or a child.

You think the article would have been critical? On BBC news ? When have you have seen them write an article in that tone ? They report on news stories that they think might be in the public interest. They don’t write opinion pieces and they aren’t the moral police.

Not sure he is being celebrated, the article seems quite sad. But we don't know anything about his mental health or relationships so not really for us to judge is it

Sounds like she had a lucky escape, to me.

Nearly 30 years?? Jesus Christ.

All these intrepid men bore me silly. Ranulph Fiennes, James Cracknell, Ben Fogle? Bog off I don’t care.

I know it’s not a laughing matter, but this made me giggle🤣

This is in the public domain. He has chosen that.

Why do deadbeat dads always get a pass for being a deadbeat.

I understand PTSD. There are swathes of women living with PTSD who don’t abandon their children.

What a bloody tosser.

This whole thread is asking the question ‘why are we celebrating a man who abandoned his kid?’

One argument is that he was forced out of his child’s life by the move that the mother made. It hints at that in the article.

My question in response to that point is ‘why?’. Why did she do that? And I have educated guesses about the broad brushstroke answer to that.

Saw this on TV a few weeks ago & thought the same thing! Apparently family members have flown out to see him over the years. He’s just a drifter taking no responsibility for anything. Not someone to be proud of.

15 spent walking. The rest dossing in Mexico.

I don’t think you do unless you have served in a war - there is absolutely nothing to compare even being abused as a child or being beaten as a wife ( terrible as that is ) is not the same as relentless blood. The only people who might come close are firemen / services but even then they are now well cared for in terms of services. It’s a different level being behind enemy lines with no way of surviving - and don’t think that our forces are not planted behind enemy lines at any time. If you are at risk of extreme torture eg having your body cut off piece by piece, if you are submerged in a nuclear submarine with water coming in, or if you have had to kill anyone ( take a life ) - then you can say ‘ I have had PTSD’.

He spent a lot of time in Mexico so must have been working.
I suspect he also picked up odd jobs along the way.

Is he being celebrated? Isn’t it just an interesting story? I don’t think the article gushes about him. It highlights the distance he has created from his family (physically and emotionally).

He sounds like a pretty singular person to me. Had an older brother and dad in the military… dad was in the SAS. Joined the army himself and had to apply several times to become a paratrooper after being unsuccessful. Planned to do this trip while he was in the army and discussed it with others who said it couldn’t be done. It seems like an idea that had been forming for him like a long time. He set off with very little money but has picked up sponsorship along the way. His son has been out to meet him in different places along the way and will be there to meet him along with a grandchild he’s never met and his mother and father ( also now divorced. ). His mother worked as a factory worker in Hull (which does not sound like a middle class upbringing to me).

I’m definitely interested in understanding why some people are driven in this way. Free climbers and adventurers like Ranulph Fiennes and those with a “ because it’s there “ attitude. I certainly dont have it. Everything else about mental health and DV is just speculation and is unfair although it would be interesting to hear from him ex wife and son to hear their take on the story.

Family life is not for everyone. Especially, I'd imagine, if you've been a paratrooper.