TYF Staff
In 1986 Andy and Sarah Middleton opened the doors to the world of adventure and starting building what is today one of the most forward thinking adventure businesses in the world.
TYF has attracted some truly inspiring people over the past couple of decades, helping us to build on the solid foundations laid by Andy & Sarah early doors.
The current team are no exception. A mix of hugely talented adventure guides, creative office cats with big hearts, a crew of retail experts with a world of fashion and product knowledge at their fingertips and a corporate development team with fire in their bellies making businesses realise what ‘good for the planet’ really looks like.
Andy & Sarah Middleton
Founders and owners of TYF, Andy & Sarah were born with salt water in their blood and started TYF in 1986. Whilst Andy is still an ever present at Adventure HQ and still ative director, Sarah’s path has taken her on a fantastic journey. She is an experienced and caring therapist and healer who works from a wonderful treatment space overlooking the ocean on the Pembrokeshire coast in West Wales. Clients visit her here for one-off or regular visits for Reiki, Journey Therapy or The Work and she also travels to work at other centres in Wales or mainland Europe. She has spent many years studying mind, body, spirit medicine and is trained and accredited by Brandon Bays and Byron Katie, acknowledged leaders in their field.
Andy is a third generation entrepreneur and innovator. He’s worked as a gold miner, lifeboat crew, sea kayak coach, organisation development consultant and business director. Inspired by social and environmental justice and armed with a combination of instinct and conviction, he founded TYF in 1986 is currently spending much time on co-developing the Do Lectures, which he runs with David Hieatt, and on the launch of a ground-breaking Biomimicry Innovation Centre in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and colleagues at consultancy BCI.
Andy works to help organisations change inside out; sustainability and climate programmes with Business in the Community, the Welsh Assembly and Chinese government are starting to show the way that learning and change can be achieved. He is a Council Member of Countryside Council for Wales and a Board Member of Cynnal Cymru-Sustain Wales, and lives with his family on the coast in St Davids, Pembrokeshire, where he recently completed the design and build of an eco house near the surf.
jon haylock
activity operations manager
Head Guide and seasoned kayaker Jon has been a fantastic addition to the family. After many years paddling some of the most extreme rivers in Scotland and taking people on guided sea trips around the world he decided to settle in Pembrokeshire, much to our delight! You might recognise Jon from his numerous TV appearances showing his array of adventure skills on camera! Jon led Countryfiles Julia Bradbury out to the bitches last year and had some wonderful compliments from the whole crew.
alice middleton
booking office manager / schools coordinator
Al has been Coasteering since she could walk and is often found sharing waves with the local crew at Whitesands. She spends her days in the busy high street office ensuring our customers get everything they need. Definitely the most creative cat, Alice has a great eye for all things design. Her home baked Welsh cakes are keeping the team stoked and full of energy!
ross beese
marketing manager
Marketing manager Ross moved to Pembrokeshire from the South Wales Valleys when he fell in love with surfing eight years ago. He travelled a fair bit before planting his feet firmly in Pembrokeshire and has put everything into ensuring TYF are one of the worlds leading sustainable adventure providers. A passionate representative for Surfers Against Sewage and laid back longboarder, you’ll often find Ross cruising the local waves with a big smile.
nayfe sj
project manager
Nayfe is the complete all rounder, booking office co-ordinator, design guru, whizz kid, project manager and superb singer/songwriter. Always there with a hug and a coffee when you need it most! He’ll be busy in 2012 developing TYF headquarters and making sure TYF are at the cutting edge of Technology.
gayle perrie
shop manager
Gayle is the shop manager and has been working at TYF for 6 years. Gayle is the buyer for the shop and picks some great clothes and footwear out from White Stuff, Patagonia, Merrell, Mudd and Water and Rapanui. Gayle has a huge responsibility to try and green our supply chains and shop from companies who have low impact if any on the environment.
hayley stevens
shop assistant
Hayley was born in Haverfordwest and has always lived in St Davids. She has a great eye for fashion and likes a boogie!
nick barthorpe
senior instructor
Nick’s easygoing nature hides a deep passion for caring for the environment. Coupled with extensive knowledge of the adventure potential of the St Davids peninsular, he has a lifetime’s experience getting out to play in the outdoors and has matured in to an excellent adventure guide. We are delighted to have him back with us for his 5th season after his winter in Australia working as a surf coach.
rob simms
instructor
Rob is our resident fish, former swim coach turned Coasteer guide who can’t get enough of being in the water. He has also spent valuable time driving our education programmes by getting out to schools and delivering assemblies and lessons on innovation and sustainable futures.
sam nunn
instructor
Sam is a passionate and accomplished climber who can be found out on the crags most evenings training and pushing his limits. Over the last few seasons he has developed into an excellent guide, with his cheeky sense of fun and adventure becoming infectious whilst out leading groups coasteering an climbing.
dean bird
instructor
Dean is the typical, well travelled “Bronzed Aussie”, and a new addition to TYF this year. Since hailing from the colder waters of Victoria, the transition to working in ‘refreshing’ waters of Pembrokeshire has been surprisingly smooth. His love for the Ocean, in particular surfing, has landed him in exotic places such as The Philippines, El Salvador and Peru. It is his passion for experiential learning and working with children as an Outdoor and Environmental Education Teacher (all levels) and Instructor in Australia that brings him to TYF in 2012 to work with our fantastic crew and dramatic coastline.