Team Bios

An insight into our members.

Trish

My name is Trish and because of my love of swimming, I was given the nickname of "Trish the Fish! by my Sergeant when I joined the Police Force as a cadet many years ago…….and this has stayed with me throughout my life. I experience a unique sense of freedom when I am in the water that no other activity provides. It has helped me through tough times and I have enjoyed the many opportunities it has provided through being able to reach out to others to experience the same enjoyment and freedom that comes with it. I have taught and coached swimming at many levels for most of my adult life and have felt great fulfilment when I have observed the delight of little ones swimming their first width, through to older people enjoying the journey of conquering their fears when swimming in the sea. I have raised funds for various charities close to my heart through taking part in sponsored swims, both in the pool and the sea and hope to continue in 2025, along with setting some personal goals. I am a member of Totnes Swimming Club where I teach and coach. Five years ago I set up a sea swimming programme in Teignmouth for people aged 50 and over. The funding provided by Connecting Actively to Nature, was a perfect fit for what I envisaged and hoped would be a life changing opportunity for many who attended the courses. Not only did the swimmers attain their own personal goals, they made great friends along the way and some of the current Aspire to Seaswim volunteers were participants on that first course! Participants felt empowered by the new skills and enhanced fitness and the fact that it was a fun and social thing to do with likeminded people. We have delivered courses in various formats throughout the five years and I'm proud to be part of a team of volunteers, along with Pete Wilby and his team to welcome new participants to our courses for 2025 and beyond. As a volunteer for Aspire to Seaswim I will be there to encourage, support and be there for you, enjoy getting to know you and see you grow in confidence throughout your sea swims.

Jerrie

I never believed, I could be so fulfilled as I have been over the past few years, acting as a volunteer and helping participants to learn and appreciate what the sea can offer, or any body of water for that matter. After each session.. I have been so privileged to see and hear the laughter, joy and fulfilment from each swimmer (even after, for some ... their early trepidation of stepping in the sea), once leaving the water I have observed their incredible and personal success having achieved goals, however big or small. To witness the participants bond is wonderful. plus to see them gain so much inspiration on their swim journeys with us, from all the advice and support, from our team of coaches and volunteers. Finding Pete Wilby was fortuitous for me…he taught me to swim crawl in the early years of my swim journey and then enticed me from the pool to enjoy open water swimming. It's been a very special time for me within the ATSS group and given me so much joy! I am not a coach, but I do have many years of swimming experience to offer and gladly share. My endurance swim history is of accumulating miles and miles in lakes, lochs and sea. I have achieved many accolades on the way. My most recent is receiving a GUINNESS WORLD RECORD (GWR) for the OLDEST PERSON at 73 years old, in December 2023 to have ever swam an ICE MILE without a wetsuit in ICY WATER at 2.6 degrees C. On the day the AIR was -1.5 degrees C, and the water being so cold, it took me just under 55 mins.

Clive

Five years ago, my wife Jerrie (one of the Volunteers), suggested I join a sea swim course, as a participant, so I could increase my swimming ability. The course encouraged the over 50's to be more well informed about swimming, both in and out of the water, thus experiencing and ultimately enjoy sea swimming. It inspired me so much, that the following year, I joined the volunteers along side my wife, to give support and encouragement to future participants. I have subsequently thrived with sea swimming having gone on to take part in organised swims including Loch Lomond, Burgh Island, St. Michael's Mount and last year at the age of 67, I swam Lake Coniston (5.25 miles).

Linda

Hi! My name is Linda and my sea swimming journey started with my daughter (an accomplished sea swimmer and GB triathlete) encouraging me to sign up to an over 50s introduction to sea swimming course. The course literally changed my life! I had never really had much confidence as a swimmer and although I could swim I was unable to swim with my face in the water or swim front crawl. With the encouragement and support from the volunteers and the coaching team my confidence and love for open water kept growing. From this I went on to enter my first Aquathon and then onto triathlon which (aged 56 at the time) I never thought I could achieve. I felt so strongly about what the course had done for me I went on to become a volunteer and it's so inspiring to support and encourage people on their sea swimming journeys.

