How long have you been at Bedales, and how did you get here?
I’ve been working at Bedales since graduating from St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, in 2007. I started as a resident tennis coach, working with an external sports coaching company that managed the tennis programme at the time. My involvement grew over the years, as tennis became an integral part of the school’s Sport department, and I was appointed Head Tennis Coach in September 2023.
What is your role and what is a typical day for you like at Bedales?
My role is to lead, oversee and develop the tennis coaching programme across Bedales Senior, Prep and Pre-prep schools. A typical day starts early – I arrive on site around 7.30am to prepare for the day ahead. From 8am, I’m usually on court for about seven hours of coaching, working with students of all ages and abilities.
When I’m not on court, I’m organising tennis fixtures, scheduling lessons and running tournaments. I also work on new initiatives, like the tennis workshops we run during the school holidays.
One of my favourite things about my role is encouraging students and watching them progress. At the end of each term, I select a 'Tennis Player of the Term' at every level, from Pre-prep to Senior, which is a nice opportunity to celebrate the hard work and achievements of our students. It’s really rewarding to see their confidence grow and to recognise their efforts.
Apart from your role, what else do you get involved with at the school?
I help the Sport department by putting my refereeing qualification to good use, officiating the Senior School’s football matches during the Autumn term.
In your opinion, what makes Bedales special?
Bedales is a truly unique and inspiring place. The school’s approach to teaching and developing students encourages them to think for themselves and express themselves without fear. You see the results of this ethos in the students’ behaviour across the school – they feel supported to take risks, make mistakes, and persevere to learn what it is that motivates them.
Who or what inspires you?
Any professional sportsperson that dedicates their life to sport is an inspiration to me. Tennis wise, players like Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu stand out for me.
Tell us something not a lot of people know about you.
When I’m not on the tennis court, my second sport is football, and I’ve been a loyal supporter of Brentford FC for over 30 years.