Arthur Williams (born 18 June 1986) is a British television presenter and former Royal Marine. He uses a wheelchair as a result of a severe car accident.

Early life

Arthur was brought up in Eckington, South Worcestershire and played rugby for Prince Henry's High School in

Evesham Evesham () is a market town and parish in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire, in the West Midlands region of England. It is located roughly equidistant between Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon. It lies within the Vale of Evesha ...

. He also swam for Pershore. A runner from an early age, Arthur also took part in the Army Cadet National Athletics finals after winning the Midland 1,500m. He became a Royal Marines Commando in 2004 after passing the rigorous training required and was awarded the King's Badge. Being posted to 42 Commando, Lima Company in Plymouth, Arthur spent 18 months as a general duties Marine before specialising in signals and joining 6 Assault Squadron on board HMS ''Albion''. In 2007 when returning to duty from leave in Pershore Arthur's car went off the road – an accident that severed his spinal cord and left him paralysed from the waist down. Arthur returned to the Marines but later left in 2009.

Television and media career

Williams has featured on numerous television programmes as a presenter or guest, particularly for Channel 4. Arthur's media career began after he sent in a three-minute clip on wheelchair racing for the channel's search for disabled presenters for its coverage of the

London 2012 Paralympic Games The 2012 Summer Paralympics, branded as the London 2012 Paralympic Games, were an international multi-sport parasports event held from 29 August to 9 September 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. They were the 14th Summer Paralympic Game ...

. In 2013, he was selected by BAFTA for mentoring as a "breakthrough Brit". He continued working with Channel 4 and presented the

Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics , ''Zharkie. Zimnie. Tvoi'') , nations = 88 , events = 98 in 7 sports (15 disciplines) , athletes = 2,873 , opening = 7 February 2014 , closing = 23 February 2014 , opened_by = President Vladimir Putin , cauldron = , stadium = Fisht Olympic ...

and

Rio 2016 Summer Olympics ) , nations = 207 (including IOA and EOR teams) , athletes = 11,238 , events = 306 in 28 sports (41 disciplines) , opening = 5 August 2016 , closing = 21 August 2016 , opened_by = Vice President Michel Temer , cauldron = Vanderlei Cordeiro d ...

. He has also presented documentaries on aviation and military history including ''WWI's Forgotten Heroes'', ''D-Day As It Happened'' and ''The Plane That Saved Britain'' – a documentary that focused on his love of the unheralded World War II aeroplane, the

de Havilland Mosquito The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito is a British twin-engined, shoulder-winged, multirole combat aircraft, introduced during the Second World War. Unusual in that its frame was constructed mostly of wood, it was nicknamed the "Wooden Wonder", or ...

. Williams is currently at work on a new documentary for Channel 4 and has also teamed up with Clemency Green and Adam Buxton to front ''The Great Escapists,'' a show that highlights the best things to do at the weekend.

Charity work

One of the original Band of Brothers after rehabilitating at Tedworth House in Wiltshire, Arthur became a patron for Help for Heroes. He also works with the aviation charity Aerobility.

Hobbies

Arthur is a keen pilot, having taken up the hobby – a childhood dream of his – after leaving the Marines. He learnt to fly through the disabled flying charity Aerobility www.aerobility.com He holds both a National and International Private

Pilot's licence Pilot licensing or certification refers to permits for operating aircraft. Flight crew licences are regulated by ICAO Annex 1 and issued by the civil aviation authority of each country. CAA’s have to establish that the holder has met a specifi ...

References

External links