#IStartedAsALifeguard

Chris Hebblewhite, National Standards and Compliance Director, GLL

"I owe my career, in the most unlikely and circuitous way, to RLSS UK. I gained my first Bronze Medallion back in 1982 - over forty years ago. I’ve travelled the well-worn path: Duty Manager, General Manager, Partnership Manager, Head of Operations. I’ve worked across four local authorities before spending the last twenty-seven years with GLL.

GLL has been a remarkable organisation to grow up with. I’ve watched the renaissance of Lidos, the birth of trampoline parks, and the demise of the squash court, worked on both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and had the privilege of influencing industry standards with RLSS UK, ukactive, and the British Standards Institution.

Every job - Lifeguard, Trainer Assessor, Swimming Teacher, Pool Plant Apprentice, and Basket Room Custodian - has proved useful. They’re the small stepping stones that stay with you forever.”

Read Chris’s full journey from the footbaths of Yarborough Leisure Centre, in his own words.

Mital Karia, General Manager, Archway Leisure Centre, GLL

"I'm proud to say that I started my career in the leisure sector at 16 as a lifeguard. Throughout the years, I progressed using the skills I learnt, which opened many opportunities and enabled me to further my career. Now, I am a General Manager for a Leisure facility as well as an RLSS UK Trainer Assessor."

"The skills and knowledge you gain as a lifeguard are adaptable and valuable to any role or sector. Not only does the role of a lifeguard allow you to develop key skills required for any workplace, but it also makes you proficient in any social or stressful environment with excellent communication skills, key fundamentals required in our daily lives. Start your career as a lifeguard and find out your true potential."

Tom Bartley, Health & Safety Training Manager, Nottingham City Council

Tom Bartley is exceptionally proud to say that he started his career as a lifeguard at 16. At school, he was told by one of his teachers that he would always fail in life, and this affected his confidence, so he left school without his GCSE results. Tom then went on to complete a lifeguard course, fell in love with the leisure centre environment, and subsequently his career flourished. He now works within the sports and leisure sector as the Health, Safety and Training Manager at Nottingham City Council across six sports and leisure sites, and he loves his job. Tom's role also involves looking after the training of over 200 NPLQ/NRASTC holders.

Learn more about Tom Bartley's story and the advice he shares for anyone who did not gain the grades they were hoping for.

Simon Blackadder, Leisure Centre Manager

"I started my career as a lifeguard, I was attracted to it as the weekend and evening shifts and flexibility of the role suited my needs at the time. Since then I have been in a number of positions within the company and I am now General Manager of an £11.5million facility that attracts over 400,000 customer visitors every year. Lifeguarding is a great career path as it is rewarding and allows you to develop skills including communication and people skills."

Robin McGloughlin, Co-founder & Director, Poolview Limited

"I did my RLSS Bronze Medallion in 1983 whilst at University and with hindsight - against my will. However, little did I know what sort of journey that on qualification would take me on! Taking what was supposed to be a year out of Uni, turned into a lifetime in Leisure. From being given my flip flops and whistle in 1984, I never looked back working my way up from the deck to Head of Service. The life experiences amassed over that 25 year period were the perfect apprenticeship for entering the world of business and drowning detection! Everyone should have a go at lifeguarding - a wonderful skill for life!"

Tara Dillion, CEO of CIMSPA

"I started as a lifeguard and have worked in the sport and physical activity sector for 30 years and know that there has never been a more exciting time to enter it. Over the past few years, the sector has expanded from being solely focussed on teaching a sport or lifeguard at a swimming pool to treating patients referred by a doctor, improving an athlete's performance or improving the life skills and physical literacy of children and the opportunities for career development are now endless."

Harry Sabberton, West Midlands Ambulance Service

Harry Sabberton didn't know what he wanted to do as a career until he started completing a first aid course to become a lifeguard at Rutland Aqua Park. He is now a paramedic in the West Midlands Ambulance Service and credits his time as a lifeguard as helping him develop the skills for his role.

Watch more of Harry Sabberton's story on YouTube

Alex Gleeson, Paramedic with West Midlands Ambulance Service and RLSS UK Medical Advisor

"I started working as a casual lifeguard in 2006 at a busy leisure centre, where I completed my RLSS UK NPLQ training as part of my employment. I expected to work as a lifeguard for a limited time; however, I quickly found that I really enjoyed the role and the interaction with the public, so much so that I stayed within the leisure industry for 12 years, working full time.

 As my first real employed role, lifeguarding provided me with a wealth of skills and experience which set me up perfectly for my later transition into a paramedic. I learned how to talk to the public by dealing with enquiries and complaints, how to work with others as part of a team, and how to undertake CPR and provide basic first aid. The learning I undertook allowed me to progress into a variety of management roles within leisure (Duty Manager, Performance Manager, Systems Manager), which further enhanced my skill set.

