Harry Sowerby, the original founder of British Military Fitness (BMF) in 1999, is returning to the company as chair, 11 years after he left to serve as a section commander in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He first conceived the BMF concept while working on the set of Hollywood blockbuster Saving Private Ryan. Having recently completed his Army PTI (Physical Training Instructors) course, Sowerby was asked if he would be interested in setting up a company to deliver British Army-style fitness classes in parks across London, prompting the first class to be held in Hyde Park in April 1999.

After nearly five years of heavy involvement, he left to serve his country in 2003, later joining Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR) as project manager, providing support on all Ministry of Defence sites across Afghanistan.

As the operation in Afghanistan started to draw to a close in 2014, Sowerby decided to return to BMF in a full-time role as chair, though he remains a serving member of Army reserve battalion 7 Rifles, with the rank of sergeant in the Mortar Platoon.

“I am thrilled to be returning to British Military Fitness at such an exciting time; it is fantastic to see how much the company has grown since it was founded 15 years ago,” said Sowerby.

“My daily mission is to persuade people to give BMF a try. I always say the toughest part of a BMF class is showing up; once you are there BMF will motivate, challenge and look after you, which what sets us apart from the gym or home workouts.”

Sowerby’s return to BMF comes soon after the appointment of new marketing head Casey Williams, as well as new head of operations and training Garry Kerr, as the company seeks to expand its bootprint across the outdoor fitness market.