OUR STORIES
Read about men who have found support and friendship through our walk and talk groups.
James Walker
Marine & Logistics Manager
Rotherhithe
James is married with a young son. Twenty years ago, he was diagnosed as a manic-depressive, now known as bipolar disorder. After years of therapy, and feeling isolated during lockdown, he saw a walk and talk video on Facebook by Scott Johnson, founder of The Proper Blokes Club.
"The pandemic did a lot of things to people. You didn’t get to see anyone. All of a sudden, it got snatched from everybody. People are more isolated now and I could see that happening to me. I went for a walk with Scott and it was exactly what I needed. That kind of environment suits me best – meeting and walking and talking. It’s better than being in a stifling situation with someone who is paid to listen to you.
It has given me purpose.
I thought it’s such a great opportunity to get out there, not just for myself but for other people. I have had ten years of therapy and I may be able to listen. When you are bipolar, it’s good to have something positive in life to extend the good part of the condition. Having something to focus on is therapy in itself. I have loads of brothers now. It’s like a brotherhood."
Greg Powley-Lynch
Operations Director
Bermondsey
Greg, a big Arsenal fan and former DJ, is married and has a stepdaughter, two grandchildren and a sausage dog. He discovered The Proper Blokes Club when things were spiralling downwards. The group helped him get back on track.
My wife has noticed the change in me.
"I was suffering quite badly when I joined the group. I had had a couple of knee operations and I was going back and forth with my doctors about what to do. I also had problems with gambling and things were taking a downward spiral.
The receptionist at the doctor’s recommended The Proper Blokes Club. It's been great for me. I am not jumping from one thing to another any more. Now I am really focused. It’s given me consistency and drive.
Since I have started walking more with the group, my knee is starting to feel a lot better and I don’t need to take so many painkillers, so health-wise and in terms of mental wellbeing, it’s helping with both.
When I moved to the area, I had no friends here. The group has enabled me to meet life-long friends which has also had a positive impact on my life."
Scott Oughton-Johnson
Football Coach
Bermondsey
Scott, 35, is an ex-gambler, proud dad to two young girls and the founder of The Proper Blokes Club. After a relationship breakup, he started going on walks and videoing himself talking about his issues. It struck a chord with men across London.
We might not be able to solve a problem but we are creating a space where you can talk.
"I started the walks in September 2020 during the Covid lockdown. I was doing my local walk and videoing my experiences, and I thought hopefully it would resonate with someone watching it.
Originally, it was meant to be for dads who were finding it difficult getting access to their children. I know how it feels getting access to your kids and I was in a position where I could give something back to people.
As more lads started getting involved and coming on the walks, we got a wider range of issues like being a dad, being out of work, taking drugs, drinking, relationships and stress at work.
I would be lying if I said the group had not been beneficial to me. It’s been an amazing support and I have met some lads that are going to be best pals for life. It’s helped me immensely."
Geoff Saunders
Teacher
Bow
Geoff, 60, teaches adults with learning difficulties. He is also a playwright, works on indie movies and recently produced a podcast on men’s mental health. Much to the amusement of his Greenwich walking pals, he prefers pie and mash with gravy, not liquor.
I thought, ‘Not only can I benefit from this group but I can also be useful’.
"One of my colleagues does a lot of work for mental health and she flagged up this group. I didn’t consciously think I needed to meet new people and get some help; I just thought it could be interesting and that I could be helpful in some way.
I was having a bad time at work and various things were happening in my life; subconsciously, I’m sure, part of me thought I could do with this group for myself.
The WhatsApp group is important because people are checking in on each other. The walking group is also good because you can have longer conversations with people about normal life or more heavy issues.
As an established member of the Greenwich walk, I take the responsibility of asking, ‘What brought you along?’ when someone new turns up and it’s a good way to get the conversation going."
Paul
"In this group, I have met people who I quickly came to call friends. Not for the sake of it, but for the empathy, camaraderie, friendliness and humour shared. We talk to each other about anything, but oftentimes we can talk about things we might not ever have spoken about to our best friends we've had for years or decades. The reason? The shared experiences and zero judgement, only encouragement, empathy and understanding. This group is a huge lifeline to many. For me, it's a strong part of a coping strategy which helps me through life."
John
"I originally joined as I was feeling down about my uncle passing away from cancer and the fact that both my mother and missus were doing chemo at the same time I found an outlet I didn't think I needed. Sadly, 5 days after I joined, I lost my missus. The group have been a great support to me, both from the walks together and in general. I'm still suffering myself, but I try to empathise with the others in the group too. The blokes group is priceless and sometimes words are not enough to describe what the group means to me."
Jeremy
"I joined to be part of blokes listening to each other, lifting each other out of any pit, mud or mire they’re in, to help them try to once again set their feet on a rock and give them a firm place to stand. I’ve found it doesn’t matter if you’re from the area or not, it’s a safe space to just chat about anything or nothing at all really. People listen without judgement, whatever your background or whatever the situation you’re in, or how you got there. Plus of course, it helps sometimes to just get out of the house and simply Walk & Talk, that’s what it says on the tin!"
James
"I originally joined the group to find other like minded individuals who were willing to open up and share their own experiences of men’s mental health in the hope that I was alone in my own struggle, I joined very early on and it’s been an incredible journey watching this group grow into massive numbers of proper blokes who have committed themselves during an unprecedented time in everyone’s life to helping each other get through it the best we can, the support from each and every bloke has been amazing, in such a short space of time, we have become what can only be described as a brotherhood. I will forever be grateful for that."
Jack
"I joined because I’d felt for many years that there needed to be a space where ‘ordinary’ men were encouraged to talk to each other about their actual lives. I lamented the loss of community I’ve seen in the last decade and more and the fact that people from different walks of life didn’t talk to each other half as much as I feel they should. I felt minds were becoming more and more closed, and echo chambers bigger and bigger. In so many ways, The Proper Blokes Club changed my life because it gave me a space to come and share some of what I’ve experienced and the problems I’ve had but, just as importantly, a space to listen and give support to blokes in need of it. Even more than this, PBC has given me an amazing group of friends, all with something valuable to say, all wonderfully open, all excellent listeners. I have always come away feeling better than I did when I went, and feeling far more assured in the knowledge that we have so much more in common than that which divides us."
Luke
"I have been part of The Proper Blokes Club for a couple weeks now. The hard work and effort that Scott has put in to get men walking and talking to finally rid the stigma associated with men's mental health is commendable and to be a part of it is an absolute pleasure."