Meet The Team !
The club relys on these people to operate, Without them, we are nothing.
Matthew G Allen
Chairperson
+ Water Leader
Matt is the Club Chairperson. He has been involved with the club since 2008 and took over the Chair position from Phil … Big shoes to fill !
Matt will be found on the External Sessions singing songs from the BellBoats and taking part in the general “Tomfoolery” – He also likes to paddle on Moving water and is a big advocate for inter-club relations so members can meet new people, have new experiences & enjoy themselves. It’s also Matt who is regularly pestering the committee members that it’s time for another meeting !
Lauren Ellis
General Secretary
+ Water Leader
+ Welfare Officer
Lauren is our newly appointed General Secretary, she is perfectly suited to this role, Lauren loves a highlighter and a list ! She is also studying Medicine at Leicester University so she’s always busy … Lauren has tried her hand at all the activities the club has to offer and has proved herself proficient in all of them. Lauren is also William’s partner so has to think on her feet when he asks if she’d like to go out on the water with him !
John Taylor
Coach & Leadership Officer
John is our Head-Honcho when it comes to coaching. John is the guy who reminds us occasionally that what we may be about to do, could indeed be done easier, safer or we shouldn’t be doing at all ! John has been kayaking almost all of his adult life in and outside of the UK. John can be either found gently pootling along a flat water river or taking part in a weekend moving water trip.
John Gillespie
Equipment Manager
+ Water Leader
John is our resident handy man – He repairs everything that we break and keeps our club base clean and tidy. John also helps out at pretty well, every event we run and also now enjoys the moving water aspect of the club too.
Stephen Staples
Weekday Session Co-Ordinator
+ Water Leader
Steve has paddled from an early teenager at Boat House Paddlers before the amalgamation. He has paddled moderate moving water and often helps lead our external sessions with the scouts/guides and air cadets etc. Steve is also a keen Mountain Biker and Skier and normally appears somewhere on Matt’s holiday pics !
William Moir
Safety Officer
+ Water Leader
Will is our resident thrill seeker and if there is a “big Boy Toy” for the job, he has it ! Will has taken part in all aspects of paddlesports from touring to competition slalom – With age comes insight and he has realised the power of the outboard motor far out weighs the power of the paddle ! You may catch him on the river one day, in a slalom boat, a bellboat, kayak or speed boat – You never know !
Hope Faure
Member Welfare Lead Officer
Hope Joined us during 2023 starting her journey into paddlesport. Hope is primarily here to keep us in-check with our safeguarding processes and guidelines. She is also our lead welfare officer – Hope always has her friendly face on, so if you ever need anyone to talk to, this is your lady !
David Wilkinson
Committee Member
+ Aspirant Water Leader
Dave is new on our committee and has also taken his first steps on to moving water. Dave helps us out on all occasions where he can at the same time as keeping his two boys in check !
Tara Taylor
Committee Member
+ Aspirant Water Leader
Tara is a member of the committee who helps us out in several ways. Tara always comes along to help at our open days and enjoys the touring paddles we do over weekends.
Tony Taylor
Committee Member
Tony gives his time up on varying occasions to help us at the club despite not having much time to paddle for himself due to work. Tony’s hard work at out open days and events are well appreciated !
Mark Toussaint
Committee Member
+ Water Coach
+ Welfare Officer
Mark has been in the club almost as long as it has been formed. Marks’ dad, John was one of the founding members of the club when it was just a bunch of 18 year olds going paddling … therefore Mark has been involved with the club in one way or another for several decades. Mark has a keen interest on boating out in Slovenia and similar places – Mark can be found coaching our Thursday sessions at the Club Base.
