The Teachers

 

Teachers are qualified and insured ASA teachers, most of them also have Swimming Club coaching or swimming experience.and have a very good knowledge of the sport I believe that this is an important qualification as it is enables them to spot a talented swimmer early on and in a competitive environment it is important to develop strokes early on, that is, well before the age of  9 years. We still have links with the swimming clubs, in fact we work together closely to provide a good basis for competitive swimming.  Not all swimmers want to progress this far but at starting Blocks we like to ensure that opportunities are not missed as this so often happens within large Borough swim schools. The teachers are continually updating their skills and most hold the RLSS Rescue test for teachers. They are reliable, enthusiastic and skilled in their work

 

Sue Hornsey—Leigh Teacher Level 2 FIOS RLSS 1991 + (Cavendish) (Founder member teacher)

I became interested in swimming as a young girl living in Essex, I used to belong to the local swimming club. Then when moving to Hemel Hempstead as a teenager in trained at The Cavendish School Pool with the Hemel Hempstead Swimming and Diving Club (Now Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club [HHSC]) When my youngest Son was 5 I decided to teach swimming and took my first Swimming and Lifesaving Qualification. I have been teaching swimming since 1991

Karen Brown Teacher Level 2 IOS RLSS (Cavendish and Kings Langley)

Michael Spooner Level 2 IOS

I have for the past 10 years been engaged as a swimming teacher, primarily teaching adult classes and 1-1 sessions at a local leisure centre. I have experience in teaching a wide range of abilities, including; beginners, intermediate, advanced swimmers and oversee an over 60's workshop on a weekly basis. I find the experience to be most rewarding and enjoyable as adult classes tend to become very sociable between all involved.

Sandy Keen Teacher Level 2 RLSS(Kings Langley)

Su Moore Teacher Level 1 RLSS (Cavendish)

I swam with HHSC from an early age and took part in comp’s at County level. Towards the end of my swimming career  I Swam at the National Championships where I finished 4th in the 200m Butterfly and 8th in the 800m Freestyle. Some of my Club records still stand. I worked as a Recreation assistant for 6 years at Hemel Hempstead Sports Centres and took my first Teachers Cert in 2003. I was inspired by Sharron Davis and I love working with Children.

Charlotte Thompson Teacher level 1 RLSS (Kings Langley) (Founder member swimmer)

I swam with HHSC from the age of 6 where I took part in local Swimming Competitions & National Biathlon Competitions. I took up diving at the age of 14 but had to stop when I had ear problems. I love helping the children to learn the skills that I have and I took my level 1 when I was 16. I have worked as a lifeguard at Aquasplash.

Haidee Cable Teacher Level 1 (RLSS) (Cavendish)

Tom Osborn Teacher Level 1 (Cavendish)

Lauren Wilding Teacher Level 1 & Helper and swimmer (Cavendish)

Kira Doyle Teacher Level 1 & Helper and swimmer (Cavendish)

Barbara Hosier Helper (Kings Langley)

Jenny Imrie Helper and Swimmer (Cavendish)

 

Teachers still affiliated to us

Christine Thear Teacher Level 2 RLSS (Cavendish)

Gemma Edgeworth Teacher Level 1 RLSS (Cavendish & Kings Langley)

Tracy Fairweather Teacher Level 2 (Cavendish)

Swimming was basically my life growing up! I did my 25m at age 3, my 2 mile badge at 5 and never really looked back! By the age of 13 I was training approx 15 hours a week and competing at a National Level. I then continued on to swim for Loughborough University. After about a ten year break, I recently started swimming again at Masters level, and still compete now in Open Water events and triathlons. So, I love swimming and am wildly enthusiastic of installing in others that same passion. I keep my teaching down to a few hours a week for Starting Blocks only so that I can put my all in to every lesson.

Rebecca Holden Teacher Level 1 (RLSS) Helper and Swimmer (Cavendish)

Christine Thompson Club Coach / Teacher Level 3 FIOS RLSS 1990 + (Founder member teacher)

I used to swim when I was at school and went to a local swimming club, like a number of 11—16 year olds I gave it up. I started swimming again when my first daughter took off her arm bands at 4 and swam across a pool. She joined Hemel Hempstead Swimming club at 5 years old and I volunteered to help. From there I took my Teaching Qualifications which led to work across the town and then to Coaching Qualifications and my own Club. I am still involved with swimming at all levels.