We have a new Chief Instructor joining the Horizons staff next week. Her name is Lois Noyce and she introduces herself here:
Hello, I’m Lois a 22 year old from Leicestershire.
I started off sailing when I was about 14 as a crew for my Dad. With being in the midlands, we didn’t really have the luxury of choosing our sailing areas, so all of our sailing was done at the lovely Rutland Water.
After completing my A Levels at school I wanted to gain some formal qualifications. I chose Rockley Watersports in Poole and gained my Dinghy, Windsurfing and Powerboating instructor certificates.
After gaining my qualifications, I then worked a summer season for Rockley in the south of France and came back to England and worked in Poole Harbour with them throughout the winter. In this winter season, I gained my Senior Instructor certificate and did another season in the South of France, this time as a Senior Instructor.
After my second season, The Ahoy Centre, a sailing charity based on the Thames in London, were advertising for a permanent Senior Instructor role which I jumped at. In this role I was in charge of all youth and sailing programmes which included Sailability and our Shipmates programme which was tailored to giving under privileged youths the opportunity to get out on the water and work as a team. Unfortunately, after being there for approximately a year, I decided the London lifestyle was not for me as it was too urban and I am very much a country girl at heart.
I am really looking forward to joining the team at Horizons and cannot wait to get stuck in.