Tim Brear (74-81) took up volunteering in his spare time after he retired in 2017 from a 25-year career in financial services. Little did he know at the time that several years later this would lead to a whole newfound ‘career’ and a full-time job at 60! We caught up with Tim at a recent OP event where he updated us on his role and how he got there! “

After leaving Wilberforce Boarding House I moved through Newcastle University to Sandhurst and on to a short commission in what is now the Yorkshire Regiment. I then had a 25-year career in financial services, leaving in 2017 to ‘retire’ – I started volunteering; coaching rugby in Africa for Bhubesi Pride Foundation and disaster responding for REACT, previously Team Rubicon UK. Whilst apparently retired, I was persuaded to work as Chief of Staff for an intelligence agency, Othrys, founded by my brother, Andy (73-78), who some OPs will know, following his 25-year post-military service working for HMG. 

In the six years responding to ‘natural’ disasters, I have spent time in Mozambique, Sierra Leone and the Bahamas, Ukraine/Poland at a less than natural disaster, as well as coordinating disaster responses to floods in Fishlake (Doncaster) and Arkengarthdale near Reeth (I met Boris at Fishlake and Rishi in Reeth!). I have found a new passion and purpose, helping others in their moment of need alongside other committed humanitarians. Late last year I was offered a fulltime role at REACT as lead for Yorkshire and the North East of England, tasked with assisting the blue light responders and Local Resilience Forums in the region as and when called to do so. Having been able to extract myself from Othrys, I started my new role in March 2023 and am loving being so busy again!

In recent years REACT has recognised that not all well intentioned and well-motivated humanitarians are military veterans by any means, and I am looking to recruit willing people of all ages, genders and backgrounds to join me in this great venture. We have been involved with undertaking welfare checks on Ukrainian refugees seeking shelter in East Sussex, covid testing and tracing and assisting at NHS Nightingale hospitals. We have also assisted on several BBC DIY SOS builds, disinfected NHS ambulances, supported those in hours of queues to the port channel terminals, along with partner agencies and recently supported evacuees fleeing the Sudan conflict and flying into UK airports.

We are also regularly engaged in our core response of reacting to flash flooding, coordinating ‘spontaneous volunteers’ at sudden UK events as well as providing assistance to those in greatest need and the hardest to reach in weather torn counties, who feel the brunt of a changing climate more than we who arguably create it! I did not expect to be finding myself in full-time employment again, but I have a new lease of life and purpose. I can highly recommend it!”

Thank you, Tim!

If any OPs would like to find out more about Tim’s role, the REACT organization, or volunteering opportunities, please get in touch with Tim directly at: tim.brear@re-act.org.uk or visit the REACT website: www.re-act.org.uk/about

Header photo caption: Tim, pictured right, in Biera after tropical cylcone Idai.

Insert photo caption: Tim in the cleared out High Rock police station on Grand Bahama after Cyclone Dorian