Roy

Hello, my name is Roy and I am a volunteer for Aspire to Seaswim My initial involvement was attending a sea swimming training session 5 years ago which was organised by Age UK and formerly known as Swim to the Sea. I really enjoyed the course and learnt so much that l became a volunteer for further courses. My reasons being that sea swimming is invigorating and relaxing at the same time. It!s a great way to keep fit and although I don!t have any formal swimming teaching qualifications I feel that I can help others in the same way that I was helped through Pete Wilby and his team, alongside the team of volunteers. As a local to Teignmouth, I feel it!s so important to have a respect for the sea and this is part of what our new charity, Aspire to Seaswim is all about. Being part of a team assisting swimmers to achieve small successes to major improvements in front crawl techniques and sea swimming in general gives massive satisfaction.

Simon

I learned to Sea Swim with Pete Wilby, Trish and the other volunteers a few years ago. With help, I got over my fear of the sea and improved my swimming technique. What had been difficult became enjoyable. I now swim with friends and volunteer with ATSS. I'm proof that programmes like ATSS really do work!

Kate

Hi my name is Kate, a lifelong lover of being in and around water. Primarily a pool swimmer, swimming in the sea was only done on holiday to cool down. Now as a volunteer with ATSS I fully endorse sea swimming with the enjoyment and respect it deserves. Learning new skills, meeting new people along with the knowledge that each session is instructed with your enjoyment and safety paramount.As a fully qualified swimming instructor I have had the pleasure of seeing many swimmers starting at various stages and ages obtain their own personal goals ranging from putting their face in the water to swimming as far as they wanted, always aiming to improve their technique and learning water safety skills. I myself am still swimming competitively at national level, previously holding or still holding numerous British and European records. I have two boys who also compete in the pool and in Ironman triathlon events around the world. So Aspire to sea swim ,you never know what you!re capable of.

Anne

For years I was just a 'dipper' in the sea, looking on with envy at the swimmers that could do proper strokes - actually swim from place to place! And then 2 years ago I joined the over 50's 'Aspire to Sea Swim' group, and "Wow!" - I learnt to swim! We were encouraged to set a goal at the beginning of the course, and after 6 weeks, we finished with a swim around the Teignmouth pier and back! All through the dedicated help and training of the Aspire team and their coach Pete Wilby.I love the ethos of Aspire to Sea Swim - that anyone over 50 regardless of swimming ability can join the group and be helped to experience and enjoy the sea. To just gain confidence to put your face in the water, have support to swim out of your depth, or to learn to swim front crawl. The sea for me is a place of opportunity and freedom - infinite horizons, the sparkles of the sun, the feel of the bubbles popping on your face! I'm honoured to have been asked to be a volunteer so that I can help you come and enjoy the sea in this supportive and safe space too. Come and say "yes"! Start with just your toes in and see where it takes you!

Annie

Having always loved the sea, I was looking to find a group to meet new people & to help me get back into the rhythm of sea swimming in this country all year round. When I retired (& had more time) I took a PADI Open Water dive qualification & have been lucky enough to swim (& dive) in warm waters around the world, sadly neglecting the cooler waters of the UK. However last year I started to swim with Pete Wilby, who taught me front crawl as opposed to the breast stroke I had done all my life. He suggested I also try Aspire to Swim to continue improving & I am so glad I did! The people I met in this group are friendly, kind & always looking out for one another & encouraged me enormously. So good in fact, that when asked at the end of the autumn group in 2024 whether I would like to volunteer next season to help others in the same way, of course I said yes. I am not a swim coach, but if I can help someone else enjoy the immense pleasure sea swimming gives, then that is enough for me. The sea can be a scary place for some, but with Trish & the Aspire to Swim team along side Pete Wilby, they make it so much easier & enjoyable.

Joh

My name is Joh and I joined Aspire to Sea Swim as a volunteer in summer 2024. I've always swum outdoors in the sea and rivers. I grew up in Devon with parents who were keen swimmers and sailors. I've always been comfortable in the water and also sail my own boat - so have experience of all the elements - tide, wind and waves. I was also a Scuba Diver - assistant instructor qualified. In 2011 I keenly started more regular all year round swimming and had some lessons to update my front crawl and make it a more efficient stroke. I've swum around St Michael's Mount, Burgh Island, and completed the Dart 10k. I love supporting people in the water - encouraging and enabling people to gain confidence in their own abilities. I get cold easily and have chronic pain - so I have empathy with people who feel similar. I find swimming helps my mobility, strength and sense of self efficacy. I'm looking forward to another season of supporting participants in the sea. Let's enjoy the fun and learning in the water.