Former hostage, humanitarian and author Terry Waite took centre stage at Devonport’s HMS Drake, at a themed talk commemorating the Mayflower 400 anniversary.
Welcomed to Devonport by Commodore Peter Coulson, Naval Base Commander, the event in the Warrant Officers and Senior rates mess saw Terry Waite share his story of his time as a hostage in Beirut, some 28 years since his release in November 1991.
Terry spent 1,760 days in captivity and twenty years later he travelled back to meet his jihadist captors. His personal journey and recovery are testament to the notion that hardship can often be a source of strength; and event organisers say his experiences can be assimilated to those of the pilgrims who set sail on the Mayflower some 400 years ago.
Craig Moore, from Plymouth law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, and sponsor of the talk said;
“We’re really pleased to support the Mayflower 400 initiative and to welcome Terry to this headline event in Plymouth. Terry’s experience was unique and fascinating to hear him speak about surviving his ordeal and indeed how he came to terms with the aftermath.”
Terry Waite shared his personal account of his ability to face the unknown, to build trust and the physical and mental capacity he had to exercise to deal with the hardships that he faced. Terry also shared his insights into the importance of staying mentally active in the face of death as well as ways in which he was creative in situations where there was little or no support available. He believed that when forced to, humans discover resources that enable them to cope in extreme situations.
“Over 400 years ago the Pilgrims set sail to find a new life for themselves in unknown territory,”
said Terry Waite.
“The personal qualities they required then are the same as those required today: courage, innovation and conviction. In remembering that voyage we can take inspiration from the fact that human beings have the capacity to adapt and change. History has much to teach us.”
Mayflower 400 commemoration sits at the very heart of the special relationship between Britain and the US. The official programme in 2020 will comprise over 400 events that will span four nations – Britain, US, Netherlands and Wampanoag – and is anticipated to yield a significant impact on the business turnover across the UK Mayflower Compact destinations.
This event is one of a series of seven themed talks that will take place over a two year period commemorating the Mayflower’s 400th year anniversary and the importance of the transatlantic relationship between the UK and the US.
