Founder & Director

Lorna Crust

Aquakids was born out of Lorna's inability to find lessons for her then 3-year-old son. She found a pool in Hextable and set up lessons with just herself teaching.

This soon escalated to where it is now, with near on 900 swimmers and a team of fantastic teachers. Still very hands on, Lorna is renowned for knowing every swimmer's name with genuine care for all of their development through their swim lessons.

She's a Swim England tutor and co-founder of Aquability Training delivering Swim England teacher courses and CPDS, a UK Coaching Tutor delivering safeguarding courses and teaches in schools.

Lorna swam competitively for Bexley Swim Club and the Metropolitan Police and has represented the Met in Lifesaving competitions. She is trained as a PE teacher and was privileged to be one of the swim coaches that accompanied the GB Cerebral Palsy Team to the Junior Youth Games in Miami.

She achieved a BEd Honour Degree in PE and has been swimming, teaching, and enjoying the industry for over 30 years – (although don't bring this stat up, as it makes her feel old!) – in a variety of schools in Bromley and Kent including Primary, Secondary and Special Schools.

She currently works with Marjorie McClure Special School, which is one of 50 Lead Inclusion in the country promoting inclusive activities.

As a legacy of her role as School Sports Co-ordinator she still organises Bromley Primary Swim Galas and other various Borough events, training and initiatives.

Lorna was also a Visiting Lecturer at Greenwich University teaching swimming modules to PGCE and Sports Science students.

One of her main interests is developing swimming for those with Special Needs. She has worked alongside the Swim England in the recent development of resources and is excited about developing resources and workshops in this subject area with colleague Alison Bell.

Now on the Board of Liquid Listening, Musical hydrotherapy – which is an amazing therapy benefitting not only SEND swimmers but the wider community – she is looking forward to working with the trustees.

She is also passionate about the educative aspects of swimming and linking it into the National Curriculum and again is looking forward to developing resources to share the knowledge as well as ensuring Aquakids lessons are more than just swimming.