The Staff
COMPANY DIRECTOR - Grant Richards
Grant made his first Parachute jump in 1980 and since then has jumped over 7000 times. After serving for 22 years in the Royal Air Force as a Parachute Jump Instructor he joined forces with Jason Thompson and now co-owns UK Parachuting (Sibson) and UK Parachuting (Beccles). Grant is an AFF & Tandem instructor as well as the Club Chief Pilot. Along with this Grant also runs the booking office with support from his wife Susie. Grant is originally from Gloucester and is a keen supporter of Gloucester Rugby Club and enjoys some friendly banter with Chris McCann, the Club Chief instructor who supports arch rivals Leicester Tigers! Grant also loves cooking, music and spending time with his family.
CHIEF CLUB INSTRUCTOR - Chris McCann
Chris has been skydiving for 12 years and as well as being the Club Chief Instructor at UK Parachuting Sibson, he is also an AFF and Tandem Instructor, CSI, Examiner, to list but a few. Originally from Newcastle he spent most of his career in the Parachute Regiment before entering the world of sport parachuting. When he is not skydiving he loves to spend time with his family and is a very keen supporter of The Leicester Tigers. Chris also enjoys the odd pint and slice of cake which means he has to go running when he can! Not shy of a bit of fun, Chris once paddled down the River Trent in a rubber dingy for charity with a group of skin heads and raised around £5000! He loves being an instructor and helping people progress through the sport as well as taking people on tandems and giving them that one off experience they will never forget.
AFF INSTRUCTOR CAMERA FLYER & COMPANY DIRECTOR OF SKYDIVE IMAGES - Sarah Hall
I did my first tandem skydive in Australia in 1999 when I went travelling over there and got immediately hooked! I did my AFF course soon after and returned home a year later with over 200 jumps. I’ve always been a keen photographer so becoming a camera flyer seemed like a natural thing for me to do. Filming people jumping out of a plane for the first time is fantastic – I love seeing the look on their face! I’ve competed in Freeflying a few times and even got myself a couple of medals!!
I’ve skydived all around the world and have been working at Sibson since 2003. I now have over 3500 jumps and I’m a FF/FS coach, CH coach and I recently qualified as an AFF instructor. This sport is awesome – you never stop learning!
When I’m not skydiving I love tunnel flying, mountain biking, photography, running, hanging out with my friends and drinking mojitos. I make the best ever Cuban mojitos . . . had lots of practise!
TANDEM/AFF INSTRUCTOR & CAMERA FLYER - Mark Harris
My first jump was in 1992 and since then I haven’t looked back. I have been skydiving full time since 1997 mainly working here at Sibson, I also had an 18 month stint skydiving in Spain which was great fun. I’ve also been lucky enough to skydive in some amazing places around the world, and one of the most memorable would be down the side of the Eiger in Switzerland.
I teach everything from Static line, AFF, Tandem, Canopy handling and Piloting, formation skydiving to wingsuiting, as well as being Sibsons Display Team Leader.
I have also been heavily involved in organising and filming several large wingsuit formations in the UK, Europe and America. As well as being a part of the organising team and one of the camera men for the current US national record for largest wingsuit formation.
One of the most random things I’ve had to do as part of the job was co-ordinating, and safely jumping with someone sitting in a barber’s chair having a shave while free falling for an advert.
When I’m not skydiving, I enjoy snowboarding, photography, mountain biking and flying my paramotor.
CLUB MANAGER, TANDEM/AFF INSTRUCTOR & CAMERA FLYER - Paul Dorward
I have been regularly skydiving for over ten years and am an Accelerated Free Fall Instructor, Category System Instructor, Tandem Instructor, FS Coach, CH Coach and a Canopy Piloting Coach. I also take great pride in looking after and helping the Basic Instructors get through their training. I have been competing since 2001 and have attended every nationals and most Grand Prix's winning medals in every category from Junior to Seniors. My favorite part of skydiving is teaching people AFF and high speed canopy piloting. I am also an avid photographer and have had skydiving and other photos published in national and international press. When not skydiving I am keen ammeter astronomer and also a secret bedroom guitar hero (a real one not a play station one!) I write and record my own music and play all the parts (guitars, drums, bass and keyboards) in my home recording studio (the mothership). I am yet to hit it big time but who knows next years X Factor might have a skydiving guitar god..
