Meet the Team
Closer to the Edge Ltd is directed by Mel Ellis, ex RAF Squadron Leader, who specialised in Physical Education, leadership and military parachute instruction for his 16-year Service career. and Greg Brookes-Clayton, an educator with 16 years teaching experience. Mel and Greg now manage a growing number of permanent staff and an extensive associate network of talented serving and ex-military Physical Training Instructors and teachers who all share common goals: delivering education and training in the outdoors to make a positive change to the individual and the team.
Mel Ellis
Team Director
Mel graduated with BEd (hons) in Physical Education and English in 1989. Prior to joining theRAF as a Physical Education Officer he taught PE in the North Midlands. Throughout his military career he has, for the most part, been involved in the delivery of leadership, fitness, adventurous training and military parachuting to personnel from all three Services. Mel has also worked directly with the British Army as a parachute specialist officer, and also led the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team in the late 90s. More recently he commanded the Physical Training Squadron at RAF College Cranwell, responsible for getting trainee officers fit to lead. He also commanded the RAF’s No 1 Parachute Training School before leaving the Service to start Closer to the Edge Ltd in 2006
Greg Brookes-Clayton
Educational Director
Greg graduated with BEd (hons) in Physical education and Geography in 1990. He has been teaching in full time education for 17 years and has held posts across all Key Stages in both mainstream and special schools. His most recent post was Head of a Key Stage 2 Pupil Referral Unit in Derby City, a very challenging but rewarding role. Greg has always loved the outdoors, enjoying hill walking and scrambling in Britain, Europe and the Himalayas. Throughout his career he has been involved in the organisation and delivery of outdoor and adventurous activities. He is a fervent believer that young people should be given the opportunity to learn in a positive way outside the classroom using a variety of intelligences and personal skills to foster personal development. Greg’s philosophy is straightforward ‘Learning should be dynamic, holistic and fun.’ When approached by Mel and invited to join Closer to the Edge Ltd, Greg grasped the opportunity so that he could direct and deliver quality education and learning experiences beyond the boundaries of the classroom.
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| Mitch Bowen - Instructor | Mark Lacey - Instructor | Sam King - Instructor | r |
Sally Ellis
Sally runs the Little Studio on Kinver High Street where she produces her own original art . she will also point you in the right direction if you have more detailed requirements. Sally acts as the Cavalry and comes to the rescue to assist with archery, mobile climbing, tea and bacon sandwiches. Check out Sally's website or visit her at the Little Studio if you want to see her art for yourself.
Contact Sally
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Ali Glendinning |
Mark Lovatt |
Paul Shipley |
Steve Davies |
Adie Simms |
Jon Pulford |
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Dave Thornton |
Stick Ballard |
Ali Glendinning
Ali Glendinning has served 9 years in the RAF, he left to begin an association with Closer to the Edge alongside his own business in May 2008. After joining as a Physical Training Instructor he qualified as an Adventurous Personal Development Instructor and spent his last three years at one of the RAF’s Force Development Training Centres in mid Wales. Here he trained groups in team development, facilitation skills and leadership training. He is a master practitioner of the Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI) and a practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming, Belbins Team Roles, Hermann Brain Dominance Indicator (HBDI) and Transactional Analysis. Ali has also lead various groups on adventurous training activities across Europe and to the arctic circle, where he named a mountain after the church he was married in. When there is spare time Ali enjoys spending time with his family, rugby and skiing.
Mark Lovatt
Mark Lovatt is a Physical Education Officer in the RAF who has mastered personal, team and leadership development through the medium of outdoor activities. He has also been involved in the instruction of fitness, sport and survival training. Latterly Mark has overseen all leadership training at the RAF College, Cranwell following his active involvement of a recent review of how the RAF delivers training to its future leaders. He has also designed and delivered the staff 'Train the Trainer' Course. He is extensively qualified as an Adventurous Training Instructor and is currently studying for an MBA, Mark uses what is left of his spare time in his attempts to learn to play the guitar and spend time with his family.
