His CV reads like one of a fictitious super hero from the realms of fantasy and fiction, yet “Simon Chambers” is the real deal (albeit with a fake name), and he has the credentials to prove it. As a former paratrooper, Chambers was trained and ready to form the spearhead for the Army’s rapid intervention capability; soon progressing to the first battalion as part of the Special Forces Support Group (SFSG). The years that followed cut similar paths in various other army roles, among which Chambers was only marginally slowed in pace by a particularly bad Parachuting accident while jumping as part of the Royal Corps of Transports Parachute Display team- The Silver Stars.
Yet even once he was discharged from the forces following 22 years’ service, he almost immediately found himself volunteering for a further 6 months in Bosnia.
This is a man who sought (and still does seek) to survive on the near constant presence of adrenalin pulsing through his veins, so it should be of no surprise that when he eventually became too old to soldier in the British Army, there wasn’t a very long list of civilian jobs to match such a colourful work history. But there were Private Security companies. Having attended a close protection course, it wasn’t long before Chambers was offered a job with one of America’s top close protection companies. This was the just the beginning of another 7 years of putting his life on the line but this time, as a hired gun for some of Iraq’s biggest named security companies – Blackwater, Erinys, Aegis and EODT- after he was first positioned there as part of Paul Bremmer’s Bodyguard team. As might be expected when living life on the edge, Chambers came close to losing his balance. During that time he was shot and wounded- twice -and blown up- twice. And yet he has survived such perils.
The man himself will be speaking at Cowes Enterprise College on Friday 17th October, with invites to other island secondary schools. He has recently written his second novel “The Devil’s Playground”, which is about his adventures and published by Percy Publishing. Simon is still active in the field and therefore no pictures or videos are to be taken. Unless your in the audience, his face will remain a mystery.
IWLF SCHOOLS 