Civil Nuclear Police Authority
It is the ninth time Sir Philip, aged 67, has completed the Big Battlefield Bike Ride (BBBR) and this time he was delighted to be accompanied for the first time by his son Arthur, aged 26 (or Team Trousdell as they are known!).
The pair completed the bike ride to raise money for Help for Heroes, which is a cause very close to their hearts as Sir Philip served 39 years in the armed forces before retiring as Lieutenant General in August 2005.
The Big Battlefield Bike Ride has been running for eight years and is one of the toughest Help for Heroes challenges. The 350-mile route ran from Paris to Windsor via Cherbourg, taking in the D-Day beaches and historic World War 2 sites on route, before a hero parade at the finish in Windsor on Sunday (21/6), where the riders were saluted outside Windsor Castle by General TheLord Dannatt for their efforts.
Sir Philip said: I have completed the BBBR before and know how tough it is, but Arthur and I were determined to take part this year as the ride was specifically in aid of the Hidden Wounds campaign.
This service is designed to help equip veterans and their families with the tools they need to manage and overcome the everyday challenges of living with anxiety, depression and stress, should they ever need it. It is a cause especially close to my heart as my Great Uncle, Reginald Durdle, committed suicide in 1921 because of mental disturbance and trauma caused in WW1.
The bike ride was very tiring, travelling up to 75 miles a day, but very rewarding and I am delighted we reached our fundraising target of 2,600. Visiting the sites of the D-Day landings where so many lost their lives was also very humbling and reminded us exactly why we were completing the challenge.
Although the challenge is fully completed and I am sure all the riders are on their way to recovering from their various blisters and muscle strains at home, donations are still gratefully received to this fantastic cause.
To make a donation, visit Sir Philips Just Giving page. To find out more about the Hidden Wounds campaign, which is available to veterans of all ages, visit the Help for Heroes website.