Our Teachers

Carrie Nightingale

Swimming from the age of 2, a former Synchronised Swimmer, Carrie is a mother of two and works at the Farleigh and Downe House pools. When she's not teaching Carrie loves shopping and spending time relaxing with family and friends.

Vanessa Nightingale

Spookily... Vanessa and Carrie are NOT related... it was just fate. Vanessa started swimming at club level about 6/7 years of age when joined Hayes & Harlington and Hillingdon South Swimming Club.  She swam at county level for Hillingdon Borough Swim Squad and also has a synchronised swimming background with Hayes & Harlington Synchronise Swimming Club. Vanessa taught at Hillingdon Borough Swim Club for 5 years before moving to Thatcham. She has been teaching with Nightingale's Swim School since 2005.
 

Vanessa has been in Guiding for 3 years and is a Rainbow leader.

Vanessa enjoys Archery (member of Newbury and Thatcham Archers) and is taking her GNAS Guiding qualification for Archery in October 2008.

Vanessa likes reading and cooking, is married with two children, has a Westie called Georgie and two hamsters called Salt and Caramel.

Ross Sherwood

Ross is 18 years old; a level two swimming teacher who qualified nearly two years ago.  He is currently studying for a British National Diploma in Sport at Andover college. he is an ex competitive swimmer and has swum at county and national level for Andover and Hampshire. At the age of 16 he competed in the world biathlon events for team GB and succeeded with a bronze medal in the world series. He therefore has a great insight into the coaching and teaching methods for sport.  Ross' parents and brother all teach swimming and are often seen covering at Nightingale's Swim School.  Ross has countless animals at his home in Barton Stacey.

Andy Cook

Andy started swimming at the tender age of 18 months and from that point on was hooked and has continued throughout his life. He progressed through the ASA structure through to county level.  On joining the Royal Navy he found water polo and competed many times throughout his career.  Andy started in swimming teaching by teaching a few colleagues to swim from scratch and thoroughly enjoys teaching children.  Andy has attained both Level 1 & Level 2 ASA accreditation.
Andy is also a Fitness Instructor based in Basingstoke where he lives with his family.

Helen Wragg

Helen started swimming at club level aged six  when she joined Rushmoor Synchronised Swimming Club where she presented County and Great Britian. She has been teaching with us since 2005 and covers occasionally at Farleigh but teachers regularly at Downe House School on a Sunday.  Helen also does a lot of the office admin.  She lives in Overton, Hampshire and likes cycling, reading and she is married with one daughter.

Kelly Smith

Kelly is netball mad!  She is a Level 2 netball coach for juniors & seniors and as well as being a games coach at Farleigh School, Kelly works as a netball and athletics coach for Salisbury District Council.  As well as coaching netball Kelly plays competitively both locally and in the South West Regional league.  In her Farleigh School role Kelly started by Lifeguarding at our swimming sessions and was very keen to get in and teach the pupils. Kelly passed her ASA Level 1 Teacher's Course in August 2007.
 
Kelly also enjoys playing golf, takes an elderley group once a week for chair based excercise classes and has started a digital photography course.  She loves Thai food and lives in Downton, Salisbury.  She has a golden retriever called Roxy.

Amber Gregory

Amber started with us as a Pool Helper in June 2007 and has recently achieved Level 1 for Teaching Aquatics. She works with us at Farleigh on Saturdays and Mondays and also at Downe House School on a Sunday morning.  She is currently studying Philosophy, German, History, Critical Thinking and Law at Peter Symonds College.
 
Amber enjoys drumming, reading, swimming but not all at the same time and likes spending time with family and friends in her spare time.