Harrison Ward – Fell Foodie
Harrison Ward, perhaps better known as Fell Foodie, is an inspirational mental health speaker honestly highlighting his personal battles with depression, suicidal ideations, alcohol addiction and obesity. He is also known as outdoor cook, recreating restaurant-style meals on camping equipment in remote locations.
His life was very different just some short years ago. Struggling with a clinical depression first appearing in his adolescence, Harrison’s life spiralled out of control as he began to medicate his mind with alcohol. At its worst, he was consuming in excess of 20 pints daily, was a full-time smoker, and had ballooned in weight to over 22 stone. His medicine had become a further poison.
The end of a relationship and a personal breakdown in 2016 led to a major life change seeking support for the first time after suffering in silence. Harrison Ward, sober since that day, has since thrown himself into fitness and hiking, and merged his passion for food into his new active routine outdoors. He now frequently delivers talks at workplaces, events and festivals as a keynote speaker about his subsequent recovery and the benefits of time spent outside aiding his journey from an overweight, alcoholic, smoker to the fit, fell loving foodie he is today.
Harrison Ward has been featured regularly in the media. He recently appeared on Channel 5’s ‘Winter on the Farm’ and notably on the BBC baking a cake on the hillside for Dame Mary Berry in her latest series ‘Love to Cook’. His story has featured in publications such as Countryfile Magazine, Men’s Fitness, The Telegraph, Daily Express, Metro, Waitrose & Partners Weekend and more.
He is a brand ambassador for Volvo Car UK and Ordnance Survey and was nominated as the ‘Outdoor Personality of the Year’ by The Great Outdoors Magazine.
His debut book ‘Cookout’ is due for release in October 2023 with Vertebrate Publishing.
SPEAKING TOPICS
His talk touches on moments of resilience, not being afraid to ask for help, change management, and the power of the outdoors for mental and physical well-being. As well as difficult subjects that may be effecting members of the workforce, directly or indirectly.
Harrison’s raw and candid reflections of his personal struggles have benefited workforces from various organisations such as Volvo Car UK, JLL, Sanofi/Kymab, Natural England, NHS, St Austell Brewery, VivoBarefoot and many secondary schools and universities.
He is frequently booked by clients looking to improve their staff wellbeing initiatives, promoting open conversation about mental health, highlighting new support programs and as a guest speaker for international awareness campaigns. He is also available for unique outdoor workshops which can include guided walks in natural spaces along with on location prepared hot food on his trusty camping stove close to the organisation headquarters, or further afield, for an authentic experience of how beneficial time outside can be.
“We recently ran a Happy Monday event for VCUK colleagues aiming to encourage Volvo colleagues to get outdoors in nature and walk/talk for better mental health. Harrison was the face of this event/campaign talking about his personal experience eloquently and confidently which inspired many VCUK colleagues to get involved.”
— Volvo Cars
“Harrison is a true excellent inspirational speaker. His frankness and authenticity, sprinkled with honest self-reflection and humour is uplifting and impactful.”
— University of Sheffield
“At the event, Harrison grabbed the attention of our guests with his truly inspirational story, whilst cooking a very tasty curry for all. He got stuck into everything and there wasn’t a time when I didn’t see a big smile on his face.”
— Garmin UK
