Rachel previously worked at a bank before joining the Mid-Cheshire team 11 years ago. She is now the new operations manager for Mid-Cheshire. Rachel has two children, Isabel and Matthew. They all love walking their family dogs, Masie and Benji, and also going paddle boarding.
You will more than often hear Rachel’s happy smiley voice at the end of the phone when you call the office and she is always more than happy to help!
Gaz is our Facilities Manager, having worked at several other leisure facilities before joining Puddle Ducks in May 2022.
Outside of work Gaz likes to play football, go to the cinema, zoom down the rides at Alton Towers and spend time with family.
Jude is originally from Sunderland, Jude spends her free time running her Brownies group.
A lover of walking, musicals, rugby, ice hockey and animals, Jude has dogs, ducks and guinea pigs also keeping her busy at home.
Lois joined Puddle Ducks as our Receptionist at Barons Quay when they opened in Aug 2021. Prior to that she was a Senior Receptionist at a Conveyancing Firm and then took a year off to have her little girl Bonnie who is now 3. When she is not welcoming customers or singing songs, Lois loves to visit the Lake District with her family.
Lucie has been with us for 8 months at Barons Quay working as a PSA and Receptionist for both Puddle Ducks and Swim Academy.
Prior to this, Lucie worked as a recruitment consultant for 2 years and before that as a nursery nurse, private nanny and childminder for 20 years! When the job came available at Puddle Ducks, Lucie jumped at the chance to work with children again and loves her role within the team.
Lucie has two children of her own and in her spare time likes to ride horses, paddleboard and swim.
Lucie is great at handing out stickers so make sure you ask her for one next time she is on Reception! :-)
Nici started working for us in 2007. After taking time out to have two of her three children, she was introduced to Puddle Ducks, starting as a Poolside assistant, she soon qualified to teach at all levels and is now the North West Regional Technical Manager for Puddle Ducks Head Office! Nici loves sharing her knowledge not just with the children and parents but with all of our new Puddle Ducks teachers.
Nici also holds her Silver Cross in open water swimming and has 3 girls who love swimming and have aspirations to teach themselves, in fact one of her daughters Sasha is now a qualified Swim Academy teacher!
Kirsty is a Mum of two little girls, and has been a teacher at Puddle Ducks for just over six years after bringing her little girl to swimming lessons at Puddle Ducks and thinking what a brilliant job it would be!
She love's her role so much, she says it doesn't feel like work and she thrives on seeing the children progress and achieve so much under her brilliant teaching!
Kirsty says "She has the best job in the world!"
13 years ago Mel moved in next door to her Puddle Ducks teacher, who persuaded her to become a teacher too and she absolutely loves it! Her three daughters all swam at Puddle Ducks - two of whom have gone on to join swimming clubs and one who now works at Barons Quay! Mel loves open water swimming and teaches many of our Baby & Pre-school classes here in Mid Cheshire! She is now a Senior BPS teacher and recently qualified as a Puddle Ducks program assessor!
Charlotte is a Swim academy teacher who is also training to teach our Baby & Pre school classes soon. Althought Charlotte has a degree in journalism, she wanted to make a difference in the lives of young people and hence joined the Puddle Ducks team to ensure that all children learn to swim beautifully!
Mel decided to become a swimming teacher after being involved in competitive swimming from the age of 7. When she turned 16 she began her journey to gain her teaching qualifications and she hasn't looked back since! After finishing her A levels she began a full time job as a swimming teacher.
She joined Puddle Ducks in March 2019 and she says it was the best decision she has ever made.
Mel says "I love the community and family feel to the company and that support is provided at every part of the journey"
"My favourite thing about the job is seeing the happiness and surprise on a child's face when they realise they have achieved something which they never thought they could do"
In her spare time Mel enjoys keeping fit, with her favourite activities being CrossFit and Climbing.
Dawn started with us as a Baby & Pre-school teacher in 2011 and feels such enjoyment and fulfilment from teaching and witnessing a nervous little swimmer grow into a confident swimmer who now shouts 'more' when a jumping activity is coming to an end!
Ali returned to Cheshire in the UK in 2017 after 28 years working in Brazil. Previously she was based and working from a small fishing village, Maracaípe, in the state of Pernambuco.
Academically qualified as an Underwater photographer in Plymouth, Devon and PADI Professional (Divemaster), she used these abilities in network communications, art and water therapy initiatives with children and young people and in defending the coral reef, & mangrove environments along with a passion for threatened species such a Sharks, Seahorses and Marine Turtles.
Now in 2023 being able to train as a Swimming Teacher is something that’s been a long term desire and with Puddle Ducks she has this wonderful opportunity to inspire a new generation to respect and love being in the water. Such an important life skill with so many great health benefits, it’s certainly something she wants to dedicate time and work hard to in order to deliver fun and excellent teaching sessions.
Alicia is currently at college studying Maths, Psychology and Geography for her A-levels. She has swam competitively her whole life, and even swam at Puddle Ducks as a child! Alicia loves spending time with her friends, family, dog and going to the gym. Off working at Puddle Ducks Alicia says "Its so enjoyable and rewarding seeing the swimmers smiling and learning, I find myself looking forward to every shift"
Charlotte studies Maths, Business and History for all her A Levels at college, and has enjoyed swimming all her life! Charlotte used to swim competitively for Northwich Centurions where she now volunteers. She also loves playing netball for Northwich Sapphires.
On working at Puddle Ducks Charlotte says " I really love how welcoming and supportive Puddle Ducks is, teaching here is so much fun."
Bethany has been with us for over two years now. Prior to that she worked in a nursery, but it was her love of swimming and her love of working with children that made her take the Puddle Ducks swim teacher job as the perfect combination! Bethany says "I love to watch the confidence the children gain and the progression they make, it makes the job so worthwhile". Outside of work, Bethany has two little girls and a dog that keep her busy and entertained!
Alix trained as a children’s nurse and worked in special care before becoming a health visitor, which she has been doing for over 20 years.
Rachael is an ex primary and secondary teacher and a Mum of two girls age 6 and 9 months. As well as teaching, she has worked as a community First Aider for St John's Ambulance and also a School visitor for Warburtons. More recently she and her family have been supporting children in their home as Foster carers.
Rachael started going to Puddle Ducks when her eldest daughter was just 9 weeks old and then returned to swim with her younger daughter recently. She has always wanted to be a swimmin teacher and when the opportunity arose at Puddle Ducks Mid Cheshire, she jumped right on!
Our lovely Lilia works at the seashell trust as a poolside assistant in between studying for her GCSE's. Lillia loves skateboarding in her spare time and like many of our poolside assistants has a famous Mother who also works at Puddle Ducks! Can you guess who it is?
Meet our dynamic Saturday Poolside Assistant and Receptionist Katie. Katie is in her first year of collage doing her A levels.
Katie's hobbies are gymnastics and she loves competing in competitions.
Carys is currently at sixth form college studying Psychology, English Literature and History which she really enjoys. Outside of school, Carys play piano, sings (she loves musical theatre in particular) and also volunteers at charity shops. Carys is also interested in filmmaking and would love to do something like this when she is older!
Carys says " I find that working at Puddle Ducks is very rewarding - it’s great to see children enjoying their swimming lessons and improving! The work environment is also great."
