Meet the coaches

David Byrne Director of Sport

David has been at Bede’s since 2011, during which time he has significantly modernised and expanded the Sports offer at both Prep and Senior Schools. David has a strong background in Business and completed his MBA in 2017. As Director of Sport at Bede’s, David is responsible for the Trust’s entire sport programme, which comprises extensive elite and participation programmes. David is passionate about lifelong enjoyment of sport and the positive physical and mental benefits that an active lifestyle brings. He is passionate about ensuring that all pupils are involved in some form of physical activity that they enjoy.

Alan Wells Director of Cricket and Level 4 Coach

Alan had a professional cricket career that spanned 21 years for Sussex and where he was captain from 1992 to 1996. He also played for Kent from 1997 to 2000 and played a Test match and One Day International for England. He captained an England Lions tour to India and he scored over 30,000 career 1st team runs which included 55 centuries.

Neil Lenham Head of Junior Cricket

A former Sussex CCC professional, Neil played ‘first class’ cricket for 14 years and played for, and captained Young England. Neil is an ECB Advanced Coach, played and coached both at home (EPP & County pathway) and overseas, Australia & South Africa. He worked with England Women’s team and was Namibia National Coach for 6 years taking them to two ICC World Cups.

Petch Lenham Cricket and Hockey Coach

Petch is a Level 2 hockey coach. She played county and regional hockey, where she was a part of the squad that won U18 Nationals. Petch is also a Level 3 cricket coach, and has coached multiple Sussex county age groups. In her time at Bede’s Petch has led Hockey and Cricket teams to county and national wins, including the U13 boys national championships and U15 girls indoor and outdoor cricket nationals.

David Caryer Director of Football

David is a UEFA B, FA Youth Advanced Award qualified coach with over 15 years’ coaching experience across all age groups. David is currently the Sussex Schools U18 Manager, and an assistant ISFA U17 coach.

Kellie Larkin Head of Prep Football

Kellie played for the Brighton & Hove Albion Centre of Excellence from the ages of 8 to 16 years old. At the age of 12, Kellie was selected for various England talent camps, and she went on to represent England at U17 and U19 level, including two international tournaments. Kellie has 7 caps for England. As a pupil at the Senior School, Kellie was selected for the ISFA Regional and National side. She continued her football career at Chelsea Football Club, winning the league in her first season. Kellie signed for Lewes Football Club and within her first season she won the National League Plate with Lewes.

Daniel Harding Professional Football Coach

Dan is an ex-professional player who played for a number of clubs including Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds, Southampton and Nottingham Forest. Dan played over 400 professional games including four England U21 caps. The exBede’s pupil passed his UEFA B licence working in Southampton’s world-class academy and currently helps to run the football programme at Bede’s Senior School.

Theo Dowse Director of Hockey

Theo is an ex-England junior international hockey goalkeeper as well as currently goalkeeping coach & performance analyst for the Wales Senior Women’s team and Head Coach at the Eastbourne Ladies Hockey Club. Theo played for the England U21 National Team 2014, National League 2014-2016, National Premier League Indoor 20152016 and European Club Indoor Championships 2015-2016.

Jon Williams Assistant Director of Hockey and Level 3 coach

Jon is a former international player and coach who has played Premier League hockey in England, New Zealand and Portugal. He has coached Portugal U21, Portugal and Scotland Masters outdoors as well as coaching the USA indoor team – PanAm champions and finished 5th at the Indoor World Cup. He has coached clubs and schools winning National titles in the USA, New Zealand and England. Currently he is working with Brighton & Hove Hockey Club in the National League.

Pat Skinner Head of Prep Hockey

Pat is a current Eastbourne Hockey first team player who has represented the club for several years. Pat was a pupil at the Senior School where he played in several county cups. Pat also represented his region in the Futures Cup. Pat now works at the Prep School where he leads all hockey-based activities.

