Pete Lauder

Pete Lauder is an RAF Veteran and medal-winning adaptive athlete. Despite a medical discharge from the RAF and subsequent problems from hip replacement surgery, Pete has overcome extreme hardships to proudly represent the UK and Scotland at multiple adaptive sporting events, like the Invictus Games. He is the founder and current coach of King's Lynn’s first wheelchair rugby league team. 

Beginning his RAF career at 18, Pete served as a Communications Systems Analyst before progressing to a Photographic Interpreter, being deployed to Kosovo, Kuwait, Iraq for Operation Telic, and Afghanistan for Operation Herrick, aiding coalition forces with reconnaissance and assisting in Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices, earning him team commendations. Pete’s final role in the RAF was at the Home of Intelligence, where he served as an instructor in Intelligence Analysis strategies. His expertise sent him to Langley AFB in the US, being the first foreign national allowed into the US Unmanned Airborne Vehicle programme. Bringing his knowledge back to the UK, he was bestowed a commendation in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

However, Pete was suffering from an undiagnosed hip problem, Necro Femur and intra- and extra-capsular damage, rendering him nearly immobile and resulting in a medical discharge from the RAF in the rank of Sergeant. Full hip replacement surgery resulted in nerve damage and his left leg being shorter than the other. After a difficult mental health struggle, Pete’s recovery was aided through adaptive sports. He established the first wheelchair rugby league team in King's Lynn, the first disability sports club in Norfolk, and the first RAF Adaptive Sports Club in 2019. He represented Team UK at the US Warrior Games in 2017, going on to represent Scotland in the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in 2022, win silver and bronze medals in swimming at the Veterans Games in Israel in 2022, and another bronze at the British Rowing Indoor Championship in 2024. 

Pete is an incredible individual who has continued to achieve greatness despite life-altering changes. He currently works as a Senior Information Analyst for the NHS East of England Provider Collaboration, which seeks to improve mental health services. He was also selected to represent Team UK at the 2025 Invictus Games, where he won silver in wheelchair rugby. Pete speaks about his extraordinary journey across the UK, highlighting the importance of opening up and discovering connections that can improve mental wellbeing.