Company Foundation

Julie took up kayaking in 1970 as an activity on the path to the Duke of Edingurgh Award scheme at Silver Level. The activity took a firmer hold and sadly the Silver and Gold awards never materialised as a result. Working to become a British Canoe Union Coach and introducing others to the sport became her focus until 1980 when a keen interest in slalom kayaking took hold.

Recreation white water kayaking took up most of her spare time when not competing in slalom.  Through all of the 1980s and 1990s Julie was heavily involved in the sport at many levels.

She was chair of the Stratford On Avon Kayakists (SOAK) club for more than 10 years, and for much of that time organised up to three BCU Ranking Slalom events each year. She joined the (British) Association of Canoe Trades (ACT) ultimately becoming Chair of the Association. 

During that time she sat on the International Canoe Exhibition organising committee for several years and was also a regular trade exhibitor at the show.  In canoe polo, which took over from slalom as her main competitive interest, she was instrumental in organising the first three outdoor British National Canoe Polo Championships after the loss of the indoor Crystal Palace venue when the International Exhibition moved away from London. 

Today the business demands leave little time for paddling and perhaps retirement looms on the horizon.