“View from the Pool” is a distinctive series of conversation podcasts between Poolview’s Robin McGloughlin and his guests, who uniquely have all been Lifeguards at some point in their career. Meet Donna Bristoll - a fine art student in Falmouth who metamorphosed into a Contract Training Manager for Places Leisure. Her journey, like many, features the "stumble" into Leisure, followed by a steely determination to become successful.Her uncanny timing in landing the role of Group Lifeguard M...
“View from the Pool” is a distinctive series of conversation podcasts between Poolview’s Robin McGloughlin and his guests, who uniquely have all been Lifeguards at some point in their career. Alan Ritchie is GLL's National Pools and Water Safety Manager, but don't mention the job title! This is a man who was at the very start and there at the very heart of Greenwich London Leisures journey back in 1993. We chat about the early days, his deep fat fryer training and his subsequen...
“View from the Pool” is a distinctive series of conversation podcasts between Poolview’s Robin McGloughlin and his guests, who uniquely have all been Lifeguards at some point in their career. This is one banger of a story with Helen Bull who was a national level swimmer in her teenage years. She began her unique career holding various roles at The Walt Disney Company, starting as a lifeguard in Florida at the Walt Disney World Resort. She then went on to work for P&O Cruises in...
“View from the Pool” is a distinctive series of conversation podcasts between Poolview’s Robin McGloughlin and his guests, who uniquely have all been Lifeguards at some point in their career. Phil Weitzel met Dean Bolton during his early days of leisure facility management. Phil arrived quite late into the leisure game and it was then that he first crossed paths with Dean, who was one of those troublesome teenage lads whose name was rarely out of the "barred" book! Today they are D...
“View from the Pool” is a distinctive series of conversation podcasts between Poolview’s Robin McGloughlin and his guests, who uniquely have all been Lifeguards at some point in their career. Steven Gallagher left school as a 16 year old in the late 80's, a little unsure of where life was taking him. His decision to accept a leisure apprenticeship with Leeds City Council took him on a path which eventually saw him become Sigura's European Business Manager for Commercial Pools.The 2012 Lo...
“View from the Pool” is a distinctive series of conversation podcasts between Poolview’s Robin McGloughlin and his guests, who uniquely have all been Lifeguards at some point in their career. Jim Flatley started with St Helens Council as part of the Youth Training Scheme in the late 80's. A few decades later Jim is very much part of the fixtures and fittings at Queens Park Health and Fitness Centre and still driving a change and modernisation program.A staunch Evertonian , Jim takes...
“View from the Pool” is a distinctive series of conversation podcasts between Poolview’s Robin McGloughlin and his guests, who uniquely have all been Lifeguards at some point in their career. Tom Stuart is an Assistant Manager with Hambleton District Council and has been with them for 25 years in various roles.He started his career as a "not very good mechanic" (has words) before finding his calling as a Lifeguard in Thirsk.Tom has had the misfortune of being involved in a drowning fatal...
Standing on the deck of your pool, looking down - you can see your 50p and its heads - the water is sparkling - crystal clear you think.Perhaps not!Your water is sh*t, I have been heard to say! Sometimes the incredulous look from the Manager as he/she says “but my water readings are perfect, Free Chlorine is 1.5ppm (mg/l) my combined is 0.5 and my total 2.0 - how can that be?” Often at this stage the Manager usually gets quite defensive (as well as a little hurt)I often thought tha...
“View from the Pool” is a distinctive series of conversation podcasts between Poolview’s Robin McGloughlin and his guests, who uniquely have all been Lifeguards at some point in their career. This weeks podcast features Gareth Kirk who is the North of England and Northern Ireland Regional Director for GLL, the charitable social enterprise that operate leisure facilities and then some across the UK.We discuss Gareth’s day job where he oversees teams across Manchester, York, Newcastl...
“View from the Pool” is a distinctive series of conversation podcasts between Poolview’s Robin McGloughlin and his guests, who uniquely have all been Lifeguards at some point in their career. This weeks podcast features Shandon Scott - a Kiwi adopted physiotherapist from Northern Ireland.A casual Lifeguard from 16 years of age until the end of University, we talk about his early rugby career and setting up his own business before he swiftly decided a move to New Zealand was t...
