We are fortunate to have a great coaching team; our Joint Head Coaches Sharon Wheeler and Ben Stevens are supported by a number of qualified and experienced coaches, teachers and poolside helpers.
Sharon Wheeler – Joint Head Coach
Sharon is one of the longest standing and most experienced coaches in the County having coached thousands of swimmers – some to national level with national medallists. Sharon has been coaching at the club since 1999, and throughout her time at the club has developed numerous County, Regional and National swimmers.
Her enthusiasm can be seen, not only by the huge success that individual swimmers have had over the years, but by how many still swim with the club, during University holidays and once they have started working. Sharon has also been very active with the Disability Swimming within Sussex for many years, taking training sessions for swimmers across the County.
Ben Stevens – Joint Head Coach
Ben has a competitive swimming background and has been coaching with the club since 2007. He has over a decade of coaching experience from all ages and abilities. Ben qualified as a coach in 2010 and during his time at the club he has been involved with coaching swimmers to National level. From his efforts, Ben was nominated and selected to carry the London 2012 Olympic torch.
In 2010 Ben re-started Beacon Lifesaving Club and has seen huge success with County, Regional, National and International recognition, as well as securing lifesaving GB team places. Ben was the Team Manager for the England Lifesaving Team at the 2019 Commonwealth Championships and regularly coaches with the RLSS UK Performance Programme.
Hilary Brown – Coach/President
Hilary has been teaching and coaching swimming for over 40 years covering all ages and abilities. She has been involved with the club since 1977 taking on various roles including teaching and coaching swimming and lifesaving. Hilary is also a Sussex ASA Official and enjoys being a competitive Masters Swimmer. Hilary was the Sussex County swimming president 2017/2019 and is currently the swimming clubs president.
Mandi Cooper – Executive Coach
Mandi has been involved with Beacon swimming club for a number of years in various capacities. She is a Teaching Assistant that is qualified to teach PE in Primary Schools and combines this role with teaching swimming at various swim schools in the local area. Mandi is also responsible for the Pre-Club Squads with many swimmers from Uckfield and Crowborough progressing into the Club. She too swims regularly and is part of the Masters Squad at the Club. She is a qualified level 1 coach.
Elliott Stevens – Coach
Elliott has been involved with swimming most of his life. He has swum competitively from a young age and still swims for Beacon Swimming and Lifesaving. Since the age of 16 Elliott became a swimming teacher and has worked in a variety of swim schools across Sussex. He has continued to coach swimming and lifesaving and is a fully qualified National Pool Lifeguard, Team manager and Pool operations manager. He has also coached swimming in both America and Canada at international summer camps. He is a qualified level 1 coach.
Jacqui Sherlock – Coach
Jacqui is a qualified L2 teacher and used to run the synchronised swimming branch of the club with her mum, Jacky and Zoe all being Synchro coaches. She used to swim for Beacon and has many County Championships under her belt (particular in Backstroke and Butterfly!) She started teaching from 16 years old and has now returned to the sport after having a family. She teaches swimming in the local area and has now returned to the club as a swimmer and coach. Jacqui has also competed in many Synchronised swimming events (team and duets).
Paula Willison – Coach
Paula has been part of the Swimming and Lifesaving club for a number of years and has taken part in a range of roles for the club. Having used to run the Lifesaving section of the club, she is a qualified Swimming Teacher and Lifesaving Trainer Assessor and regularly helps coach the younger lifesaving and swimming squads. Paula is a current Ladies Master British Record Holder with the rest of her teammates at Beacon Lifesaving.
Harrison Keith - Coach
Harrison started with the club as a competitive swimmer and has moved on to be one of the coaching team. Alongside Harrison training to be a pilot, he now assists Mandi with the Beacon Pre-Club Squads.
Chris Cheeseman - Coach
Chris has been involved with Beacon swimming club through his two daughters since 2018, volunteering as a J1 qualified official at club champs, galas and opens. He is a teacher at a Tonbridge prep school where he teaches sport and also coaches junior football at Crowborough Athletic. In 2020 he became a Covid Liaison Officer and in 2021 combined his enthusiasm for coaching and swimming to qualify as a Level 1 coach.
Rebecca Turner Wyld - Coach
Matthew McCarthy - Coach
Debbie Rickwood - Coach
Jane Hand - Coach
Silas Tye - Coach
Anna Browning - Coach