S&PAProfessional / Summer 2020
LAST WORD SPORTING LIFE
WATER BABIES HEAD LOSES BATTLE Steve Franks, CEO and managing director of Water Babies, and CIMSPA Chartered Fellow, passes away after contracting Covid-19 teve Franks, CEO and managing director of Water Babies, died on 30 April from complications after contracting Covid-19. He also was a CIMSPA Chartered Fellow. As a fit and healthy 58-year-old with a zest for life, his death has shocked and devastated friends and colleagues alike. The level of tributes that poured in at the news of Steve’s death is a measure of the esteem in which he was held. RLSS UK’s director of commercial operations Jo Talbot sums up the feelings of many. “I was saddened to hear of the passing of Steve,” she says. “It was a pleasure to work collaboratively with him. His passion and enthusiasm for both Water Babies and the sector were inspiring… His work, developing highly developed swimming programmes for babies and pre-school children leaves a legacy, one which RLSS UK will continue to champion.” Steve began his career as a lifeguard at 21, before putting himself through higher education, starting at Newcastle College. He completed a postgraduate diploma in management
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studies and went on to study for an MBA at Staffordshire University. In keeping with his belief that you can never stop learning, Steve graduated from the London Stock Exchange’s Elite Senior Executive Development Programme at Imperial College Business School as recently as 2018. His first management role came in 1997 as leisure services manager with Lichfield District Council. He then spent over 20 years in senior management roles across both the private and public sectors, including international experience gained in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China and the Caribbean. Having spent six years as operations director of the Swimming Teachers Association, he joined Water Babies in 2009. Steve was an inspirational leader, as founder of the innovative swim experience organisation Paul Thompson can attest to: “He was compassionate and always there to support our people, partners and customers. His vision and dream was to see a government minister for children
“His passion and enthusiasm for both Water Babies and the sector were inspiring”
appointed, and to make parliament sit up and realise that the future of our world lies within our children. He championed the first 1001 Critical Days Manifesto, was an active member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood, and wanted every child to have the best possible start in life.” Of Steve’s tireless campaigning, Thompson adds: “He would regularly beat down doors in Westminster to anyone who would listen to our Children First movement. He created The Children First Alliance to fundraise and support the social good of the early years, believing in a world where the physical and emotional development of every child should be fully supported and nurtured from birth.” An essential player in advancing the baby and toddler swimming industry,
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