Meet The Team
Get to know the experienced, dedicated, and welcoming team at Mid Devon Leisure.
Introduction
Mid Devon Leisure is a part of Mid Devon District Council operating three leisure centres – Lords Meadow Leisure Centre in Crediton, Culm Valley Sports Centre in Cullompton and Exe Valley Leisure Centre in Tiverton.
We are immensely proud of our facilities and the excellent service we provide. At Mid Devon Leisure, we are dedicated to making a difference to people’s lives, providing great value experiences with a warm welcome and dedicated support. We offer a variety of opportunities to engage the whole community and enhance everyone’s enjoyment. We value our customers views and are committed to delivering our service with fairness, integrity and enthusiasm.
We are here to help you reach your fitness and health goals, and offer a place to keep active, stay healthy, make friends and learn new skills.
Meet the team
Leisure Business Team
Lee Chester
Operations Manager
Leisure Services
I started working in the leisure industry in 1993 as a lifeguard, and specialised as a swimming teacher, trampoline instructor, and organising children’s activities before moving into a management position within Mid Devon Leisure in 1998. I have been fortunate to be a manager at all 3 of our fantastic leisure facilities, bringing a range of knowledge and experience in both operational and organisational management.
Kelly Ann Lee
Leisure Business Manager
I joined Mid Devon Leisure at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre in 1998 as a lifeguard. During my time at Mid Devon Leisure I have had a number of roles within the service. Since 2002 I have been in various management roles including being operational at Culm Valley Sports Centre and strategic front of house manager. In 2022 I started a role as one of the new leisure business managers, to operate and develop the quality of the leisure services, assets and product offering, whilst working towards strategic and corporate aims of MDDC. I have always had a passion for health and fitness and in my spare time I like to train in the gym. I love being outdoors searching for my next adventure, and in 2021 I ran my first marathon!
Haley Walker
Leisure Business Manager
I have worked for Mid Devon Leisure since 2003 based at the Exe Valley Leisure Centre. My roles have included receptionist, swimming teacher, relief duty officer, duty officer and I am now one of the leisure business managers responsible for strategically developing our facilities. I thoroughly enjoy working for Mid Devon Leisure and I am very passionate about customer care and the importance of great service delivery for our customers.
Nick Denslow
Fitness Manager
I have been in the leisure industry since 2001 working in private health clubs and leisure centres. I have had a variety of roles, including fitness instructor, duty manager, deputy centre manager, personal trainer, senior lifestyle consultant, sales manager and centre manager, all of which have had their different challenges. I have a passion for health and fitness and love the industry. I joined the Mid Devon Leisure team in June 2016 and specialise in health, fitness and wellbeing.
Corinne Parnall
Sales & Membership Manager
I have been part of Mid Devon Leisure since 1990 and started working at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre as an assistant manager, before becoming centre manager and transferring to Culm Valley Sports Centre in 1996. In my current role I oversee the sales and membership operations across the three leisure facilities.
Karen Sparkes
Systems Administrator
I have worked at Culm Valley Sports Centre since 1991, where I was employed as a trampoline and gymnastics coach, and later in a part time role as a recreation assistant. I continued to progress as a relief duty officer and then an administration support officer. In December 2015 I became the systems administrator responsible for the direct debits and the leisure management systems for all sites.
Kim Cooper
Aquatic Business Coordinator
I have worked at Exe Valley Leisure Centre since 2006. Throughout this time I have worked across multiple roles in which I have gained incredible experience and knowledge. I have been a member of the lifeguard, swim teaching and front of house teams. I have supported the business by stepping into a relief duty officer role and also providing swimming lesson admin support. I am currently one of the Aquatic Business Coordinators, where I aim to make swimming accessible to everyone. I have great relations with all users of the centre and have an extremely wonderful team of swimming teachers to work with.
Zara Trickett
Aquatic Business Coordinator
I started working for Mid Devon Leisure in December 2022 as the Aquatic Business Coordinator and I am based at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre. My roles in the leisure industry have included being a lifeguard, swimming teacher, receptionist, duty manager, sports development & leisure officers. I qualified as a Secondary PE teacher & have taught in mainstream & SEND schools. My love for teaching swimming was ignited whilst training as a teacher which led me to pursue this further, teaching for various leisure centres and schools. In 1999 I founded my own swim school which I managed & directed for 21 years, striving for the development of staff & swimmers with a passion for excellence.
Culm Valley Sports Centre
Carole Jolliffe
Centre Manager
Culm Valley Sports Centre
I joined Mid Devon Leisure at Culm Valley Sports Centre in 1992, working in the crèche. I worked part time on reception and was involved with the running of the children’s holiday activities. I became a duty officer in 2007 and in December 2015 became assistant manager responsible for dry-side activities before becoming centre manager in 2022.
