Meet the Team

The Active Schools team consists of managers and coordinators that are based around the Borders school clusters. The Borders team consists of a Manager, an Assistant Manager, 7 Primary Coordinators covering 9 local cluster areas, and 3 Secondary Coordinators covering all 9 secondary schools in the region.

Find out more about the Scottish Borders Active Schools team below. You can also download the Active Schools Structure chart here.

Sports and Recreation Manager - Rick Kenney

Rick was brought up in Motherwell and trained as a PE teacher. He also has a Diploma in Management Studies and an MBA. Formerly Director of Leisure Services with Inverclyde Council and CEO of JudoScotland, he moved to the Scottish Borders in 2004 after early retiral.Currently acting as Sport & Recreation Manager with responsibility for Active Schools and Sports Development. A former GB international in judo and wrestling, Rick has attended 5 Commonwealth Games. Interests include mountain biking, judo and reading."

Contact Rick

Active Schools Assistant Manager -

Currenty Vacant

Apply for this post.

Eyemouth and Duns Primary Coordinator - Paddy Dearlove

Paddy has worked in Active Schools for the last 4 years covering the Berwickshire cluster. Based at Eyemouth Primary School Paddy has created a lot of links with clubs, community groups and other professionals across Berwickshire. With the focus now being on creating opportunities through volunteers Paddy is keen to recruit staff, senior pupils and parents. Being a parent of two young boys this should give him some inside information!

Contact Paddy

Earlston Primary Coordinator - Gemma Ross

Originally from Selkirk, Gemma gained a BSc in Sports Science at the University of Edinburgh before heading to Loughborough to complete a Msc in Sports & Exercise Psychology. She now cant wait to get stuck into her role as an Active Schools Coordinator & help create opportunites for young people to be physically active. In her spare time Gemma plays hockey for Fjordhus Borders, supporting the 1st XV Selkirk rugby team and walking her 2 labs in the countryside.

Contact Gemma

Kelso & Jedburgh Primary Coordinator - Debra Martin

Debra is originally from the Borders, she was brought up in Eyemouth and attended Eyemouth High School. After moving to Edinburgh to complete a BSC in Sports and Exercise Science, Debra returned to the Borders in June 08 as the Coaching Development Officer before moving to her post in Active Schools. Debra is keen to share her passion for sport and motivate children and young people to get more active.

Contact Debra

Hawick Primary Coordinator- Suzy Hamilton

Suzy has a BA (Hons) in Sport and Recreation Management from Heriot Watt University. Following her Degree, she spent a couple of years coordinating the physical activity programme at the International School in Belgium. Suzy then worked for four years as an Active Schools Coordinator with the Highland Council, before joining the team in the Scottish Borders.Suzy has a passion for outdoor activities, including Skiing, Hill Walking and running.

Contact Suzy

Selkirk Primary Coordinator - Karen Cornwall

Karen has been in the Selkirk cluster since November 2008. Previously, she worked in the Hawick Cluster as the Active schools coordinator for 2 years. After graduating at Abertay University with a degree in Sport, Health and Exercise, Karen then came back to the borders and took up the post as Active secondary co-ordinator at Hawick and Selkirk High Schools. In her spare time Karen plays hockey for Fjordhus Borders and generally enjoys keeping fit. Her main focus in the Selkirk Cluster is to increase the number of volunteers to provide more activities for the children through lunchtime and after school clubs.

Contact Karen

Gala Primary Coordinator - Graeme Murdoch

Graeme has been in post in the Galashiels Cluster since November 2004. Previously, he worked as a Sports Development Officer in the Scottish Borders for four years. He has a background in Sports Science from the University of Glasgow and in his spare time, he enjoys running and hill walking. He is currently a member of the local running club and also help coach the senior members.

Contact Graeme

Peebles Primary Coordinator - Paul Murray

Paul has been an Active Schools Coordinator in the Peebles cluster since August 2005. After graduating with a sports degree from Jordanhill (Strathclyde University), Paul worked as a Sports Development Officer with Stirling Council for almost 6 years. His current focus is to increase the number of volunteers delivering activity to children through lunchtime and after-school clubs. In his spare time Paul enjoys mountain biking, running and playing golf

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Secondary Coordinator -Marianne O'Brien

Covering Berwickshire, Jedburgh, Kelso, Earlston & Eyemouth

Marianne has been woking with the Borders Active School's team for almost a year and a half, she is now based in 5 High Schools. My main aim along with the active schools team is to get more teenagers more active out with their PE time! and also focus on getting girls more active, and helping get more senior pupils through sporting qualifications - so that they can then help clubs in their local community as well as with the Active Schools programme.

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Secondary Coordinator Gala- Linda Rome

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Secondary Coordinator- Anna Potter

Covering Peebles, Selkirk & Hawick

Anna is the newest member of the Borders Active Schools team covering 3 schools including Peebles, Hawick and Selkirk High Schools. Having grown up in Edinburgh Anna then lived in Australia for a period of time coaching hockey and rowing before returning to Edinburgh to complete a BSc Sport and Exercise Science degree from Napier University. In her spare time Anna enjoys hockey, rowing, running and generally keeping fit. Anna is enthusiastic about sport and is excited to share this enthusiasm with the children and young people so that they can carry it through to adulthood.

Contact Anna

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