About Bob Timms (Activity Development Manager)

Bob’s Vast  Experience

Bob grew up in north east London where he first started kayaking aged 11 through school. The same school also had a walking club and those two clubs were how it all started. By the time Bob was 17 he could not wait any longer to start being an Instructor and got a kayak instructors job for the summer in a multi activity centre. 18 years later and Bob still works in the outdoor instructing , guiding and training others to be instructors. His working career has included:

• Manager & Head of Coaching - Canolfyn Tryweryn, National White Water Centre, North Wales
• Full Time Instructor - Plas y Brenin, National Mountain Centre
• Trainer & European Activities Manager, PGL Adventure
• Coaching Development Officer- Sports Council for Wales & Welsh Canoe Association
• Member of BCU Level 5 Coaching Committee
• Senior Instructor (freelance) - British Canoe Union, Mountain Leader Training UK and more.  

Bob has climbed, skied, boated and biked in France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Spain, Peru, Nepal, India and Papua New Guinea. He also once tried to sea kayak to Australia, but after 7 months called it a day in Athens!

These experiences, combined with his work, has allowed Bob to acquire some of the highest awards available in the UK beyond which Bob has gone on to train and assess many others to become instructors, coaches and guides themselves at the very highest level including BCU Level 5 Coaches and International Mountain Leader Awards.

Qualifications & Endorsements

Bob holds the following long list of qualifications and endorsements...

BCU Level 5 Inland Kayak Coach

BCU A5 Inland Kayak Assessor

BCU White Water Safety Course Director

BCU Coaching Process Course Director

BCU Assessor Trainer

BCU Level 4 Sea Kayak Coach

BCU Level 4 Raft Guide Trainer / Assessor

BCU Level 3 Canoe Coach

MLTUK Mountain Instructor Certificate

MLTUK International Mountain Leader

MLTUK WGL Course Director

MLTUK ML Summer Course Director

MLTUK SPA Director

MLTUK IML Course Director

Rescue and Emergency Care First Aid Trainer

John Muir Award Trainer

"I'm delighted to be part of the NST team, developing safe and exciting outdoor adventurous activities programmes for young people. Lou Valagran is a great place set in beautiful surroundings and just perfect for young people to experience some of what the outdoors has to offer. I was greatly influenced by similar experiences when I was at school and I'm sure whar we have to offer at Lou Valagran will instill a greater affinity for the outdoors and how trully wonderful our natural environment actually is."