Caroline Swatton
The Director and Principal Teacher
STA Tutor, NaRS Tutor, Birthlight Tutor, Aquacise Tutor, FAW Tutor

Caroline has nearly 40 years experience in teaching swimming and lifesaving. As a mum of four she became very adept at juggling the work/life balance long before it became fashionable to do so! It is some testimony to her achievements that all four children have joined the family business and all play key roles in its development.

Her qualifications are so vast they can’t all be listed here but some clue as to her standing can be gleaned from the fact she is the South’s coordinator for the Shaw Method of swimming and is one of only a handful of Watsu Practioner’s in the country. She specialises in one to one lessons for adults and children and has never failed to teach anyone to swim who has completed her course. Her experience covers everything from therapies, to coaching, to tutoring, to formal swimming and beyond.

She is a winner of the prestigious European Women of Achievement Award for the sports category from over 2100 nominees and has achieved “outstanding recognition for swimming” from the Amateur Swimming Association.

Gerry Swatton
Director and Team Coach

Gerry has been a Director for over 30 years and is qualified in teaching special needs children in which he specialises. His amazing results with Deaf and Blind children have earned him an enviable reputation and he has the ability to expand a child’s communication skills as well as teach them to swim. He can make a difference to their lives in a short space of time by using methods that only come with experience. He is quickly able to identify the strong points in a child and build up confidence whilst working to overcome their weaker areas as time progresses. Gerry knows all about being a franchisee, having been one for five years delivering personal coaching.

He has also coached at all levels of fitness and ability in a number of sports including Rugby, Cricket and Volleyball to name but a few and he still finds time to run the swim fit and weight loss nutrition programme.

Amy Ockendon

Amy started swimming with Swalings when she was 3 and reached her 1000m, Water Skills 5 awards and passed all her lifesaving badges. Amy says “I am enjoying helping with the swimming and helping the children learn how to swim”.

Tom Ockendon

Tom started swimming in 1995 and achieved all badges up to 1000m and was awarded his Water Skills 1 to 5. He has participated in swimming galas with the cubs and scouts. Tom enjoys swimming and helping people to swim.

Alex Miccoli

I have been enjoying the water and swimming since I was about four years old. Shortly after starting primary school, I enrolled as a Swalings pupil and continued to progress under the watchful eye of the Swalings team. At the age of eleven I achieved my 3000 metre badge… I was really very proud!

My love of the water has taken me on to experience snorkelling and diving in both the Caribbean and in Australia. As well as travelling in my spare time, I also love spending time by the beach locally, cooking and entertaining for family and friends.
I began teaching for Swalings in 2003 and continued to do so for the next four years alongside studying. I then spent a few years in a local hotel as their manager.

Recently I returned to the world of swimming and, more specifically, Swalings. Having been a Swalings pupil as a child, then completing my teaching qualifications before continuing to teach with the team, I share the Swalings passion for teaching people to swim and stay safe in the water whilst having fun.