The following people make up the In The Footsteps of Heroes Team

The following people make up the "In The Footsteps of Heroes" Team

*Chris Paul (Expedition Leader) – London based lawyer, with a interest in military history. Chris is a keen expeditionary and was part of the 2006 team that traced the wartime route of Jan Baalsrud on his wartime escape across the mountains of Norway , Finland and Sweden .

*Alun Davies (Food and Accommodation) - South Wales based businessman in who had a full career as an infantry officer in the British Army and has lived and work all over the world. He has had a life long interest in the mountains and has been on countless expeditions to the Alps as well as Iran – Mt Damavand, and

Turkey

– Mt Ararat. He is a past president of the Alpine Ski Club and a member of the British Army Mountaineering Association. He once went 3000 miles down the Congo River in a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) and retains a strong interest in small boats. Alun was also part of the 2006 Jan Baalsrud expedition

Mike Wright (Navigator) – Mike is ex-British Army and lives in Norway , and is an experienced mountaineer and skier, and was also part of the 2006 Jan Baalsrud expedition.

*John Ellis Roberts (Safety and Route Planning) – John is past Head Warden of Snowdonia National Park . After early training as an engineer he joined the Snowdonia National Park where he worked for 33 years. John has taken part in 539 mountain rescues and 561 rescues of animals. He was awarded the MBE by the Queen in 1988. He is a qualified mountain guide (UIAGM) and has guided many expeditions to the Alps and beyond. He was also part of the 2006 Jan Baaslrud expedition

John Andre (Ground Support) – John is ex-British Army (having run the British Army Outward Bound School in

Norway)

. Now retired, he will help Tim Todd in providing the critical ground support.

Nick Frankioudakis (Cretan Military Liaison) - Nick is a serving NCO in the Greek Army, and is an experienced jumpmaster and combat diver/swimmer. His involvement has been arranged by Lt.Col T. Kitsos of the Greek Embassy in London, following an approach made earlier this year. Not only is Nick a Cretan (reflecting the joint Cretan/British nature of the original team), but he will also help the team to be able to speak to locals en route. Nicks presence with the team is also through the generous cooperation and assistance of the Officer Commanding 1 MAL Crete and others from his unit.

Jonathan Huston (Photographer and Navigator) - Jonathan is a successful Australian-based businessman, who is also ex-Forces. He has an active interest in military history and also enjoys trekking, having recently covered Mt Kilimanjaro, lower Andes, Mt Kinabulu (Borneo) and Pico Aneto (Spanish Pyrenees).

Artemis Cooper (Team Diarist) – Artemis is a British writer who is currently working on the official biography of Sir Patrick Leigh Fermor DSO OBE. Her books include Paris after the Liberation, 1944-1949 (written with her husband Antony Beevor) and Cairo in the War, 1939-1945. Artemis is also a freelance journalist, and will publish articles on the expedition.

*Tim Todd (Historical Researcher) – Tim is a retired Police Inspector who devoted considerable efforts to the research of the wartime events on Crete . Tim has contributed to a number of publications and documentaries about the Battle of Crete and the work of the SOE on the island. His research (particularly at the National Archives) has been invaluable in clarifying certain parts of the route. Tim was due to be in Crete with the team but ill health means he cannot take part and will have to remain in the UK, but is very much with the group in spirit.

The team would not have been able to undertake the expedition without considerable prior help and information from many who have added to the knowledge of the original operation. The level of interest and help, from all corners of the world, has been outstanding. In time I hope to generate a list that will give due acknowledgement to all concerned, for the moment I offer my sincere thanks for all your contributions.

Through the invaluable help and assistance of Lt Col T Kitsos, Greek Embassy London, the team in Crete were accompanied throughout by Nick Frankioudakis whose contribution was immense. Nick's colleagues Major Kostakis and Nick Troulakis also met and assisted the team on numerous occasions. Paddy Leigh Fermor told us to put our trust in the Greeks, Theodore Kitsos told me that his people would not let us down, both were so right! Thank you.

*Denotes a member of the 2005 team that traced the route from the abduction point at Archanes to Rhodakino - see http://www.explorecrete.com/history/kreipe-Anogia.htm