Changing Lifestyle: Rob Havelock & Lianne Jones [4 Films, 9’09”]
Lianne Jones is six weeks away from doing a 30 mile ultra-marathon. [Lianne completed the marathon successfully.] In her pre-recovery past, she covered, ‘Not a mile’ each day. Rob, born and brought up in Snowdonia, is now a guide taking people into the mountains. When asked how many mountains he had been up three years ago, his reply is, ‘A big fat zero!’ A week later they went up Tryfan, one of the most technical of mountains in Snowdonia (Eryri).
Rob and Lianne’s ‘activities journey’ began with one of the September Recovery Month expeditions organised by North Wales Recovery Communities (NWRC)—one involving rock climbing, gorge walking, orienteering, and raft building. On the last day Rob and Lianne went up Snowden (Yr Wyddfa), their first mountain. A mustard seed was planted in Rob’s head.
When Rob was on a Hill Skills course, the mountain leader, Alex, suggested that Rob become a mountain leader. When Rob replied, ‘What the hell’s a mountain leader?’, he was told that he was a natural with ‘a map and compass’ and in helping the other participants. Rob visited the relevant website, and sorted himself out a profile. He then started having quality days in the mountains, doing what he could to be eligible to take part in the training.
When she was young, Lianne was a member of a sailing club. She was quite athletic at that time and was outdoors a lot. However, as time passed, she changed and stopped doing those things. She loves being outdoors, and is passionate about trying all sorts of outdoor activity. It gives her a feeling of peace, and that’s why she enjoys getting out. Snowden was her first mountain as well.
This conversation took place in March 2025. Rob is Founder of an Eryi (Snowdonia)-based walking and outdoor community dedicated to helping people recovering from addiction and mental health struggles. Lianne is a Duty Officer at Penrhyn House, the residential part of North Wales Recovery Communities in Bangor.