The last commanding officer of The Staffordshire Regiment, Colonel Tim Sandiford OBE’s 30-year military career included an operational deployment in Basrah for which he was awarded his OBE.
Born in Burslem into an Army family, his childhood was spent throughout the UK and Germany, returning to school in Staffordshire at Smallwood Manor and Denstone College.
His association with the Staffordshire Regiment began at Denstone College in 1977 when he joined the STAFFORDS capbadged CCF. He studied for a BA in Geography and English at St Martin’s College in Lancaster before joining the Army in 1984 and commissioning into the Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales’s) in 1985.
He then served with 1 STAFFORDS in the UK, Germany, Northern Ireland, Canada and Saudi Arabia, deploying with them as the Anti-Tank Platoon commander during the first Gulf War from 1991 to 1992. He then worked in Zimbabwe, at the MOD, Canada, on operations with HQ MND(SE) in Iraq and HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps before he returned to 1 STAFFORDS as the Commanding Officer in 2005.
Tim also attended the Army Staff College and studied for a MA in Military Studies before completing an MBA with the Open University.
During his tenure as Commanding Officer of 1 STAFFORDS, the battalion trained in Canada, was presented with new Colours in Lichfield and deployed on operations to Basrah in 2006. This challenging tour, coming only 11 months after the last deployment, included a raid against the Serious Crimes Unit in the Al Jameat Police station on Christmas Day, 2006. The battlegroup left Basrah widely recognised for their resilience, composure and professionalism having been attacked on a near daily basis and suffering three fatalities and more than 30 injured and wounded during that tour. In particular, the development of the Iraqi Security Forces under their tutelage was noted as a significant achievement. Tim was awarded the OBE in the Operational Honours list for his leadership during that tour.
He remained in command until the end of November 2007, overseeing the transition from 1 STAFFORDS to 3 MERCIAN (STAFFORDS) under the reorganisation of the Infantry. He served for another 10 years as Commander of the Land Warfare Training Group (UK), Commander British Army Training Unit in Kenya and then in charge of officer selection and the Army’s internal consultancy team. He has always been passionate about the development and preparation of individuals and teams for operations and left the Army with an ‘unrivalled reputation as a trainer’.
That same passion extends to his new career as a business and leadership coach with iTS Leadership Limited where he coaches and mentors teams and individuals to develop healthy, energetic, satisfying and successful environments. Although he supports people at all levels his preference is to support those in the early stages of their leadership journey.
In 2007 he received the Editor’s Award at the Our Heroes Awards and has been an active supporter ever since. He joined the judging panel in 2008 and has even discharged his duties from the middle of Salisbury Plain Training Area and from the Archers Post Training Area in Kenya. It was through Heroes that he became involved with the Realise Foundation’s charitable arm and was a Trustee for around four years.
He has been the strategic advisor to the homelessness charity One Big Family and was a supporter of Gardening Leave in Scotland, an ex-services mental health through horticulture programme.
Helping people enjoy sport has also been an important part of Tim’s adult life and he holds coaching qualifications in rugby and cricket, supporting local clubs wherever he has been based. He was the Chairman of the Army Rugby Union development sides for five years (producing one England International and several professional players during that time), supported the Bath RFC Academy and was Chairman of the Combined Services Under 23s Rugby for two years.
The Award of Honorary Doctor of the University is bestowed upon Tim in recognition of his outstanding bravery, commitment and superb leadership through a distinguished 30-year career in the military including service in the Gulf War and leading the Staffordshire Regiment on an exceptionally challenging deployment to Iraq.
The award also acknowledges Tim’s passion to give something back to Staffordshire and his growing reputation as a trainer of others in his role as a business and leadership coach with iTS Leadership Limited where teams and individuals have benefited from his coaching and mentoring skills.