LAUNCESTON College’s principal is getting set to run the London Marathon in memory of his father.

Bryan Maywood will run the marathon, raising funds for MIND, the mental health charity, after he said his father, Sidney Charles Maywood, ‘never talked’ about his experiences of serving on the Arctic convoys in World War Two.

His father was on the HMS Comorin when it caught alight in the North Atlantic on April 6, 1941 — he was still only 18, had to jump off in 60-feet waves and was picked up by an American ship.

Bryan said: “My father never learned to talk. He experienced horrendous trauma during the Second World War; aged 19 he jumped in the dark from a burning navy cruiser into 60-feet waves in the North Atlantic.

“He survived, and appeared to have a successful life; he never talked and might not have needed a period of psychiatric care if he had.”

He said in his role as principal, he tries to talk when he can about health, mental and physical, with students and staff.

Bryan added: “It feels like never before has the opportunity to talk about both mental health and physical health been more possible. The two are often very closely linked and I know of the power and effect that running, and the social activity, can bring.

“I have known days where darkness in the mind and a hideous nausea have been all consuming for me, and where I was lucky enough to be able to use the support of family and friends to change my working environment and as a result my mental health.

“Since that time, nearly seven years ago, I have learnt a lot about myself and about the need to support others. I have also learned to talk.

“I don’t always get it right but I try. Running the London Marathon for MIND is another effort at getting it right.”