Voices of Impact & Champions of Change: Get Acquainted With our Charity Ambassadors
Welcome to Woody’s Lodge, where the spirit of service and community converge to create a haven for veterans and their families. At the heart of our mission are the extraordinary individuals who embody our commitment to making a positive impact — our Charity Ambassadors. These dedicated volunteers, veterans, and allies go beyond advocacy; they are the driving force behind our goals, the storytellers of our impact, and the catalysts for transformative change. Join us on this journey as we introduce you to our Charity Ambassadors, each a beacon of hope and strength. Together, they form the heartbeat of Woody’s Lodge, and through their unwavering dedication, we strive to bring life-changing services to those who once served our beautiful nation. Explore their brave journeys, discover their responsibilities, and find out how you can support our veteran charity to ensure that no veteran in Wales faces the challenges of life alone.
Gina Allsop
As a former Royal Signals Soldier deployed to numerous operations, Gina Allsop’s dedication is extraordinary. Gina embodies the spirit of service, receiving accolades like the Soldiering On Inspiration Award and the Veterans Award Volunteer of the Year for her outstanding charity work. She’s a fundraiser and motivational speaker, contributing her voice to various veteran charity events, supporting organisations like SSAFA, Sporting Force, and ACCT UK. Gina’s commitment transcends the spotlight, volunteering for the Army Cadet Force, serving as a Marine Mammal medic, and passionately advocating for mental health through her role as an ambassador for End Suicide. In memory of her brother, she founded an art foundation for cancer patients, showcasing her dedication to creating spaces of relief. Now a Charity Ambassador for Woody’s Lodge, Gina’s powerhouse spirit resonates with her deep sense of service, continuing her impactful journey in support of veterans and their families.
Gordon Barclay
Gordon Barclay, affectionately known as “Porty,” is a celebrated former policeman from Portobello, Edinburgh, Scotland, with a heart dedicated to helping others. Commencing his formidable journey in 1989 with the Metropolitan Police, he spent an impressive 35 years in various roles, earning the prestigious Queens Police Medal in 2021 for outstanding contributions to Covert Policing. Seeking solace from the demands of his career in 2017, Gordon discovered the joy of cycling, transforming it into a powerful fundraising tool for numerous charities. His cycling adventures intersected with Woody’s Lodge, creating a profound resonance with our Co-Chair Clive Hamilton and the mission of our veteran charity. As a dedicated mental health first aider, Gordon is now fully committed to supporting Woody’s Lodge, leading teams of cyclists in veteran charity events and tirelessly working to amplify our presence within the emergency services. Now a recently appointed Charity Ambassador, Gordon continues to make a positive impact in the lives of those who need it most.
Richie Bartle
Richie Bartle, a former Royal Marine, embarked on his journey in 2008, showcasing exceptional courage during his impactful tour in Afghanistan (Herrick 12). Transitioning to the UK Special Forces (SBS) in 2012, Richie completed four overseas operations before an unexpected medical discharge in 2020 due to noise-induced hearing loss. Undeterred, Richie turned adversity into opportunity, founding HMG Clothing for combat-inspired apparel and co-founding East Chase Distillers, an artisan gin distillery. With a deep connection to Paul (Woody) Woodland from their SBS days, Richie’s story extends beyond the battlefield, reflecting the strength of the human spirit. Now, as a proud Charity Ambassador for Woody’s Lodge, he brings his unique experiences to inspire others and foster community support.
Jamie Breese
Jamie Breese currently runs ULTRA, a business leadership peer group for CEOs and MDs of £multi-million companies. This operates in England and Wales and each mastermind meets monthly to share challenges and ideas. He also operates EVO Business Club which is a breakfast networking business and just enjoying it’s 10th year of business. Prior to this, he ran stadium business expos and the popular Only Connect networking parties which welcomed over 500 attendees per meeting. Jamie is also author, compere, auctioneer and antiques/declutter expert. In his last TV series, he appeared in front of hundreds of millions of cumulative subscribers in more than 200 countries on The Discovery Channel’s US show Auction Kings and has presented numerous complete UK series from BBC2’s The Life Laundry and The Antiques Show; to 3 years of ITV1’s hit daytime series Everything Must Go. He was the antiques and collectables columnist at The Sunday Mirror from 2000 to 2020 and is a charity auctioneer who has been used by UNICEF, The Make-A-Wish Foundation, Rolls Royce, Teenage Cancer Trust and many others. He has auctioneered at venues from the Dorchester to The Ivy; before the Prime Minister and hosted an event with The Mayor of London. Jamie has had the honour of offering unique lots ranging from a Dali and Rugby World Cup Final tickets, to tea with Jude Law and a personal gift from Her Majesty The Queen. In 2017 he sold – at an international charity auction in London – a pair of rugby world cup match worn boots to The Princess of Monaco. He was a committee member and volunteer for the Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Charity Gala Dinner for 3 years, an event he also hosted each year and received the Lord Mayor’s Medal in recognition of.
