Shropshire Magazine

Captain Fiona Blyth and Major Simon Harris visited Hope House before their epic cycle trip. They are pictured alongside carer Abi Williams with Kiera Thomas and Alex Mainwaring.

Army Captain Fiona Blyth leads the sort of active lifestyle that would leave most of us breathless – but she and a colleague have found time to undertake a marathon fundraising cycle ride on behalf of Hope House. Neil Thomas tries to keep up . . .

She featured in glamour magazine Vogue alongside Cheryl Cole and Samantha Cameron, is embarking on a 1,000-mile cycle ride for Hope House, and is being posted to Afghanistan.

You could say that Shropshire-based army officer Fiona Blyth is having a busy 2009.

Fiona in the officers’ mess at Copthorne Barracks, sporting ‘Combat Soldier 1995’.

The Vogue feature was about women in uniform and Captain Blyth was photographed – by David Bailey no less – in her everyday working outfit, known as Combat Soldier 1995. This British army camouflage was designed for men and has been loosely adapted for women.

“The uniform is a great leveller. The idea is that you look professional and are judged on your performance and that what you look like is immaterial,” says Fiona, who made a fairly dramatic switch from being an interior designer to the military life, receiving her commission three years ago.

She says the uniform is part of the disclipline of army life – which extends to the banning of make-up, while men need permission to grow moustaches or beards.

Fiona was invited to take part in the article – which also featured a girl-guide leader, a special constable, a vicar, an air stewardess, two nurses and two barristers – through a friend who holds a senior position at Vogue.

“The photoshoot probably took about two hours and was a little bit nerve-racking because I had done nothing like it before,” says 31-year-old Fiona.

Fiona in off-duty mode.

Fiona certainly looks business-like in her army gear, but admits to being “like most girls” when off duty – and demonstrates the point by disappearing to her quarters and returning looking very glamorous in one of her favourite cocktail dresses for our photoshoot.

“I take my job seriously which is emphasised by the uniform, but off duty I’m definitely more relaxed,” she says, letting her hair down for the camera.

Fiona is also demonstrating her caring side with a marathon cycle ride this month for Hope House children’s hospice at Morda, near Oswestry.

She and colleague Major Simon Harris will cycle from Carcassonne in southern France to Hope House and then on to Hope House’s sister hospice Ty Gobaith at Conwy, North Wales, arriving on May 16 after a fortnight on the road.

The pair cooked up the idea in the officers’ mess at Copthorne Barracks, Shrewsbury, where they are based.

“I wanted to combine a challenge with raising money for a good cause, and Hope House does such wonderful work that it seemed an ideal choice,” says Fiona.

The pair are staying in youth hostels along the route, travelling around 60–70 miles a day.

Simon adds: “As with all Army adventurous training, the challenge is designed to test self-reliance and planning skills, and improve the quality of Army life. But, as our personal goals, we wanted to support Hope House by raising money through sponsorship.

“Our target is to raise about £10,000 which, to put it into perspective, is about one day’s running cost at Hope House. Hope House is a cause close to our hearts; we already have links with the hospice, as we fly Santa in every Christmas by helicopter, which is always popular.

Putting in some practice miles in the saddle.

“Hope House has a huge role to play in the community, of which the Army is very much a part. In fact, some of our soldiers’ families have benefited from Hope House’s support in the past,” adds Simon, who has been based in Shropshire for 12 years.

Fiona, who hails from the London area, has been stationed in Shropshire for around a year and has fallen in love with the county – to the extent that she plans to buy a home here.

In fact, she combined her training for the cycle marathon by pedalling around the Ellesmere area house-hunting.

“I just love this area. It is such a wonderful place. The people are so friendly and the countryside is beautiful.”

The house purchase will, however, be put on hold for a while as Fiona, who is in the Intelligence Corps, is being posted to Afghanistan.

• To support Simon’s and Fiona’s marathon cycle for Hope House visit www.justgiving.com/hopehouse1000miles