Meet the Team
Maria Gray - Owner of Puddle Ducks Chelmsford & North East London
Senior Teacher - Baby & Pre-School and Swim Academy
I’m Maria and I’m the Franchisee for Puddle Ducks Chelmsford & NE London. I live near Chelmsford with my husband and three children. I have been a keen swimmer all my life, from swimming competitively representing my borough and club for a number of years, to coaching and teaching school children as part of my job as a school teacher.
With my background in teaching coupled with my love for the sport and my belief that everyone should be given the opportunity to learn and experience this important life skill, teaching children to swim the Puddle Ducks’ way was a path I simply had to follow!
I currently teach Baby & Pre-School lessons as well as Swim Academy in all pools across the territory.
Magali - Customer Care Manager
Magali is our superstar who ensures the smooth running of Puddle Ducks Chelmsford & North East London, dealing with all things customer-related. Magali has been an integral part of the business since we started back in 2022 and we could not manage without her!
Zara - Senior Teacher
Zara is our Senior Teacher and has been teaching over in Kent since 2016, with some breaks throughout to have a few babies along the way!
Her happy place is in the pool and she loves nothing more than helping guide existing teachers on their own teaching journeys.
Zara loves working with children and lives for those 'wow' moments in the water!
Toni - Baby & Pre-School Swimming Teacher
Toni has always loved swimming and working with children – outside of the pool, she is also a specialist teacher for children with additional needs – so becoming a swimming teacher with Puddle Ducks was the ideal role for her!
Toni began her Puddle Ducks journey in 2023 and is now teaching her own lessons at sessions in Brentwood, Ilford and Chelmsford.
When Toni is not teaching, you may well find her on a golf course as she represents her Golf Club, and competes in local competitions whenever she can.
Rebecca - Baby & Pre-School Swimming Teacher
Rebecca wanted to start teaching children to learn to swim because she enjoyed her BPS journey with her own daughters so much. She has been teaching her own classes in Brentwood and Romford, since November 2024.
When Rebecca is not teaching, she loves to spend time relaxing with her family, or at the gym with her friends. She also has a 28 year old horse called Marnie who she loves to ride when she has the chance!
Rebecca loves to drink Masala Chai Tea, and her favourite Puddle Ducks activity is 'Jelly on a plate'!
Carly - Baby & Pre-School and Swim Academy Teacher
Carly has been teaching children for 10+ years and when the opportunity to teach swimming lessons with Puddle Ducks came up she jumped at the chance. She's always enjoyed being in the water, a trait she has passed onto her own two little Puddle Ducks!
Carly began teaching Swim Academy for Puddle Ducks Chelmsford & NE London in September 2024, and BPS in December 2024. You may see Carly at our pools in Ilford, Brentwood and Chelmsford.
When she's not swimming, you'll find Carly baking cakes or curled up with a good book and a cup of tea.
Luca - Swim Academy Swimming Teacher
Luca began working as a Poolside Assistant for Puddle Ducks Chelmsford & NE London in the summer of 2023, helping out at various pools across the territory.
He soon decided that he wanted to become more involved in the teaching side of things and completed his training to become a Swim Academy Teacher at the beginning of 2024.
Luca teaches Swim Academy lessons in Brentwood and Chelmsford, as well maintaining his role as Poolside Assistant at Columbus Lower School.
Amelia - Poolside Assistant
Amelia joined the team as a Poolside Assistant at the end of 2024. Amelia is a Secondary School student and helps out at our lessons held at Columbus Lower School in Chelmsford at the weekends.