Middleton school visit by Invictus games medal winner Nav

Youngsters in the upper dale were given an inspirational talk by an injured veteran.
Invictus Games gold medallist Seveci Navelinikoro, better known as Nav, visited Middleton-in-Teesdale Primary School to speak about how his life has changed since his time on the battlefield.
Parent Gillian Hutchinson, who is also chairwoman of the Friends of Middleton School, works at Stockton Riverside College and organised the visit. Through the college’s Prince’s Trust courses and a Help for Heroes partnership, Nav and Gillian began working together.
Nav, who is originally from Fiji, joined the British Army in 2003 and served for 12 years.
His life changed forever when he was in a vehicle in Afghanistan which was blown up by an improvised explosive device three months into his operational tour with 1st Battalion Mercian regiment in 2012. The 37-year-old sustained a brain injury, loss of hearing in one ear and nerve damage to his lower back, left hip, knee and ankle. Nav said: “The reason I am working with The Prince’s Trust is to inspire young children to get on with life. If you ever get an injury put it to the side and just remember to keep on going. It makes you stronger.” Having spent two-and-a-half years in rehabilitation, Nav took part in the first ever Invictus Games in London which were founded by Prince Harry in 2014 for injured veterans.
Taking home a gold medal for his efforts in the sitting volleyball team, he was later selected for five sports in this year’s games, which took place in Orlando. This time he won a silver medal in sitting volleyball as well as a bronze medal in wheelchair rugby.
Headteacher Chris Chilvers said: “It is things like this which inspire the children of today to get over the hurdles that are put in front of them.”
Ms Hutchinson said: “Sometimes the children just think about the people who died in World War One and World War Two but it is important that everyone is remembered.”