Ex-MP and war correspondent Martin Bell backs Portland firm (From Dorset Echo)

Ex-MP and war correspondent Martin Bell backs Portland firm

12:00pm Saturday 5th January 2013 in News By Joanna Davis

FORMER war correspondent Martin Bell stepped back in front of the camera to help a Portland firm.

The journalist-turned-MP paid a trip to the island to film a video recruitment segment for commercial security company Transeacure.

Wearing his iconic white suit, the former foreign correspondent shot a piece to camera for ex-military personnel about the Osprey Quay firm’s high-level close protection training courses.

It was the second encounter with Transeacure directors Evan Moore and John Dodwell for Mr Bell.

Both Mr Moore and Mr Dodwell served together in the forces.

Mr Bell, 74, who lives in London, said: “We first met when I was covering the handover of Belize in 1981.

“We then had a recent chance meeting in Gibraltar when I was lecturing on a cruise ship and they asked me to help with the film shoot and I said I’d be happy to.”

Transeacure has been on Portland for three years and has trained hundreds of people, many of whom have gone on to protect international celebrities.

Security staff trained by the firm looked after the US sailing team during the Olympics.

Mr Moore said: “To be a good close protection officer, you have to be a good problem solver and a risk management man or woman. You’ve got to get someone from A to B and if you have got conflict then you haven’t done a good job.”

The video starring Mr Bell will be taken to employment fairs to urge people to retrain in the security industry.

Mr Moore said: “Anyone in the military knows who Martin is and knows that he’s been in war zones standing in front of chaos. There’s a lot of credibility there – he’s a brilliant ambassador for us.”

A current stint as a UN ambassador has got Mr Bell mixing in different circles.

He said: “I enjoy it. I get to go to all the places where David Beckham can’t go.”

After a lengthy career working for the BBC and serving as an MP for four years, Mr Bell has made a foray into poetry.

He recently published his first book on poetry For Whom the Bell Tolls, a collection of verse on current affairs.

See transeacuregroup.com for details of courses.

PLEASED BY ECHO'S WORK

MARTIN Bell, who started his career working for BBC Norwich, said he was pleased to hear that South and West Dorset is covered by a daily newspaper.
He said: “I’m very worried about the state of our local newspapers because so many have closed.
“I’m also worried about foreign news because it seems to be breaking off from reality.”
Mr Bell has covered 11 conflicts over the last 30 years and has reported from 80 countries.
In 1997 the former war correspondent became Britain’s first independent MP for 50 years, after ousting Tory MP Neil Hamilton from the Tatton seat.