Our Team

Howie Crook (Director) has over thirty years experience of working in the outdoors as a swift water rescue instructor, raft guide, kayak instructor, outdoor facilitator, mountain instructor and Lecturer in Outdoor Education.

Howie’s experience is supported by extensive international kayaking expeditions.

Howie has worked with Mountain Rescue, Police, Lowland Rescue Teams, Lifeboat Crew, Paramedics. He brings direct experience of water rescue from his involvement with Mountain Rescue. Howie sits on Mountain Rescue’s (England and Wales) advisory panel for water safety and is the author of many training manuals and articles on water safety and rescue.

 

Tom Parker, Rescue 3 Instructor Trainer

We’re lucky to have Tom on our faculty. Tom is a world-class kayak instructor, Raft Guide Trainer and rescue 3 Instructor Trainer.

Tom is also qualified as a Rescue 3 powerboat Instructor and Rescue 3 rope instructor.

Tom has a vast experience of working across all agencies. He always brings a smile and calm approach to every course.

Richard Butler, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Watch Manager

Richard is another lifelong outdoor educator who has come to specialize in rescue.

Richard has a list of qualifications and achievements as long as your arm, but is alsobring modestly and humbleness to his work – always keen to develop and learn more. Richard is a pleasure to work with bringing gentle humor into all his sessions. Richard always spends time to get to know every participant on the course to ensure the training is tailored to individuals. He’s just a great bloke to spend time on the water with as instructor and friend.

Geraint Rowlands, Paramedic, Rescue 3 Instructor trainer

Gez has worked as a commercial expedition river guide on every continent apart from Antarctica. He has also represented at a national level in every white water paddling discipline, which includes Kayak Slalom, White Water Rafting, Down River Racing, and Freestyle Kayaking.

Gez is one of the Authors of White Water Safety and Rescue and has taught water rescue to Outdoor professionals and Government agencies at home and abroad for almost a decade.

Gez is a Rescue 3 Instructor Trainer that specialises in boat based rescues and is also an International Rafting Federation Rafting Assessor and British Canoe Union Level 5 Coach. Underpinning his practice is a post graduate certificate in education, a degree in sports science, and HCPC registration as a Paramedic.

Rob Litherland, Rescue 3 Instructor trainer

Rob grew up paddling on the rivers and creeks of North Wales. He has kayaked and guided around the world, seeking the adventure of first descents and classic multi-day trips in the deep river canyons that flow off the World’s great mountain ranges. He has been involved in exploratory kayaking trips to Northern India, China, Nepal, Ecuador and Chile, he has also made two descents of the remote and committing Grand Canyon of the Stikine in northern British Columbia.

Rob was previously a full time instructor with Rescue 3 UK and now works freelance as a Rescue 3 Instructor Trainer, SFRBO Instructor and International Rafting Federation guide trainer.

Rob has worked extensively with Fire and Rescue services, HARTs teams, Mountain Rescue, Police dive units and provided safety for numerous film and TV projects.

Ashley St.John-Claire, Professional Training Manager

Ash is based in the Pennines where he is an adventuring dad to his two young children, Callum and Sophie, and Collie dog, Bracken.   With 25 years experience in Military, Industrial, Outdoor and Adventurous settings, he has spent time working and supporting a wide range of groups; Exercise Pitch Pole post 2013 Floods with Military, Fire and Rescue Personnel at national training centres, Paramedics, HART Teams, USAR, ISAR and Rail contractors.

Ash holds the Rescue3 Flood, Swiftwater and Swiftwater Boat Operator Instructor Qualifications, is IOSH Qualified, as well as being a Rope Rescue Technician and Advanced SRT.  He is a Mountain Instructor, L5 Canoe Coach, White Water Safety Provider, UKCC Course Provider, GWO Work at Heights/Sea Survival Trainer, First Aid and Rescue Instructor.