My background initially started with catering at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth, whereby I received my first introduction to first aid by becoming a designated workplace first aider, along with a lifelong passion for watching professional stage musicals, besides meeting many well-known faces!
I was also involved with my local lifesaving club and gained all of the awards over a period of a year, which I thoroughly enjoyed, thus igniting further interest for gaining my own lifeguard qualification and then progressing to training and assessing and eventually mentoring.
I moved from Devon to Gloucestershire, just over twenty years ago, the reason being for a career change to leisure. I have worked in the private and public leisure sectors for over twenty years, starting as a lifeguard/leisure assistant working my way up through the various managerial roles, in various work places, to working in a very responsible position in one of the largest and most complex Centre’s in the County.
Over the years I have gained many professional qualifications, pertaining to leisure and most recently as a fully qualified teacher, learning and skills (QTLS) through Gloucestershire College, in addition to assessing and verifier qualifications.
I am a National Trainer Assessor for The Royal Life Saving Society UK and as such teach their industry leading National Pool Lifeguard Qualification integrated with First Aid and Automated External Defibrillation to young aspiring lifeguards. I am also the trainer for the staff at the iconic Sandford Parks lido in Cheltenham.
My role as a National Trainer Assessor in Gloucestershire is twofold, firstly to run the RLSS UK’s industry leading Pool Trainer Assessor qualification, to effectively train the trainers and secondly to provide support to current and new trainer assessors via the mentoring process.
I am also qualified to train the trainers as Automated External Defibrillation (AED) Trainer Assessors through the RLSS UK, plus offering all of their first aid qualifications either integrated or as stand-alone courses.
I am a trainer for a leading First Aid Training company called Nuco Training, who offer an excellent variety of qualifications, customer service and ongoing trainer support. I gained my first aid and defibrillation instructor qualifications through Nuco when the company initially formed nearly twenty years ago.
In my spare time I enjoy training with Gloucester Masters Swimming Club at GL1, running, entering various fitness events, travelling, professional theatre, reading, music and films.