Dai Mathias
Dai, a native of Pontarddulais near Swansea, is not only a family man, married to Laurene with two daughters, but also a sports enthusiast through and through. His early rugby days playing for Pontarddulais RFC showcase his dedication and passion for sports, a journey that has since evolved to embrace running, skiing, and, most notably, cycling. Dai’s remarkable achievements include skiing the equivalent of Mount Everest’s height daily for five consecutive days to support the MS Trust, completing two London marathons, and participating in countless charitable cycling events across Europe. His contributions have benefited numerous organisations, including SAAFA, Ty Hafan, Velindre, and Scoliosis research. Among his notable feats is cycling from John O’Groats to Lands End in just 7 days, a challenge he undertook for The Cardiac Unit in Morriston Hospital. A pivotal moment in Dai’s journey was his participation in a charity cycle from Cardiff to Edinburgh early last year alongside Alix Popham, supporting Head for Change. This initiative further underscores his commitment to making a difference through sports.It was during a SAAFA ride that Dai met Clive, which ignited his inspiration to get involved with Woody’s Lodge. Dai has since been an integral part of our community, helping to lead two extraordinary cycling events and connecting with incredible individuals along the way. We are honoured that Dai has accepted the role of ambassador, and we look forward to his continued involvement in Woody’s Lodge’s cycling and various other events. Dai’s dedication and spirit are an inspiration to us all, and we’re excited to see how his journey with Woody’s Lodge unfolds, for as long as his legs will carry him!
Huw Moores
I come from a proud service family background following in my father and grandfathers’ footsteps and joined the Army after leaving school. I started the journey as an apprentice in the Royal Engineers at the age of 16 and after a two year period at the Army Apprentice College in Chepstow, was sent to Germany in the early 1980s to experience life in the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR), from this moment, life was a steep learning curve and I would say, it has been something that I continuously enjoyed throughout my career as a soldier. A soldier for almost 30 years and during my career, I experienced many environments in rolls which included Combat, Air Mobile, Air Support, Amphibious, Armoured, Air Assault, Training and Recruiting in different operational and training environments around the world. My last job was base back home in Wales where I worked in the Headquarters in Brecon responsible for the preparation and delivery of training, monitoring recruiting standards and MIS support to the regional recruiting framework across Wales. Throughout my career in the Army, I played most sports and partook in various adventurous training activities and expeditions, but my main passion was playing coaching and refereed squash. I represented the Royal Engineers throughout my careers and played for the Army on several occasions. After leaving the Army, I joined MPCT, a leading training provider, where I succeeded in expanding the external partnerships and business growth opportunities with multiple organisations. Primarily focused on business growth, increasing the enrichment and learning experience whilst also creating solutions for positive progression opportunities. As part of the Senior Leadership Team this agenda was critical and also instrumental in placing the business as the UKs largest and most successful in its field. I joined Haddon Training in January 2025, bringing my previous experience in creating robust partnership solutions to support the strategic vision, business development, and continue to build and mature the positive name of Haddon Training as a first class training provider within the Equine, Animal Care and Business sectors. I continue to play squash (not as well as I used to) a enjoy playing golf (when its warmer) and have represented Wales as a Squash Referee at international tournaments across Europe. I am also the Deputy Chair of the Charity; The Motivation and Learning Trust and delighted to be an Ambassador for Woody’s Lodge Charity, allowing me to support, be an advocate and give something back to the armed forces and emergency services communities that Woody’s does so much to support.
Steve Owen
Steve Owen is a living embodiment of courage and resilience. From his early army days to facing serious injuries in Afghanistan, Steve’s commitment remained steadfast. Despite a life-altering amputation upon his return to the UK, he emerged as a beacon of hope, walking over 700 miles for charity, setting world records, and proving that adversity can be transformed into an unbreakable source of strength. In 2020, he joined Woody’s Lodge, leaving an indelible mark as the West and Mid Wales Project Manager and eventually rising to the pivotal role of Operations Manager. April 2023 marked a new chapter for the veteran as he embarked on a family-run venture—Siop Fferm Cherry Picked, a farm-shop/deli on the scenic West coast of Wales. Here, he continues to nurture family roots and enrich the community, perpetuating the values of service that have defined his incredible life. Steve’s unshakeable determination and ability to transform adversity into strength serve as an inspiration to us all.
