Coaching Staff
Alicia Hellier MSc, BA (Hons), LTA TDA (Part 3)
Educated at Farnborough Hill and the University of Birmingham (History / Sport and Recreation) and then a post grad MSc (Sociology of Sport), Alicia competed to a good junior level having started playing at Brightwell as child. She then returned to run the coaching in 1998 when there were just a handful of juniors playing. She has achieved all three levels of the LTA coaching awards, first the DCA, then the CCA and finally the TDA which is the highest level available to development coaches and holds a full licence.
She has worked as a teacher (A Level PE and History), led tennis tours to South Africa, worked as a sports journalist writing about football and cricket and is co-author of Sporting Travels of a Karoo Son.
Sarah Saunders LTA CCA (Part 2)
Sarah did not take up playing tennis until she was 14 but quickly progressed to a high level. She played full time for five years, training in Spain and competiting on the satellite circuit as well as in tournaments in France and on the British Tour. She came to Brightwell as a performance coach in 2006 and works with both adults and juniors within the programme. She first completed the DCA (part 1), then the CCA (part 2) performance award and holds an LTA Licence.
Toby Hurt PTR (Instructor)
Toby is a former Brightwell junior who worked as a Tennis Leader before obtaining his PTR coaching qualification. He coaches full time taking both adult and junior groups and individual lessons at Brightwell. He is the lead coach at both Frimley Tennis Club on a Saturday morning and at Frensham Tennis Club on a Monday and Friday evening and also works on the schools programme.
Gemma Wiltshire LTA CC (Part 1)
Gemma worked as a helper at Brightwell before obtaining her PTR (Associate) and then DCA awards (now upgraded to CC qualification). She coaches junior groups at Brightwell and Frensham, holds an LTA Licence and also strings rackets.
Matt Kealy PTR (Instructor)
Matt is coaching at Brightwell in between playing in British Tour events. He is working with some of the performance juniors while trying to improve his own ranking and turn pro over the next two years. He did not play seriously until he was 16 but has since attended several Academys and reached the main draw in Spanish national tournaments.
Kane Connor PTR (Instructor)
Kane played tennis to a high level in Zimbabwe. He joined Brightwell in 2008 and completed his Tennis Leader Award before taking his PTR qualification in the summer of 2009. He coaches after school lessons at Brightwell and at Frimley on a Saturday morning as well as working with the school groups.
Edward Keogh PTR (Associate)
Ed played junior tennis firstly at Frensham and then at Brightwell. He has worked as a Tennis Leader at both clubs and then completed his PTR qualification in 2009. He coaches junior groups at Frensham on a Monday and a Friday.
Harry Carter PTR (Associate)
Harry plays in the Brightwell junior teams and worked as a Tennis Leader before completing his PTR qualification. He coaches junior groups after school at Brightwell and adults at Johnson Wax.
Sam Axton PTR (Associate)
Sam was one of the first performance juniors to come though the programme, starting lessons with Alicia in 1998. He was Surrey Orange champion in 2002 and worked as a Tennis Leader before completing his PTR qualificaiton. Technically he is a Lee Wishnowsky prodigy and will be coaching the junior groups at Brightwell and hitting with the performance players.
Tennis Leaders
The LTA Tennis Leader Awards is an official qualification held by those who assist with the group lessons.
Courses are held every year at Brightwell Tennis Club for 14-18 year olds who are interested in becoming more involved in tennis and developing new skills. It involves ten hours course time and ten hours of practical experience.
