Lanehead enjoys a dedicated staff team who work together to provide a safe and welcoming environment for visitors at the centre. All instructional staff hold a valid first aid certificate as do the majority of the domestic and support staff.

The instructional team are highly experienced and well qualified and very adaptable in their approach to the needs of visiting groups.

The instructional team

Janet Prier- Head of Centre

Janet has worked at Lanehead for eighteen years, initially as a teacher and for the past ten years as Head of Centre.

She lives on site with her husband and three young children.

Janet holdsa Summer and Winter ML and Mountain Instructor Award. She is also a level 2 coach for canoe and kayak and an RYA dinghy instructor. She holds a Local Cave Leaders award and is a qualified Mountain bike leader and orienteer instructor.

In her spare time she enjoys mountain biking, being in the mountains and taking her family on outdoor adventures.

  Mac Knowles- Senior Teacher

Mac has been at the centre for thirteen years. He is married with two children and is a keencanoeist and orienteer.

Mac holds a Summer ML and and a Single Pitch award. He is a level 3 kayak coach inland and sea and is working towards his level 5 coach canoe. Mac is a good sailor andholds an RYA senior Instructor certificate . He also holds a local cave leader award and is a qualified orienteer instructor. Mac has a strong interest in how young people learn and is a practitioner in NLP.

Paul Platt- Instructor

Paul is an excellent climber and has climbed all over the world. He is also a keen caverand is one of a select few instructors who hold both a Mountain Instructors Certificate and a Cave Instructors Certificate.

Paul isalso a level 3 sea kayak coach and an RYA dinghy instructor.

Paul has worked at Lanehead for ten years during which time he has got married and become the proud father of a young daughter and son.

  Fiona Drake- Instructor

Fiona has been at Lanehead for five years and is very popular with staff and students alike.Fiona is a keen climber and holds a Single pitch award and a Summer ML and is working towards her Winter ML assessment. She holds a kayak level 2 coach and alocal Cave leaders award. Fiona was formerly a French teacher in a large comprehensive school and this educational background enhances her work at Lanehead OEC

 Phil Longbottom - Instructor

Phil has now joined our team as a permanent member of staff after working here as a freelance instructor over the past year.

He has already become a popular member of the team receiving very positive feedback from both visiting staff and students.

Phil holds both the summer and winter ML, SPA and BCU level 2 canoe and kayak award. He is working towards the caving awards and hopes to undertake the MIA training in the summer.

He is a keen practitioner in his spare time and you will usually find him on a river, a mountain or a crag. If you can't find him there have a look in his local pie shop! 

    Gordon Furness -Instructor 

The Support Team

Most of thesupport team have worked at Lanehead for many years and are all dedicated to provide a high standard of service to all the visitors coming to Lanehead.

Ian Marvin -Chef

Ian'scooking is famous throughout Middlesbrough and he can tempt even the most fussy eaters to try new things.

Sue Parkinson -Assistant Cook

Sue is responsiblefor the Lanehead flapjack and makes syrup sponge to die for!

Molly Fountain
Molly joined the Centre at the beginning of March 2009 and has been invaluable. Her cheerful personality and organisational skills keep the Centre running smoothly. If you have any problems when you visit the Centre, Molly will be there to be help in any way she can. 

The cleaning team of Margaret and Stuart work hard keeping the building clean and welcoming with the support of John the handyman.

Margaret Mc Cartney -Domestic Assistant

Stuart Killicoat -Domestic Assistant 

Jon Woddy -Handyman/Caretaker

Caroline Winsor -Secretary

If you contact Lanehead you will probably get to speak to Caroline in the office who will answer any queries for you and is always keen to help.