 I chose lifeguarding based on it being a well-paid role, whilst also knowing I was doing something good by working to keep others safe in and around water. Working as a lifeguard developed and shaped my future so much more than I had expected that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the role to anyone, particularly those starting their working lives. Lifeguarding allows progression within the leisure industry and provides many different off-ramps into other sectors, particularly the emergency services, where I commonly find others who started on a similar path to myself."

Matt Cullen, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

Matt Cullen works as a Station Manager for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service after starting his career as a lifeguard at just 16. His decision to find a role that would improve his employability and his desire to improve his skills led him to choose lifeguarding as a career, and he still utilises the skills he learnt as a lifeguard today as lead for water rescue training within his department.

Find out more about Matt's career and how he has used his lifeguarding skills during his career in the fire service.

Andy Carter-Weston, Paramedic (HART Team)

"The core First Aid skills I learnt as a lifeguard really helped me during the ambulance service assessment process. The life skills I learnt from dealing with emergency situations in the pool; being able to engage and talk with members of the public and make people feel at ease, have been vital in the job that I do today."

Watch more of Andy Carter-Weston's story on YouTube

Andy Marsh, Chief Constable

"You wouldn't believe the skills I learnt as a lifeguard, the doors it opened and the fun I had. During my 4 years as a beach lifeguard, I developed valuable life skills including; excellent communication skills, dealing with conflict, critical decision making and leadership skills. I also enhanced my personal development skills including; focus, discipline, and personal achievement. Lifeguarding is a very sensible decision for anyone starting their career."

Tristan Smith, Mounted Police Officer

"I was looking for a job that could take me forward in my application for the police. I chose lifeguarding and it was a fantastic decision - I was challenged, I had responsibility and I learnt invaluable lifesaving and people skills."

Watch more of Tristan Smith's story on YouTube

Antony Coia, Learning & Development Manager, Scottish Prison Service

"My experience as a lifeguard supported me in being a Prison Officer as I learnt the skills of working in a team, assisting the public and being observant. I also gained experience in dealing with members of the public, resolving issues, and helping them where required, or even just being there to talk to someone. 

Read more about how Antony's Coia's career developed and how lifeguarding helped him.

Caroline Peters, Chief Superintendent

"When we are looking for potential recruits for the police force, we are looking for many skills you can gain as a lifeguard. These include excellent communication skills, both verbally and aurally; and the confidence to adapt those skills to particular situations, from people simply needing directions to people who are very distressed. Lifeguards also have good fitness, discipline, and clarity of thought for quick decision making in a variety of scenarios. However, the biggest skills are team working and team building so that everybody knows their role and how to meet the objective."

Luisa Petta, Nurse at Southampton Children's Hospital

"I started as a lifeguard and now work as an intensive care nurse at Southampton Children's Hospital. The lifesaving skills I learnt at South Worcester Lifesaving and Lifeguarding Club, have been a great basis for those that I needed to become a paediatric nurse in a busy ICU. Some of the key skills I learnt as a lifeguard are, communication, compassion, and the ability to listen and I use these often when supporting the children and their families on a busy ward."

Read more about Luisa Petta's story during COVID-19.

Trish Greenhalgh, a British professor of primary healthcare and GP

Trish Greenhalgh is an internationally recognised academic in primary healthcare and Fellow of Green Templeton College at the University of Oxford and GP. As a teenager, she started her career as a lifeguard; she did this as she was keen on first aid and swimming. At 13, Trish passed her Bronze Medallion and worked towards more advanced awards, doing lifesaving competitions and demonstrations with friends from Folkestone Swimming Club. Her first job was as a lifeguard at the local pool and, then she was inspired to study medicine, which she did at Cambridge and Oxford Universities (3 years each). She then went on to become a GP and also to do teaching and research in medicine. Trish now works as a Professor at Oxford University on a range of projects including public health and promoting patient safety. The picture shows her giving a lecture on public health.

Laura Winter, Sports Broadcaster, Commentator and Journalist

Laura Winter is now a well-known Sports Broadcaster, Commentator and Journalist. As a natural progression from a competitive swimmer from age 7, Laura started her career as a lifeguard at Sandford Parks Lido in Cheltenham. She talks fondly of her time as a lifeguard and, we wanted to find out more about what she enjoyed about her time as a lifeguard and the advice she would offer for anyone considering lifeguarding as a career.

Read more about Laura Winter's story.