“View from the Pool” is a distinctive series of conversation podcasts between Poolview’s Robin McGloughlin and his guests, who uniquely have all been Lifeguards at some point in their career. This weeks podcast features Ian Ogilvie - an industry leading authority on pool water, plant, training and operations, co-host of Poolcast podcast and founder of the Swimming Pool Network. ,Ian branched out on his own after working in the leisure and sports industry for over 20 years for...
“View from the Pool” is a distinctive series of conversation podcasts between Poolview’s Robin McGloughlin and his guests, who uniquely have all been Lifeguards at some point in their career. This weeks podcast features David Ashbridge - Operational Delivery Manager with Hambleton District Council.We explore Davids journey from becoming a 16 year old Lifeguard, through all his various career moves until his current position.Always a local authority man, David shares his experiences with&...
“View from the Pool” is a distinctive series of conversation podcasts between Poolview’s Robin McGloughlin and his guests, who uniquely have all been Lifeguards at some point in their career. This weeks podcast feature Alex Blackwell - Water Babies Group Head of Facilities and Operations in the UKAlex takes us on his journey from his local swimming club, to Lifeguard and onto the early days of CCT with DC Leisure. His deep interest in technology and the minuetia of safety syst...
“View from the Pool” is a distinctive series of conversation podcasts between Poolview’s Robin McGloughlin and his guests, who uniquely have all been Lifeguards at some point in their career. In this episode we venture once again into the southern hemisphere and chat with Australian Aquatics Professional Gary Johnson and Recreation Aotearoa Aquatics Program Manager Tracey Prince-PuketapiHow the Kiwis coped with "the Covid" gets a personal experience airing - the different attitudes between th...
“View from the Pool” is a unique series of conversation podcasts between Poolview’s Robin McGloughlin and his guests, who uniquely have all been Lifeguards at some point in their career. In this episode we venture into Yorkshire and meet Kov Bahadori - Leisure Operations Manager for Wakefield Council. We hear Kov describe his "Park Run" obsession, grasping opportunities, his "wild card" entry into leisure management and the frustrations of having the brand new Aspire@The Park leisur...
This podcast concertinas two old friends fifty year journey into a 90 minute "fire side chat" - there should be something for everybody in this one!Poolview's Robin McGloughlin in conversation with Richard Hewitt MBE - Director and Partner in Thrive Consultancy practice.Richard was a childhood friend and neighbour, school class mate, University cohort and work colleague of Robins.Together they discuss their time as Lifeguards and the life lessons they learned then, but still used today.Whiteh...
Poolview's Robin McGloughlin in conversation with Jo Talbot - Commercial Director of the RLSS UK. In this episode we hear how Jo got into Lifeguarding and how her attention to detail probably was the reason that she was "nudged reluctantly" into Health and Safety.Jo takes us through her career steps from Group Lifeguard Manager with DC Leisure to the RLSS UK and her current role.We talk about 45,000 miles per year on the road, new contract start ups, the Save a Life Series, the ch...
Poolview's Robin McGloughlin in conversation with Senior First Officer David Laverty, a seasoned Commercial Airline Pilot In this session we discover that by the age of 17, David was not only a qualified Lifeguard but also a qualified pilot - some combination!We re-live his short lived musical career, flying school and his first time at the controls of a jet aircraft.We then dig into continual pilot training and discover some amazing parallels with Lifeguards. The lessons fro...
Poolview's Robin McGloughlin in conversation with Helen Meckiffe - Head of Training for Right Directions and Australian Lifeguarding expert Gary Johnson.In this lively exchange we discuss and compare the differences between Lifeguarding protocols in the UK and Australia.What works and what doesn't, Lifeguard ratios, LZVT's, Layers of protection, mobile positions, Rescue Boards and Architects to name but a few.Gary's personal relationship with the Bondi Rescue team thrilled HelenTe...
Poolview's Robin McGloughlin in conversation with Helen Meckiffe - Head of Training for Right DirectionsTodays chat explores Helens journey from competitive swimmer, to Lifeguard, Duty Manager, General Manager and finally up to the present day, with a trip around the world thrown in for good measure.Plenty of shout outs from Helen on this one which was recorded just before Christmas.Establishing Helen's credentials perfectly and setting the scene for the next podcast in the series ...