Ash: Mentor, Friend, Bants in his Pants

Ashley Jones, a member of staff on this trip, has been more a brother and friend to us all than a teacher. The relationship we've built up with Ash has been truly special, and as he's mentored us through the wonders of South Africa it's been a joy to see him grow and develop as much as the rest of us. His excitability brings the best out of the group, encouraging and enthusing us to try new things and become more and more open and therefore enjoy the trip more than we would before.

    I think I speak on behalf of all 13 other members of the group when I say that Ash's enthusiasm has made this trip even more special than it already was. He has brought tears of both laughter and touched humility as he engages with the group on both a level of friend and banter companion and also mentor, father-figure and orator. Last night, his final speech left no dry eye in the house as he highlighted what this trip had meant to him. "To share this with you all," he said, "has been an experience I will never forget." Here he stopped, unable to continue for the tears in his eyes; seeing him open up to the group in this manner, baring himself before us and exposing his most personal feelings touched me to my core and spending that final night together may well have meant more to me than any conversation I've had for years. And Ash made that night: his perfect balance of teacher and colleague made it unforgettable. For this, I believe we shall forever be grateful.

    But, when it came to banter, Ash was in a league of his own. The one-liners, the running jokes, the ridiculous excitement: all of this and more than this brought the group together with Ash as mediator and chief of the laughter. What's more, he's so quick to follow and get the mood up; if ever we feel down or just need perking up he's there with a quip to get us crying with laughter. When on the night safari Mike mistook two signs and a gate for game Ash came right in with, "Well that's 3 of the Big 5" which had the whole bus pathetically trying to suppress giggles as we attempted not to scare away any animals in the dark. This led to Ash's gift last night, where we got him a child's hat with the Big 5 on; a running joke I shall never forget and always associate with this trip and especially with Ash.

    If I could say one thing, on a personal level, to Ash it would be this: thank you for making this trip more unforgettable than it would have been already, to have you beside us every step of the way made it incredibly special. 

AH