Events
Mushroom Picking with Antonio Carluccio
31/10/2009
Celebrity chef Antonio Carluccio enlisted the help of Britain's ex-military heroes to help him in his quest to find the UK's most treasured mushrooms.
Antonio, who is working with the Warrior Programme, a charity designed to help emotionally traumatised ex-servicemen overcome the demons of their past, headed the hunt at the Earl of Abergavenny's estate, Tunbridge Wells, on what is set to be his biggest mushroom hunt ever.
On a 'quiet hunt' in late October 2009, these ex-service men went on a different kind of mission, one of discovery of both themselves but also of one of nature's greatest treasure.
After a morning mushroom picking, the ex-service men put their skills into practice setting up a camp to cook their finds.
Antonio Carluccio said: "Cooking for others is one of the most loving of all human skills."
"These heroes who have by no fault of their own become disconnected need to relearn these basic skills."
"I have thoroughly enjoyed going on my biggest ever mushroom hunt with such an accomplished team of people in the incredible setting of Lord Abergavenny's estate."
8 ex-service men attended the mushroom hunt, including:
Nick Eccles, who served for 15 years. He served in the Falklands and on leaving the Army, he found little support available and later spent 3 years sleeping rough in London.
Patrick Lyster-Todd, a former Principal Warfare officer, left the Navy voluntarily in 1992 because of his sexuality; tragically his partner died two days before he left. He later became the marketing director of a television branding company but in 2001 had an emotional breakdown which caused him to lose his job and home.
Horace Miles spent 14 years as an infantry man. He found himself increasingly dependent on alcohol to ease his memories from time spent serving in Northern Ireland.
You can also watch a video of Antonio with the Warriors here.
