Meet the Staff
Ed Sibson
Centre Manager
New to LOPC for 2010 Ed has previously worked at Grafham Water Centre in
Cambridgeshire as a Chief Instructor.
With a strong background in networking
and partnership development Ed’s hobbies include Sailing, Windsurfing and Climbing.
Chris Murnin
Deputy Centre Manager
Chris has worked his way through the ranks over the last few years, starting as a Freelance Instructor, then Land Senior Instructor, now the Deputy Manager. A keen all round outdoors person. “ A bad day on the hill beats a good day in the office”
David Robinson
Senior Instructor
David has enjoyed spending time in the outdoors from an early age via Scouting and being dragged on country walks with the parents. After doing a degree in Outdoor Recreation Management he came to LOPC and hasn’t left since. Hobbies include Kayaking, Canoeing, Rock Climbing and the odd bit of Walking and Mountain Biking.
Katy Groom
Instructor and Bookings Co-ordinator
Katy has been at LOPC for 3 years, she started off as an Instructor for the 2007 summer season and is now also responsible for co-ordinating all the group bookings for the Centre.
Before joining the staff at LOPC Katy spent 3 years studying Outdoor Recreation at Bicton College in Devon, including a 5 month work placement out in France which was her introduction to Open Canoeing. This was followed by 3 summer seasons working out in the Ardeche, in the South of France for Acorn
Adventure.
Her main outdoor interest is now inevitably
Canoeing. But, she also likes to go Climbing,
and wishes she was better at it.
Clair Mitchell
Instructor and Activate Co-ordinator
Clair studied Outdoor and Environmental Education at Liverpool John Moores University and since graduating has worked for PGL in a variety of roles and locations.
Clair joined LOPC in May 2009 as an Instructor and is now the Activate Co-oridnator looking after the After School and Holiday Clubs.
Cheryl Sheldon
Instructor and Business Support
If dreams can come true, some of mine did in December 2009.
The chance to work in the Office, but also to continue as an Instructor was my dream.
I have worked at LOPC for 8 ‘Summer Seasons’ and during the ‘Winter Seasons’ I worked as Temporary Teaching Assistants and was PA to a Managing Director.
The skills I learnt from these positions will assist me in my new role as I ‘Live the Dream’. (Well, apart from the big lottery win!).
Chris O’Connor
Site Manager and Instructor
Chris started coming to the Centre as a 9 year old boy and discovered a great passion for the sport of Canoeing. Helping out around the site ever since he could lift a hammer he takes great pride in the appearance of the Centre.
Chris started off as a volunteer in the early 80s leading groups on the water before becoming a fully paid Instructor and now holds the position of Site Manager.
As you can see from his picture he can do things with a canoe that most can only dream of!
Steve Vincent
Instructor
Steve has been a long serving member of LOPC staff, he joined us in 2005 after working in the big mountains of North Wales.
Steve always brings a smile to the Centre. His hobbies include Rock Climbing, Hill Walking and Mountaineering.
A family man at heart, Steve has just become a Father for the first time.
Bhavesh Ramji
Instructor
Bhavesh has been working in the outdoors since 2003. He started with PGL to gain experience and worked for Robin Wood’s in Cumbria where he first came across Rock Climbing, the sport he’s talented at, he’s like a monkey.
He has worked as an Instructor for LOPC since 2006 the main thing that drives him now is watching people grow by overcoming fears and facing challenges. He also holds the record for going around the Arial trekking course the fastest at 33sec!!!
Jon-Luc Furlong
Instructor
Jon-Luc has always been into outdoor pursuits, his favourite hobbies include Climbing, High Ropes, Kayaking and going to the Bingo.
He lists his greatest achievments so far as being West Runton Crazy Golf Champion 2008, County Snail Racing runner up 2006 and getting to the top of Blackpool Tower.
Mark Hampton
Instructor
Mark has always been in the outdoors, even as a young lad, he would be forever outside with his Mum and Dad, whether it was in Southern France in a canoe or somewhere in the Lake District walking.
The best way of putting it; Mark is just a total adrenaline junky and is happy while doing anything that involves making his heart race. Whether he is jumping off a cliff into the sea or snowboarding down the side of a mountain, he is content.
A local lad from Birstall, you are more likely to find Mark in the French Alps during the winter,
and during the summer it doesnt really matter
as long as its warm.
Andy Mumford
Instructor
Andy has been instructing outdoor activities since 2007. For two of these years he was in the South of France with PGL at Hameau Les Ages. In the past Andy worked his way up to the position of Senior Instructor but has now found a new home Instructing for LOPC.
If he could be anywhere in the world he would be in New Zealand running rivers in his kayak, “for the Lord of the Rings views!” More
realistically though you are likely to find him on
a crag in North Wales.
Jonathan Billington
Instructor
This is Jonathan’s first season with LOPC but he joins the team bringing great experience from his time with Acorn Adventure.
Last year he worked in the Lake District and the Ardeche in France.
Jonathan is a keen paddler and climber but enjoys anything that gets him outside.
Shaun Siddons
Shaun has always been interested in the outdoors ever since he was at school, Shaun started his outdoor Instructing career at PGL in 2006 and worked at various Centres including the Ardeche in France and on the sea in Spain. Shaun bacame a Senior Instructor at PGL in 2008.
He has now moved back closer to home doing something he loves (Instructing).
Shaun enjoys all outdoor activities but mainly
prefers Paddling and Climbing.
Anna Wilcox
Like many of our staff Anna has a long running passion for the outdoors, ever since she and her father jumped 40ft into the river Ure at Slengingford mill from a Rope Swing!
Her hobbies include Climbing, Abseiling, Volleyball and Teaching.
Anna gained a lot of her experience volunteering at Scout Centres and teaching English to orphans in Sri Lanka. She also spent the last 4 years working for PGL where she gained most of her Ropes and Watersports qualifications.
Now she is instructing at a LOPC to gain more experience in the Outdoor industry.
Steve Smith
Steve loves being outdoors especially in the mountains, and has recently completed a Diploma in Outdoor Activities from the College of West Anglia.
Steve first started Instructing as a volunteer for the Girl Guide Association and Scouts, and has also worked as a Freelance Instructor.
His main interests are Climbing and Mountaineering and occasionally you may even spot him in a kayak or canoe.
Rachael Pye
Rachael has been working as an instructor for various organisations since graduating in 2007 with a degree in Adventure Tourism Management from University College Birmingham. This is Rachael’s second summer at LOPC.
Rachael’s enthusiasm for the outdoors started at an early age, going to camp with her Dad’s Scouts, and now Scouting takes up a lot of her spare time, when she isn’t busy being an Explorer Scout leader or helping at events she enjoys Climbing, Skiing and Hill Walking!