Robbie Redhead Hockey Coach

Robbie is currently a Girls Junior Development Coach at Eastbourne Hockey Club, and Ladies Coach at the University of Brighton. Robbie is a former county and regional hockey player, and a member of England satellite club teams. He played National League 1999 to 2001, and was Captain of Eastbourne Men’s 1st team for six seasons gaining three promotions. Robbie now coaches Hockey at Bede’s Prep and Senior School.

Noel Malone Head of Basketball

Noel has over 30 years’ experience in Basketball and has extensive coaching experience in various schools and as Assistant Coach at the England U16 trials. Alongside his role at Bede’s, Noel is currently coaching St Richard’s Senior Men’s team in the Sussex League and he is still active in the English National league as a Level Four Referee.

Phil Osborn Head of Swimming

Phil was an international swimmer between 1978 and 1984 during which he swam in several major championships, these include: European swim championships in 1981 and the Commonwealth Games in 1982. Phil also won a double Commonwealth silver medal. Phil has coached swimming for the last 5 years and he is now in charge of implementing Bede’s expanding competitive swim programme.

Francesca Scollo Director of Tennis

Francesca played for Great Britain U18’s and competed internationally, nationally and represented Sussex at every age group. She was formerly tennis coach to all levels at the Bath International Performance Centre between 2009 and 2013. Francesca is currently Director of Tennis at Bede’s and Tennis Eastbourne, as well as an LTA performance coach.

Jane Nash Head of Prep Tennis

Jane was a Number 1 player in the UK at Under 10, 12 and 14 level. She captained Great Britain’s U12 team until she was 16 years and competed worldwide, including in mixed doubles at Wimbledon. Jane is an LTA licensed Level 4 Senior Performance and Development coach, as well as an ABTO LTA Accredited Referee, and holds a Sports Psychology Diploma.

Jodie Kavanagh Head of Netball

Jodie coached netball for 13 years in Barbados to U16’s and U19’s. She has a degree in Sport and Exercise Science and is a qualified P.E teacher and netball coach. Jodie had the role of Head of P.E for many years at a private international school and led her netball teams to the finals of inter-island games. Jodie has played competitive netball for 20 years and joined the adult Caribbean league in 2006. She is also a qualified fitness instructor.

Dani Maynard Head of Prep Swimming

Dani is a level 2 swimming teacher, fitness instructor and also specialises in Nursery swimming for the younger years. Dani has taught swimming for the last 13 years at local swimming clubs, swim schools and in the private school sector. Dani is currently growing and developing our Prep squad team as well as more swim fit focused sessions and water polo.

Gemma Towner Head of Prep Sport

Gemma has extensive sporting experience, from being a club hockey player and county swimmer, to a county 1500m runner and National League volleyball player touring Europe with the University of Exeter team. With coaching awards in hockey, volleyball, netball, trampolining and swimming, Gemma is also a qualified windsurfing and sailing instructor, and is perfectly placed to lead on Bede’s Prep’s comprehensive and varied sports offer being a qualified teacher with over a decade of experience as a sports lead, focusing on ensuring that everyone has access to the positive physical and mental health benefits that sport brings.

Tony Morriss Head of Strength and Conditioning

Tony is originally from a boxing background and was an ABA National Quarter Finalist and Surrey Champion. He developed his skills to become a High Performance Strength and Conditioning Coach, and specialises in the development of young athletes, sports injuries, prehab and rehab. Tony develops our bespoke strength and conditioning programmes for individuals and sports teams across the Trust.

Sarah Taylor Life Skills and Development Coach

Sarah attended Bede’s Prep School where her passion for cricket was instilled. Sarah became an International Cricketer in 2006 at the age of 17 and went on to play 226 matches, scoring 7 ODI centuries within 6,533 runs, and taking 232 dismissals over a 13 year career, which is the most by any female wicket-keeper. She achieved the following accolades in her professional career: World T20 Champion 2009, World ODI Champion 2009 2017, Ashes Winner three times, T20 World Player of the Year three times and ODI World Player of the Year. Her role at Bede’s works across the sports and year groups to develop pupils’ physical and mental wellbeing.