In one way or another I have been involved in surf-related activities for more than 50 years, during which time I also enjoyed a rewarding teaching career. I have held significant roles at Surf Lifesaving, Royal Lifesaving, the British Surfing Association, Surfing Great Britain and Surfing England. I am currently Chair of Trustees of the Museum of British Surfing, and try to grab a few waves whenever I can.

Back in 1983 I used my Fellowship to look at advances in lifeguarding in the United States to find out whether there were protocols, equipment or techniques that would be beneficial to lifeguarding and lifesaving in the UK. My trip gave me the unique opportunity to travel the Gulf and the east and west coasts of the United States, interviewing active lifeguards and comparing their methods of operating. Upon my return, I was able to feed my recommendations into the Surf Life Saving Association of Great Britain (SLSGB) and the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) specifically and, collaterally, educational and safety programmes in Devon.

Originating in my own love of surfing and being a young, competitive lifeguard at the time, being a Churchill Fellow extended my personal boundaries, introducing me to people who still remain firm friends – so worthwhile and so unforgettable.