TANDEM/AFF INSTRUCTOR - Nick Davison
TANDEM INSTRUCTOR - Marc Fletcher
Marc has been skydiving for 7 years and is a Tandem Instructor, Accelerated Free Fall Basic Instructor plus a CH, FS and CP coach. He has skydived in the USA and Spain but at the moment prefers the gorgeous weather and views that Cambridgeshire boasts!
Originally from Cambridge he is currently studying a PhD in Physics (Semiconductor Quantum Computing Technologies). When he is not revising for exams or skydiving he loves snowboarding, waterpolo, lacrosse and sailing.
Marc loves skydiving because it makes him much less of a geek plus it sounds pretty cool when chatting up girls!
AFFBI & FF Coach - Steve Howes
Steve has been jumping since 2002 and is an AFFBI, soon to be Tandem Instructor, a FF, FS & CH Coach, IBA Level 4 Tunnel Instructor, IBA Level 4 Tunnel Coach. His achievements include 2012 British National Championships - 3rd, 2012 Bodyflight World Challenge - 6th, 2011 British National Championships - 4th, 2011 Bodyflight World Challenge - 5th.
Steve started skydiving for a bit of fun as he always thought it looked cool, although never intended on doing it for a living at first. Now its his job and favourite sport/hobby, and he still loves it as much now as he did 10 years ago, in fact he says its getting better all the time! His other hobbies include: Snowboarding, Base Jumping, Motorbikes, Cycling, Speed Riding and anything else that goes fast.
TANDEM INSTRUCTOR - Shane Wood
I have been jumping for 17 years but have been around skydiving all my life. My Dad, Mum and brother work at our family-owned drop zone in Cornwall, so skydiving truly is in the Wood family blood. I spent the first years of my skydiving career competing all over the world in 4way formation competitions, I won many medals and I’m especially proud of the gold ones. I now have over 2000 jumps and I am a tandem instructor and formation skydiving coach. One of the things I love most about the sport is that it brings together people from all walks of life and no matter how many jumps you have, there’s always something more to learn. When I’m not in the air I enjoy scuba diving and snowboarding but most of my time is taken up Ironman training. I love rock music and in another life I’d be Slash from Guns n Roses.
WINGSUIT COACH & EXAMINER - James 'Macca' MacDonald
I'm a wingsuit nerd and have been flying them pretty much since they stopped being made of leather and metal. As a BPA wingsuit coach and a Phoenix Fly Coach examiner, give me a shout if you want to do anything wingsuit related; from that first flight, right up to becoming a coach - or anything in between. As well as skydiving, I enjoy BASE jumping, disco dancing, roller skating and collecting small porcelain dogs. If you see me on the DZ, come and say hello and be prepared for a hug. I love hugs. Seriously.
TANDEM & STATIC LINE INSTRUCTOR - Guy Reynolds
Guy signed up for an Accelerated Free Fall Course in 1993 having tried a variety of other adventure sports. He fell in love with Skydiving during his first Free Fall and has since gone on to become a Tandem Instructor, Static Line Instructor, Formation Skydiving and Canopy Coach. He regularly travels to California to skydive, and has also jumped in Europe and onto the beaches of Kenya. One of his most memorable skydives involved climbing out of the cockpit of a glider, shuffling along the wing and rolling of the leading edge. Known for his Skydiving fashion sense, Guy regularly gives fashion tips to other members of the UK Parachuting team! Guy's goal is to share his love of the sport, and to assist up and coming new jumpers to have fun and be safe.
TANDEM INSTRUCTOR - MATT ROBINSON
I'm 36 years old and did my first skydive 20 years ago! Although I've not been active in the sport for as long as that I have managed to do 1300 skydives so far. I've worked at UK Parachuting Sibson for a couple of years as a camera flyer and this year decided to go for my Tandem rating, which I achieved in May (2012). I've also been a keen BASE jumper for the past decade, and I also enjoy taking my nephews to theme parks, so life really is in the fast lane! My 'day' job is a Tattoo Artist and I also enjoy traveling and skydiving around the world.
TANDEM INSTRUCTOR, CSI, AFFI, CH & FS COACH - Chris Cox
I am a CSI, AFFI, TI, CH coach and FS coach. I First jump in 1998 - learnt at Weston-on-the-Green in 2000. I love teaching people to jump (both disciplines) and doing large formations. I am always happy to help anyone that asks.