More about Ian Kelly (Militaria)
Ian Kelly lives in Shropshire, England and has collected British Military Insignia since the age of 10. His Militaria business is best described as a 'hobby gone wild'. He registered the business when he first left the Regular Army in 1990, and now runs the business in his spare time with his wife Janet. From small beginnings they now have over 13,000 world-wide collectors on their books. They deal purely by mail-order and try to issue postal catalogues of fresh stock 3 or 4 times a year.
With increased demand for collectible uniform buttons, they have established this as a separate part of the Militaria business.
Ian Kelly joined the Territorial Army infantry at the age of 17 (whilst still at school), and returned to the TA in 1990 after a spell as a Captain in the Regular Army.
He served in a number of military units including The Yorkshire Volunteers, The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding), Sheffield University Officers' Training Corps and The King's Regiment. Whilst still wearing King's Regiment infantry insignia, he served on a two year attachment to the Royal Signals as a Major commanding 42nd (City of Manchester) Signal Squadron (Volunteers).
From 2000-2004, he returned to full-time military service and spent over 4 years commanding a small Regular Army training team based in Manchester.
As a British exchange-student he passed the Command and Staff Course at the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College in Kingston, Ontario. Other overseas tours have included Germany, Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands, Uganda and Bosnia-Hercegovina.
In October 2004 he returned to part-time soldiering in the Territorial Army (TA), but due to civilian work and family commitments decided to retire from military service in 2006.
He was awarded the Territorial Decoration (TD) and Bar, is a Member of the Chartered Management Institute and Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management.
Hobbies include Mountaineering and Photography. Ian completed a solo trek Coast-to-Coast across Britain, and has walked the Pennine Way (twice - 400km each way). He is a climbing instructor and qualified Expedition leader - this included a month leading an Expedition in East Africa in 1995 - finding snow on the Equator.
