Consummate adventurer Rosie Swale-Pope trekked her way to Newport to open the new offices of mountaineer accountant Gary Parker.
Rosie, author, sailor and marathon runner, who completed a five year solo journey on foot around the world to raise £250,000 for charity, opened the new Parker & Co offices in Crindau.
Rosie also helped Gary and his relay swim team celebrate conquering the English Channel in aid of St David’s Hospice Care
Global expedition leader Gary Parker said he could think of no one better to do the honours for them than Rosie who was the epitome of adventure – a key part of being in business.
Gary, who also spends a great deal of time raising money for charity, particularly St. David’s Hospice Care, said: “Rosie is an inspiration and a true adventurer. What she has achieved and continues to achieve is simply phenomenal. We were delighted that she could come to open our new offices here on the banks of the River Usk in Newport.
“Business is an adventure and that is how we treat it at Parker & Co. Everything we believe in and offer to our clients, is perfectly encapsulated in Rosie’s attitude to life. We simply couldn’t have had a better person to start us off on our new journey in business back in Newport.”
“Our business motto is Adventure in Business and Rosie sums up everything about adventure in what she has done and continues to do and also her tremendous fund raising.”
“Going into business is just like going on an expedition or an adventure; you need equipment, expertise and commitment. Sometimes things don’t go the way you want them to and you have to step back and think of another way of overcoming obstacles”
Rosie, who lives in Llangorse, officially open the 2,500 sq ft of office space, now called Summit House, at Waterside Court, Newport.
Rosie told the gathering, which was so large it had to be accommodated in the vacant next door office, said: “There really is nothing special about me it’s just that I set myself a goal, a target and then make pretty sure I go all out to achieve it, come what may.
“It’s about wanting to do things with all your heart. Have a go and see how it turns out. If there are boulders in the way of your route then just use them to climb higher. Keep going, keep striving and if others give up then just keep on going. There are no traffic jams for those that keep on going in difficult times.”
Rosie, who took up running in Tenby, aged fifty, and set off on her round world run at 57, told of her terrifying face to face encounters with wolves, with a naked man with an axe in a Russian forest and sleeping outdoors in the Siberian winter said: “Every minute of your life is precious. Life is very short even if you live to be 91-if you have a dream go for it and don’t forget to stop and celebrate success.
“Life and business is an adventure, just go for it, enjoy it and see what happens.”
Rosie said one of her next challenges was to visit all the pubs in Newport. Gary said he’d be happy to join her on that ‘expedition’.
Parker & Co, which also has an office in Aztec West, Bristol, has taken the Newport offices to reinforce its presence in the area.