Former Royal Air Force Chinook Pilot and Training Captain, Leon Fisher, served from 1999 until 2015, completing five tours in Afghanistan. His service included high-stakes roles such as being part of the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT), tasked with retrieving injured soldiers from the battlefield. After being medically discharged due to PTSD in 2015, Leon began a new chapter—this time, supporting others by joining military charity, Vector24.
We spoke to him about how he heard about Reading Force and how it has transformed his own reading journey with his young daughter.
Discovering Reading Force
Though vaguely aware of Reading Force during his time in service, it wasn’t until a recent connection with our Ambassador in Scotland, Fiona Maxwell, that Leon decided to join us and take part in Reading Force with his own family. He immediately recognised its value:
“The idea of using a book as a focal point for discussion is fantastic… Having deployed numerous times to Afghanistan, I understand how tense phone time can be between parents and children.”
Reading with Mila
Now a dad to nearly two-year-old Mila, reading has taken on a new significance.
“I was initially concerned that I wasn’t reading enough to her and felt pressure to fulfil my role as a parent. My own mum often shares how much she loved reading to me when I was a child.”
After speaking with Fiona, he was recommended a Pip and Posy book.
“Since I introduced it, Mila has become fascinated with books… she comes to sit on my lap and asks me to read it. I cherish these moments.”
While he admits that reading the same book repeatedly can be “a bit tedious,” Mila’s happy, smiley reactions make it all worthwhile.
“I genuinely hope Mila develops a love for reading unlike me. I am not a massive reader, which I’ve recently realised is partly due to undiagnosed dyslexia.”
Rekindling an Old Dream
Despite the challenges he has experienced with his own reading, reading to his daughter has rekindled an old dream for Leon:
“I’ve always aspired to write my own book about my personal experiences. Reading to Mila has reignited that, particularly as I observe how she interacts with the stories and what she absorbs.”
To anyone considering Reading Force, Leon says:
“I would encourage anyone who hasn’t signed up for Reading Force to do so. Initially, I hesitated, thinking that someone else might deserve the free book more than I did, but the book selection and recommendation was what kickstarted Mila’s reading journey—one that we now share together.”
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Leon for sharing his story with us.
Today, Leon is the Operations Manager at Vector24. Established in 2016, Vector24 is a Scottish charity that provides holistic transport support and intelligent signposting to all members of the Armed Forces community, including the Merchant Navy, seafarers, their family members, and dependents across Scotland.
Vector24 offers more than just transport; they provide tailored and compassionate support to ensure that no veteran, serving personnel, or their family faces the barriers that life can present.
