A Tribute to Bryn Parry, Founder of Help for Heroes

Bryn, who founded Help for Heroes with his wife Emma, sadly passed away recently after a short illness. His memorial service is on Wednesday and my heart goes out to the family. Here is my own tribute, having been involved with this phenomenal charity from 2007- 2019:

In 2006, the war in Afghanistan had lurched into a crisis for the British Army. Deaths were rising sharply, and the new phenomenon of the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was causing life changing injuries. The skies were full of planes bringing grievously wounded soldiers back to hospital here in the UK.

I was at Lehman Brothers at the time, and very involved in English rugby administration. I took a call one day from Mark Souster, Chief Rugby correspondent of the Times. He was shocked as I was at the worsening news and we wondered if a rugby match could be set up at Twickenham to do some fundraising and build awareness in the general public about all these injuries. Despite little idea how we would actually achieve this, we decided to give it a go.

As the plans formed and grew, we had no idea where to send any funds generated from the match. Adam Cocks (Trooper in The British Army) was also a close personal friend and was on our rather small match committee ( four of us to start with, including Jeff Blackett of the RFU also a member of the Royal Navy). 'Cocksy' had been blown up in Afghanistan twice in one day and also lost a number of colleagues so to have him in our group reminded us daily of the importance and relevance of our project. 'Has anyone heard of Help for Heroes?' he asked? 'They are trying to raise money for a swimming pool at Headley Court centre where wounded veterans can go to help with rehabilitation.' I looked at him in amazement - that was exactly where I had been for career saving treatment when I dislocated my ankle following my first game for England.

Help for Heroes (H4H) was initially five people working out of a tin hut with a few phones and a passion to help wounded soldiers, to 'do their bit'. We visited Headley Court and nothing had changed much since I was there, vast upgrades were needed. Following a deeply emotional presentation from one of the 5 founders on what their fundraising could achieve for the wounded, injured and sick of this horrific war, we thought it was a great idea and readily agreed they would receive the fruits of our efforts. I felt a very personal connection because without the efforts of the medical team there in 1984, when I rehabbed with the Falkland vets, I would never have played rugby for England again.

In the event, in September 2008 55,000 people turned up to Twickenham to watch a Help for Heroes XV play an International Invitation side. Martin Johnson,Will Greenwood, Lawrence Dallaglio, Scott Gibbs and Jason Robinson played alongside many other big International rugby names, Jonah Lomu flew over from NZ to show his support but damaged a foot in training, Sean Fitzpatrick, Michael Lynagh, Ieuan Evans, and Jason Leonard were just a few of many legends to offer their assistance off the field.

Bryn and Emma Parry, together with Mark Elliott an early member of the Founding team, attended the game which raised £1.5m and importantly lit a touch paper of awareness around the country as the match was televised and Prince Charles came along. It kicked off a relationship between the charity and rugby and a second match in 2011, then cricket when we filled the Kia Oval in 2015 for two World teams to show their support.

So Help for Heroes built their pool and a lot more besides as history shows. With Bryn and Emma driving the charity on, inspiring the nation and never settling for second best, H4H raised some £300m over a decade while helping thousands of men and women with physical and mental challenges ( that we called 'hidden wounds').

Bryn expected the maximum from everyone at all times, and had to deal with much red tape. He literally broke doors down and while this didn't endear him to people, the results came and certainly filled a huge gap left by a Government who had walked into this conflict underprepared and hardly expecting the severity of injuries incurred.

It affected all of us in different ways, but I shall always feel privileged for the opportunity to spend 8 years as a Patron and to have been part of a nationwide outpouring of help for our heroes.

I met my now wife Rachel in the 'Tin Hut' in 2014 where she had taken a job and where the charity started, an incredible place which told the vital story of the early days. We both felt part of something unique and special and grateful for a chance to help in a small way.

There will be much emotion this coming week in Salisbury at the memorial service and while I very sadly cannot be there myself, the whole nation will pay it's respect alongside many war veterans who without the original and ongoing efforts of Bryn, Emma and the H4H team would not be in the place they are today.

RIP Bryn and as you would have said, 'Onwards and Upwards'.