A PARALYSED veteran is furthering his history studies with funding assistance from the Aaron Lewis Foundation.
Rob Butt, 47, who became a history teacher after leaving the regular Army, is now embarking on a two-year MA in medieval history through the University of Birmingham.
After passing out at Sandhurst in 1994, Rob went into the Royal Artillery but was injured out two years later. He then joined the Royal Green Jackets TA in London and was then a CFAV (CCF) Officer from 2000, where he “rose to the dizzy heights of Major (2ic)”.
But his life changed in 2018 following a freak accident on a family holiday in Malta with his wife and three children.
As they sat on the top deck of a tour bus, it drove through low-hanging branches – clattering into those on board. Two people were killed in the crash and many others injured, including Rob who was left paralysed from the neck down.
He has had extensive treatment in the two years since the accident and has been buoyed by fundraising and assistance from friends, family, colleagues and locals in the Somerset village the family live.
And now the ALF has also stepped in to help. Of his medieval history MA, Rob said: “I have always been interested in this period and have taught it to sixth formers for several years. As such, I wanted to study it personally at a higher level and keep my brain active.
“I feel honoured to have received such a generous donation towards my studies.”