#IStartedAsALifeguard National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) is just the beginning! We have been taking a look at famous people who can boast about being a lifeguard on their CV. We maintain that being a lifeguard is a stepping stone to great things and this list of remarkable people certainly suggests that this is true! People who started their careers as a lifeguard Many successful people started their careers as lifeguards and their journeys have taken them to fantastic futures. Don’t just take our word for it, read below about Damian Warburton (Barrister), Peter Purves (Dr Who actor and Blue Peter Presenter) and Charlotte Leslie (former Conservative MP) and more! Andrew Sloey - Actor Andrew has 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 Andrew's story and why is so passionate about promoting water safety. 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 student paramedic in the West Midlands Ambulance Service and credits his time as a lifeguard as helping him develop the skills for his role. 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 the age of 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. 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 a journey that one 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!" 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 out 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." Peter Purves, Television Presenter, and Actor Peter Purves is a successful English television presenter and actor. He played Steven Taylor in Doctor Who and later became a presenter on the BBC children's programme, Blue Peter, a position he held for eleven years. He was a lifeguard early in his career and said about his time, "my school in Blackpool was very keen on swimming, and we had buses to take us to the Derby Baths on the North Shore and, being an Olympic size pool, it was a wonderful place to learn and practice our skills. Our swimming coach was very supportive and, at the age of 15, I was asked to go for my Bronze badge, Silver, and then finally to try for the Advanced badges. All of which I sailed through. "One of the first times I had to use my lifesaving skills was when I joined the Blue Peter TV programme. The film that I made upon joining, was shot at Crystal Palace baths in South London, where I taught John Noakes and Valerie Singleton the rudiments of Lifesaving. Luckily, they were both compliant in being rescued - I do not think punching John (or Valerie for that matter) would have gone down very well!! "Being a strong swimmer is an essential element, and also keeping calm in a situation where the person in trouble may be thrashing about wildly and grabbing at anything to keep afloat. In those days, we were not as skilled in using floats and other equipment. 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 efforts countrywide." Charlotte Leslie, Director of the Conservative Middle East Council and former Conservative MP for Bristol North West Photo credit: Lupe de la Vallina "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." Trish Greenhalgh, a British professor of primary health care and GP Trish Greenhalgh is an internationally recognised academic in primary health care 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. Tom Bartley, Operations & Training Manager, Motorpoint Arena & National Ice Centre Tom Bartley is extremely proud to say that he started his career as a lifeguard at the age of 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 his career flourished. He is now the Operations & Training Manager at a 10,000-capacity Motorpoint Arena & National Ice Centre and loves his job. Read Tom Bartley's story and his advice for anyone that did not gain the grades they were hoping for. Laura Winter, Sports Broadcaster, Commentator and Journalist Laura Winter is now a well-known sports broadcaster, commentator and journalist but, 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 our interview with Laura Winter. Mital Karia, General Manager, Archway Leisure Centre, GLL "I'm proud to say that I started my career in the leisure sector at the age of 16 as a Lifeguard. Throughout the years, I progressed using the skills I learnt, and this 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 also makes you proficient in any social or stressed environment with excellent communication skills; key fundamentals required in our daily lives. Start your career as a Lifeguard and find out your true potential." 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 Grace Webb’s full story. 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 developments skills including; focus, discipline, and personal achievement. Lifeguarding is a very sensible decision for anyone starting their career." Antony Coia, Prison Officer, HMP Barlinnie, 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 how Antony Coia's career developed and how lifeguarding helped him. 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. 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." 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." 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. Twenty years on, and now as Director of RLSS UK Qualifications 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 undoubtedly 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." Michael Loveless, Operational Support Officer "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 at incidents." 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." 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." 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 focused 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." Dan Jacklin, Consulting Director, SLS Management Consultancy "I started as a Lifeguard aged 16, then trained further to become an RLSS 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." RLSS UK is the leading provider of Lifeguard training, with more than 40,000 Pool Lifeguards qualifying with an RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) every year! Find out more information about the NPLQ. An apprenticeship in leisure could take you on a journey to an amazing career. You could earn whilst you learn, gain valuable qualifications to equip you to progress and build a bright future. Find companies offering Leisure Apprenticeships. Find out how more leisure industry professionals got to where they are today. 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