Dudey Rhino, Content Creator & Podcast Host

Jordan is a content creator for YouTube and Facebook and also a podcast host, his online alias is Dudey Rhino. He started out his professional career at 16 as a lifeguard. He even sold his beloved Xbox to pay for the course because he wanted to pay for it himself!

Read more about Jordan's story and his advice for anyone who is thinking of becoming a lifeguard.

Grace Webb, TV Presenter

Grace Webb is the Presenter of the CBeebies series, 'Grace's Amazing Machines,' and was an educator on the highly anticipated 'BBC Bitesize Daily,' but, she started her career as a lifeguard at her local swimming pool. Talking about her time as a lifeguard, she said that she enjoyed the training aspect of the job and supporting the community.

Read more about Grace Webb's story.

Andrew Sloey, Actor

Andrew played many roles in his acting career for film, TV, and Hollywood productions, but he says his most important is his real-life role as a lifeguard. 

Read more about Andre Sloey's story and why he is so passionate about promoting water safety.

Peter Purves, Television Presenter & Actor

Peter Purves is a successful English television presenter and actor. He was a lifeguard early in his career and even used his lifesaving skills during his time on Blue Peter.

"The skills and bravery of lifeguards are to be admired - and what better way for a fit young person to give something to society? It is invaluable work and I wholeheartedly support the Royal Life Saving Society UK in all their effort countrywide."

Dan Jacklin, Consulting Director, SLS Management Consultancy

"I started as a lifeguard aged 16, then trained further to become an RLSS UK TA and then NTA. Drawing on over 10 years experience in leisure, involving several senior management safety, training, and entrepreneurial roles, I now support the RLSS UK with commercial leisure safety consultancy. I also support the Court and parties considering, or in the process of, litigation with regards to commercial wet leisure issues (primarily in personal injury/crime/employment cases) in the UK, Ireland and increasingly in travel law cases across the globe. I have always enjoyed working and training with RLSS UK. The most valuable skill I have gained is being able to do CPR and being able to help others to prevent drowning is incredibly rewarding."

Jo Talbot, Commercial Director, RLSS UK

"I'm proud to say that I started my career in the sector by doing an apprenticeship in leisure and training as a lifeguard. 20 years on, and now as Commercial Director at the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), I've never been more passionate about lifeguarding and drowning prevention. I can honestly say that the skills and knowledge I gained as a lifeguard, have been invaluable throughout my entire career and have undoubtably led me to my current role as Director - positioning RLSS UK as the market leader for water safety qualifications and the go-to organisation for drowning prevention education."

Joshua Hale, Volunteer Co-ordinator for Bath University Students' Union

Joshua is currently Volunteer Co-ordinator for Bath University Students' Union and was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year Honours list 2021. He started his career as a volunteer lifeguard in 2008, and says that is what sparked his passion for volunteering and the wider charity (third) sector. Since then, he has been involved in various charity positions including Chair for RLSS UK's Avon & North Wiltshire Branch, Trustee of Moreland Road Community Library and has been volunteering with Bath and North East Somerset Third Sector Group (3SG), during the pandemic. Joshua says of his award: "I'm convinced that I wouldn't have been able to achieve my BEM and the successes I've had to date, without my background in lifesaving."

Find our more about Joshua Hale's career and achievements.

Damian Warburton, Barrister

"My experience as a Pool Lifeguard and Swimming Teacher highlighted to me just how vital it was to make myself clearly understood to others, to be able to explain unfamiliar rules. As a pool plant operator, I realised the importance of adhering to laws and policies designed to ensure safety. Albeit that at the Bar the only risk of drowning is a metaphorical one - under the weight of law and evidence, these remain essential skills in legal practice."

Charlotte Leslie, Director of the Conservative Middle East Council and former Conservative MP for Bristol North West

"It is no disrespect to any of my university tutors or teachers to say I learned more from my experience lifeguarding than any other time in my life. It was the ultimate preparation for becoming an MP and taught me the most valuable lessons politicians can remember: 1. It's not about you, it's about serving the public. 2. Reality matters. 3. Actions speak louder than words. You cannot press-release an injured surfer off a rock in a whomping six-foot surf. And announcing it in Parliament is not the same as actually doing it on the ground. My campaign slogan as an MP was 'getting stuff done', and thanks to my amazing lifeguard friends, and boss, Mini Fry, getting good stuff done underlies any job I will ever do." (Photo credit: Lupe de la Vallina)

Michael Loveless, Operational Support Officer

Image aspect ratio respected. "I learnt many skills as a lifeguard that have helped me with my career in the police service, especially dealing with the public, first aid and resuscitation. These skills have been really valuable especially during training, in my dealings with the public and also incidents."