Stick Ballard
Originally from Devon, Stick Ballard has served as an Adventurous Training Instructor in the RAF for 17 years. He has accrued 10 years of experience in the RAF’s Force Development Training Centres in Scotland and Wales, training groups in facilitation skills, team dynamics and leadership. He is a Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming and a practitioner of Transactional Analysis, Belbin's Team Roles and the Strength Deployment Inventory. His passion for the mountains and adventure has seen him on expeditions from Dartmoor to the Nepal Himalaya. He is a Level 3 Coach in Kayaking, Canoeing, and Sea Kayak, holds the Mountain Leader Winter qualification, Level 2 Ropes Course Instructor, and is a Mountain Bike Leader.
Jon Pulford
Jon Pulford, having completed 20 years service in the RAF as a Physical Education Officer, left to join a Corporate Training and Events company in Norwich where clients included Norwich Union, Virgin Group, BT, and many more. He presently fulfils a role as the head of Sports Recreation and Training at a large vocational College in North Norfolk while still operating as a Training Consultant for companies and organisations as the Princes Trust, AMEC, Construction Industry Training, P&O, the RAF and others. In his busy schedule Jon is still involved in the sports mental and physical preparation of a National League Rugby Team, North Walsham in Norfolk and swims for the Norwich and Norfolk masters swim team. Jon is married with two teenage daughters (resulting in the grey hair!) and a motorbike.
Steve Davies
Born in North Wales, Steve Davies joined the RAF back in 1992 as a Physical Training Instructor. After several years in the gymnasium he specialised in Adventurous Training and found himself back in Wales teaching outdoor activities and personal development to officers and airmen. As a parachute jump instructor he is currently a member of the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team, based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. He is also a military freefall instructor who takes part in around 100 freefall and parachute displays around the UK and abroad each year as well as teaching all methods of parachuting to the UK's Airborne Forces.
Paul Shipley
Paul Shipley has served in the RAF for the last 15 years as a Physical Training Instructor. During this time he has been heavily involved in the delivery of Adventurous Training and Personal Development and has instructed Service personnel at the RAF’s Force Development Training Centre. He has also been actively involved in the design and delivery of a refined fitness package fpr the RAF's trainee officers, he is now responsible for coordinating and instructing the sport and adventuros training of University Air Squadron students in the North West. Paul is a keen sportsman who enjoys disco dancing, playing and coaching rugby, mountaineering and rock climbing.
Adie Simms
Born in Derby, Adrian is currently a Facilities and Operations Manager with the Royal Corps Of Signals, the communications specialists of the British Army. Having joined the Army in 1985 as a boy soldier, he has enjoyed a career of diversity, progression and managerial responsibility. A Member of the British Institute of Facilities Management (MBIFM), and currently studying for the Health and Safety General Certificate (NEBOSH). World wide military deployments and organising and teaching Outdoor Activities have taken him into this field. Now at the end of his present career, his is progressing on his strengths. Adventurous activities within the Army have taken him to most European countries, lots of Wales and he has completed the highest Trek in the world at Everest. Recently qualified as a Mountain Leader this has centralised his skills within a recognised qualification, where he can again progress and make the best use of his assets and skills within Outdoor Activities. Adrian is married with a 7-year-old daughter and resides in Stourbridge.
Dave Thornton
Currently serving in the RAF as a Physical Training Instructor, Dave has a wealth of experience in the outdoor environment. He recently returned from Chile where he led an expedition over an 18-day period through the Torres del Paine National Park, he has also led groups in NZ, Peru, USA, Canada and extensively in Europe. He has completed many tours at various RAF units, including a 4-year spell at RAF Fairbourne Force Development Centre, delivering personal development training in the outdoors to RAF recruits. A keen sailor in his spare time, Dave conducts yacht sailing instruction in the Solent to keen novices.