Team Imeson: Unique, Strong, and Committed.
Throughout my career, I have worked with many different types of teams of people. Ones that do not have a shared goal, ones that are simply only focused on the pay and avoiding work.
As ‘Team Imeson’ is mainly family we have a great start on the team building part, the goal is one that we all had the same ambition which is to make our week away happen.
Hopefully, after you have read this short story, you will have an understanding of their qualities as of 2019 – 2020. I have tried to keep the descriptions short and focus on the roles we took.
Trust me, I could of written a lot more, I am a very fortunate dad, man and husband. This story is part of a series, all aiming to explain what we achieved and what it meant to myself and the charity we supported. Please use Team Imeson in the story search bar.
The picture above screen shot will help direct to search for more.
To add another layer to the trip, which we called “epic adventure’ there are two videos which make the written story come alive. I have watched the trailer which filled me with fear of the extent of the ‘epic expedition’.
The following three pictures are of the locations of the climbs and walks.
The above picture is the tracker, following our walk around the Yorkshire Three Peaks route. It is a route that I would love to repeat. It has navigation, distance, heights, and an amazing ice cream van.
Laura
The “epic expedition team” has to thank Laura for several key parts, especially the driving. At the time of the trip, she was only 21 and had been driving three years. Her car of choice was a small yet affordable family car, VW Polo. She was so pleased that she was going to be able to drive the length of the country and not have anyone criticise her skills. At the time, the motorways were in places broken. Road works from one side of Birmingham to the other.
Picture of Laura Imeson stood at the top of Snowdon in July 2019
Over the duration, she drove over 1800 miles in what turned out to be 10 days. We visited 8 towns/cities starting in Liverpool ending up in Blackpool via the following places, Chester, Ben Nevis, the lake District, Yorkshire Dales (Ingleton) and on many different types of roads. Arriving at the hill ranges over Scarfell Pike near Windermere. All to a timetable and on one day after a long days climbing.
She learnt all about “average speed cameras” “white van drivers” and braking distances on mountains!
She loved the driving, personally I think she should look at a career change and become a “Raleigh Driver” or long distance lorry driver. She did love the driving even if we stunk the car out with walking clothes and boots.
Another element, was her humour and constant wit. She managed to be not only be awake throughout the trip but also be the first to crack a joke or offer a witty comment.
We also, left her to navigate us towards the main peaks. You would think that something as obvious as the highest peak would be literally that. When we were at the base of Snowdonia she stated that we should go that way, pointing to an opening in a tree line and towards a peak. The air was full of a fog, we walked off and after a while, when the fog slightly lifted looked towards the right noticing a higher mountain, much higher!
Ollie
Ollie arrived in Liverpool ahead of both Laura and I as he caught the 1200 from Euston. His reasoning for timing was to check-In the reasonable priced hotel and then find a suitable place for a haircut.
Picture of Ollie carri g out the splits on to of Snowdonia
His approach to organising the important parts of the trip and “forward thinking” followed with a similar pattern throughout the expedition. There was a daily theme usually around when we are going to eat or which route UP we took. Joking apart this made the days easier to follow and less stressful, other than the worry of how UP was the route!.
Ollie also took control of the social media and hopefully kept everyone up to date and amused. Please keep looking in here as he is putting a couple of videos of the trip together which he will upload to You Tube once completed.
His role was important, with his confidence on both the map reading and timings of where we should be, by when became better. Plus his constant checking I was okay and even pulling me up part of Scarfell Pike. His approach got us through the extremely challenging Yorkshire Three Peaks in less time than allowed. Even though we could of given up several times. It’s a tough challenge.
All in all Ollie is a great team player and leader, add his skills with his sister. I personally think we could take on a bigger trip and one that takes us across a greater geographical challenge.
If you wish to follow Ollie’s life search his name on Instagram.
The Home Team.
Emma
Emma, from the initial day of reading Ollies letter she has stepped up and helped with so many elements. I will struggle to mention them all. She is a brilliant wife, mum and most importantly our boss.
This list is only part of the stuff she has supported us with.
1) Putting up with the amount of time apart we have had. I did quite a bit of weekend training and then the trip.
2) Helping promote our epic trip and reminding us to do the same. A great driving source.
3) Help with gathering raffle prizes for our Bingo and Pub quizzes.
4) The help with the washing and the packing of our kit including washing the mountain of stuff on our return. Ollie doesn’t live in Devon which has meant making sure his walking kit was fit for purpose. Plus my blindness men’t packing stuff in separate colour coded bags.
Pat (mother-in-law)
Pat, has supported us in many ways including helping with financing the food part of the trip. Promoting the epic expedition through her great circle of friends.
Home Contacts;
Caroline Channing and Mark Williams
Part of my risk assessment included the awfully ”what iff” problem. Ie “What Iff” we had an accident on one of the mountains or a road traffic accident.
Both Caroline and Mark agreed to monitor the tracking devices and be prepared for a phone call if something went wrong.
Thankfully nothing did, but the role like all in Team Imeson was an important one. We were so grateful of the all the supportive people watching our backs.
Our Social Medial Support
We had over 400 people watching Facebook, 130 followers on Instagram and over 1000 hits in our web page all saying positive things. It was appreciated and we hope that you will continue to stay interested in the future trips and expeditions.
I hope I have not offended anyone or missed anyone out. My next few posts will be related to the different types of accommodation and the future ”follow on” activities from this expedition. Starting with a presentation to some of the sponsors.
Once again thank you for reading and supporting us. Please read the other stories under Team Imeson.
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