Meet the Team

Our close knit team looks after the lido all year round

Ceo

Julie

Julie joined the team in 1996 as the first employee of Sandford Lido Ltd, the charity that operates the Lido. Her role has evolved over the years, including working as a Lifeguard and Duty Manager and she is now the CEO. Following the successful re-negotiation of our lease with Cheltenham Borough Council, Julie’s key responsibilities are to support Fabia with overseeing the running of the Lido and to maintain communication between the Board of Trustees and the rest of the permanent team. She is also responsible for planning our strategic future to ensure our amazing Lido not only survives these uncertain times, but thrives.

General Manager

Fabia

Fabia joined the Lido as the Events Manager in 2018 and has been General Manager since 2021. Originally from Guernsey, she moved to Cheltenham to study Sports Therapy at the University of Gloucestershire and has continued to live and work here since. She has worked in the leisure industry for the last 15 years, starting as a Personal Trainer before progressing into management. As General Manager, Fabia is responsible for overseeing the whole operation of the Lido, ensuring that budgets are met and creating synergy between all departments. She works closely with Julie and Board of Trustees with quarterly updates each year and she is also a Lifeguard Trainer Assessor.

Assistant Manager (Assets)

Joe

Joe joined as a Lifeguard in 2015 and started working part-time during the winter of 2018. He became a Duty Manager in the summer of 2019 before securing a full-time role as Operations Supervisor at the end of the season. Joe then became Assistant Manager (Assets) at the end of 2020, where he is now responsible for maintaining the safety of the facility, running and maintaining the plant room and managing external contractors. He works on site with Mike, Graham and our lovely volunteers over the winter to ensure the site is always looking its best. Joe is also a Level 2 Swim Teacher.

Operations Supervisor

Chris

Chris originally lifeguarded at the Lido 30 years ago, Studied Sport Science and Physiology at the University of Leeds and became Personal Trainer on the Lido Site with Reach Fitness for 20 years. He then became qualified as a mindfulness teacher and supported Young People with their Mental health for 5 years with Young Gloucestershire.Β  On returning to the Lido he now is in charge of all our Events and works as part of a dynamic team to ensure the success of these Events. During the season Chris will be a hands on duty manager. Chris is passionate about Mindfulness and good mental health and is an avid cold water swimmer. Chris is currently working closely with Fabia our General Manager to really enhance our offerings of events at the Lido.

Technical Manager

Graham

Graham joined the Lido as a lifeguard in 2013 before becoming a Duty Manager in 2015. Since 2017 he has taken on a more maintenance-focused role and he is now responsible for the upkeep of the whole site as well as maintaining our pool plant room. His tasks include chemical testing, fixing broken equipment and carrying out risk assessments. Graham has a wealth of experience in the industry and works closely with Joe and Mike to ensure the site is safe for staff and visitors. With experience in triathlons, Graham is also a vital part of our events team and assists Chris with the set up and organisation of many of our events

Marketing and Communications Officer

Amy

As the latest addition to our team in 2024, we welcome Amy, our Marketing and Communications Assistant. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for marketing, social media and content creation, Amy is poised to elevate our brand presence to new heights. Her responsibilities include fostering strong relationships with our valued customers, handling press communications, and skilfully managing our social media channels. With Amy on board, we’re excited to embark on new endeavours and amplify our outreach efforts to connect with our audience in meaningful ways.

Admin Assistant

Sally

Sally started as a Receptionist in 2017 and then joined the permanent team as an Administrator in 2018. Sally looks after the day-to-day financial side of the business, ensuring invoices are paid on time and raising/sending out invoices for incoming money. She gathers and forwards the payroll information to our outside providers to make sure our permanent and seasonal teams receive their salaries each month. Sally also collects customer feedback through our NPS surveys, assists with the private hire administration and completes a whole range of other tasks to assist the team.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANT

Mike

Mike has been enjoying the Lido since he was a young boy in 1968. He has volunteered here since the late 80s, completing various tasks from cleaning to site maintenance. In 2020, Mike joined our permanent team after retiring from running his own business. He works alongside Graham and Joe to keep the site looking its best and his jobs include cleaning the pool, painting the turnstiles and fencing and fixing broken equipment. He also works closely with our team of volunteers to maintain the Lido’s beautiful gardens.

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Fancy joining us for a mindfulness session at the Lido? πŸ§ πŸ’­βœ¨

Led by our operations supervisor Chris, on the 24th of November, we have a welcoming space available for anyone, of any age, who’s curious about mindfulness - no experience required! 

You can look forward to discovering what mindfulness is and how to bring it into your daily life, learn the 9 attitudes of mindfulness, experience cold water swimming (optional) and try meditation and reflection practices!

Come and spend 120 minutes just being, in the peace and serenity of the lido, alongside like-minded individuals. 

If you’d like to know more, drop us a DM πŸ“© or head to our website to book your slotβ€¦πŸ§˜πŸ½β€β™€οΈπŸ’­

#mindfulness #sandfordparkslido #experience #trysomethingdifferent #new #joinus #meditation #wellness #peace #cheltenham
🚧 IMPORTANT NOTICE: Car Park Closure from Monday the 4th of November 🚧

Please be advised that our car park is officially π‚π‹πŽπ’π„πƒ until further notice as part of our sustainability project.

In the meantime, there are convenient parking alternatives nearby: 

𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐑 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 π‚πšπ« 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐀 - a short, scenic walk through Sandford Park.
𝐒𝐭 π‰πšπ¦πžπ¬β€™ π‚πšπ« 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐀 - another close and accessible option.
π’π­π«πžπžπ­ 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐀𝐒𝐧𝐠 in Keynsham Road, College Road and London Road. 

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we undertake these improvements πŸ‘πŸ»πŸŒ±

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#carparkclosure #carpark #parking #redevelopment #closed #announcement #importantinformation #pleaseread #cheltenham #sandfordparkslido #sandfordpark
As the cold water season approaches, we can’t help but feel the thrill for our Christmas Day Plunge πŸŽ…πŸ½β„οΈ 

Proudly sponsored by @mypoolandspa this years festive swim at Sandford Parks Lido is the perfect way to challenge yourself and raise funds for our cherished community spot. 

Join us on Christmas morning - gates open at 10:45, with the plunge between 11:15 and 11:45am. Be prepared: the water will be very coldβ€¦πŸ‘€ Swimmers 16+ only, but spectators are more than welcome! Cost is Β£5 per person for a one or two width dip. 

What a great way to start your Christmas Day πŸ‘πŸ»πŸŽ„πŸ₯Ά

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#event #cheltenham #sandfordparkslido #familyfun #christmasday #christmas #coldwaterswimming #coldwater #bigdip
Early Bird Tickets for 2025 are Now Availableβ€¦πŸ‘€

The early bird catches the worm - and the savings! Secure your place at our 2025 events, including the Cheltenham Tri Festival, Junior Aquathlon & Triathlon, Swim Challenge and Aquathlon. 

Book before the 1st of January to save yourself some money πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ’Έ 

πŸ“Έ - @lunapalmphoto 

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#sandfordparkslido #lido #cheltenham #events #savings #earlybird #discount #2025 #savethedate #joinus #familyfun