Natasha Stone
Duty Officer
Based primarily at Culm Valley, some of my responsibilities include the block bookings, liaising with the local adjoining community college, health and safety checks as well as safeguarding. I love the friendly, fun and welcoming nature at all of the centres, not just within the team, but with our lovely service users.
Ian Stewart
Duty Officer
I have worked in the leisure industry for 16 years and started work with Mid Devon Leisure in 2004. My roles have included; class instructor, personal trainer, GP referral trainer, fitness instructor and relief duty officer. At present I am the duty officer responsible for Health and Fitness at Culm Valley Sports Centre.
Victoria Alcott
Duty Officer
I joined Mid Devon Leisure in June 2016, prior to this I was the sales manager for 4 and half years at Fitness First in Exeter. I specialise in delivering customer service within the front of house team, and focussing on membership sales. I am also a key team member for the development of corporate membership opportunities.
Exe Valley Leisure Centre
Nicola Ross
Centre Manager
Exe Valley Leisure Centre
I joined the Exe Valley Leisure Centre team in 2022 after working 22 years in the aerospace industry in South Molton. What I bring to the leisure centre team and customers are clear lines of communication and positivity. l will be encouraging all customers and staff using the facility to grow both mentally and physically, as well as creating a safe, clean and happy environment all those who walk through the doors at Exe Valley. In my spare time I enjoy cooking, gardening, music and love nothing more than walking my pup Betsy on the beach along the North Devon coast and estuary.
Damian Roddam
Duty Officer
I joined the Exe Valley Leisure Centre team in December 2022, after relocating from Guildford with my family. I’ve had a varied career but my most recent role was as a Fleet and Events Operations Manager for BMW UK between 2012 and 2022. I hope to inspire my colleagues through my enthusiastic and dedicated leadership so that everyone has the opportunity to be the best they can be.
Jackie Withers
Duty Officer
I joined Mid Devon Leisure in 2016 as a member of the front of house team at Culm Valley. During this time I have worked as a relief duty officer and interim duty officer at both Culm Valley and Exe Valley, managing the front of house teams. I am now a duty officer at Exe Valley Leisure Centre and am responsible for assisting the operational team in the day-to-day running of the centre.
Rafael Sotomayor Morales
Duty Officer
I joined the Mid Devon Leisure team in 2022, as a duty officer and training assessor qualified by RLSS UK. I am part of the operational team responsible for the day-to-day running of the Exe Valley Leisure Centre. Also I am an RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification trainer in Mid Devon.
Ben Broomfield
Duty Officer
I joined Mid Devon Leisure in 2019 and have been working predominantly at Exe Valley Leisure Centre. I began my leisure career as a swimming teacher but very quickly expanded into lifeguarding and fitness instructing. I progressed into relief duty management at Exe Valley, expanding my knowledge of the operational side of the building. I am now currently a duty officer at Exe Valley Leisure Centre and I aim to give the customers the best possible experience when visiting a Mid Devon Leisure site.
Lords Meadow Leisure Centre
Nick Dean
Centre Manager
I started with the Mid Devon Leisure Team in 2022 with this being my first experience working within the leisure industry. My background is security management in shopping centres but my passion has always been for fitness. My fitness journey started at the teen gym sessions at Exe Valley Leisure Centre when I was 14 so it seems fitting that I am now able to drive forward the future of these fantastic facilities.
Ben Dommett
Duty Officer
I have worked in the leisure industry since 2002, for a variety of providers, and have been with Mid Devon Leisure since 2004. I have worked in all aspects of the service, such as a lifeguard, fitness instructor, tennis coach and spinning instructor. In my current post I also train and assess the lifeguard team working in partnership with the Royal Life Saving Society.
Ed Jonckheere
Duty Officer
I joined Mid Devon Leisure as a recreation assistant in 2002 at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre. I have always had a passionate interest in health and fitness and regularly use the gym myself. My roles have included fitness instructor and fitness class instructor and was appointed as duty officer in December 2015. I really enjoyed making a difference to people’s lives, helping them achieve their goals.
Mark Leach
Duty Officer
I have worked for Mid Devon Leisure at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre since 2002, being appointed duty officer in December 2015. My previous roles include recreation assistant, receptionist and fitness instructor. My current role means I am responsible for all matters relating to the area of customer service delivery, including staffing, memberships, administration and retail.
Heather Hargreaves
Duty Officer
I have over 20 years’ experience working within the leisure industry both in the public and private sectors and overseas. My previous roles include recreation assistant, receptionist, swimming teacher, community sports supervisor, operations manager and more recently duty officer. I joined Mid Devon Leisure in September 2017 where I work as a duty officer responsible for assisting with general operations and offering health and safety support.
