Jason Statham’s body double? Series 1 Episode 4 | Fancy a Brew?
Head behind the scenes in the latest episode of our podcast, Fancy a Brew? Find out more about life inside Cyprus’ Buffer zone with three Reservists currently deployed on Operation TOSCA
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Welcome to the behind the scenes highlights from our latest episode of Fancy a Brew? Today, find out about life inside the Buffer Zone in Cyprus on Operation TOSCA with Reservists Sergeant Liam Wood, Captain Richard Roberts and Private Giles Maythan.
Not listened yet? Make sure to tune into the latest episode here👇
Operation TOSCA is the name given to the British contribution to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
Since 1974, the British Army has been deployed to Cyprus, the UK’s contribution to the UN Peacekeeping Force there. As one of the longest-running continuous operations, around 260 soldiers from the British Army form the largest contingent of the multinational force.
In an area of continuing tension, they patrol 24/7 along the Buffer Zone that separates the Greek and Turkish Cypriots, keeping the peace and maintaining stability in the country.
Take a look at some highlights from the episode:👇
What is it like being an Army Reservist?
Private Giles: “I think the opportunities that the Army Reserves offers you are incredible, I have been skiing, I’ve got to do some incredible courses, and some other crazy things as well.
Sergeant Wood: “What the Reserves does give you is awesome, an amazing opportunity. All over the world I have been doing amazing experiences, like skiing in Norway. I have also been to Belize, Kenya, all over the world doing different exercises, gaining different experiences.
“It is a fantastic way of life, and I wouldn’t do anything else now.”
— Private Giles Maythan
What is it like inside the Buffer Zone?
Private Giles: “I’ve got to say, patrolling the Buffer Zone is really cool, I really like it. The Buffer Zone itself is a very strange and fascinating place. There’s lots to look at in there and I remember being quite young and seeing the UN on TV and I remember seeing the trucks and I’ve got a very clear memory of it. So to be here now is quite special for me.
Captain Roberts: “There definitely are these peculiar little occurrences. I think one of the weird surreal moments for me was when I went to the very far West, and came across a village.
“It’s a Greek Cypriot village that is well and truly square in the Buffer Zone. We spend a lot of our time trying to maintain security and prevent illegal movement and trafficking across the Buffer Zone, and here is this fully functioning village with hundreds if not thousands of individuals, and they’re just living in the middle of what is sometimes referred to as the dead zone or what we call the Buffer Zone. It’s quite surreal.
Were you really Jason Statham’s body double?
Private Giles: “I don’t like to talk about it much, but I was once Jason Statham’s body double, many years ago now, just the body double, obviously standing in for films.
“I’ve done bits and bobs in the past but I think that was one of the reasons why I joined the Army because I spent a lot of time playing soldiers in various bits and bobs and it just got to the point where I was like, actually I think I want to do this for real as opposed to just playing it.
What is the food situation like?
Private Giles: “What’s really interesting is that Cypriot food is incredible, even little things like the takeaways, it just feels like they really take pride in their food.
Captain Roberts: “There’s been some very good days, and hopefully if the weather keeps improving, we can get some socially distanced barbecues going. I wouldn’t mind if we could get out once or twice more to experience a few more places. There is fantastic restaurants on both sides of the border.
Private Giles: “I had chicken wings from a big pizza store, and they were the best chicken wings I’ve ever tasted, I couldn’t believe it! I was incredibly happy with them. In the UK, chicken wings are like dry little bits of cardboard but here they’re how chicken wings should be.
Why did you join the military?
Private Giles: “It was always my dream to become a British soldier and my path in was very bumpy. It took me about eight years to get in, but I just kept applying and I got knocked back and then stuff happened, but I was so glad that I went for it, because it was everything I hoped it would be, and more.
Sergeant Wood: “I joined 19/20 years ago at the age of 18 and went into the Reserves centre with the view of joining full time. And then at 18 years of age, I got called up for Iraq and then off I trotted there. And then when I got back, I then got a good employment. So, I’ve carried on with my employment, while still doing tours along the way so I’ve got a happy mix of doing Reserve life and civilian life.”
