The Staff

Jason Thompson
Tomo has been involved in skydiving for over 16 years and has over 8500 jumps and is a multi world record holder. Prior to UK Parachuting Tomo served for 15yrs in the Parachute regiment 10 of which in the Pathfinder Platoon, qualified in military HALO/HAHO and Military Tandem. Currently UK Parachuting Club Chief Instructor ratings held British Parachute Association Advanced Instructor/Accelerated Freefall Instructor/Tandem Instructor/Category System Instructor/Advanced Packer/Canopy piloting coach. Also holds rating under the United States Parachute Association.

Grant Richards
Grant has been involved in skydiving for over 18 years and has amassed over 7000 jumps. Prior to UK Parachuting Grant served for 22 years with the Royal Air Force as a Physical Training and Parachute Jumping Instructor, teaching the British Armed Forces all aspects of military jumping, from static line to high altitude free fall parachuting, to tandem parachuting tuition. He is British Parachute Association (BPA) and United Parachute Association (USPA) accelerated free fall instructor, tandem instructor, free fall coach and canopy piloting coach. Grant is also a BPA parachute pilot and the the Club Chief pilot at UK Parachuting(Sibson).

Tim Skinner
15 years in the Parachute Regiment 12 of which in the Red Devils Freefall display team, Tim has over 6000 skydives. Likes hot curry and fishing in his spare time.

Stu Murtha
Formally a physical and adventure training instructor in the forces for 12 years. Stu is now UKPS(B) AFF coordinator and Canopy handling/piloting instructor. Stu's main Interest are cycling,surfing and Canopy piloting. Stu's always around at the DZ to give advice and help out.

Paul Newton
I have been involved in skydiving on and off for the past 10 yrs and have over 900 jumps. I am currently running the Photographic business at UK Parachuting and if requested, ‘Snapped Event Photography’ can provide DVD’s and Photographs of your Skydive. I previously served in the Royal Air Force as Airman Aircrew operating on Chinook Helicopters and C17 Transport Aircraft.

Andy Page
I did my first jump at 4 pm Thursday afternoon 24th may 1978. Yes, I know, probably before most of you where born. I started working at UKPS 2 years later as Instructor / Rigger. I Took my first Tandem Passenger in 1984, Straight after being a test passenger for my Then boss Tony Knight, & that jump included my first & last malfunction as a passenger. Since then I've done 7000 jumps, 3500+ of these Tandems. When not Tandem jumping, & when I can sneak passed Tomo, I like to fun jump. Anything really & I've even been known to pay for some. FS bigways, freefly, free style,wing suits, camera, tracking, Demo's & mild swooping. Have done a lot of CRW & some skysurfing, but not for some time( too scary). As the Centre's Rigger I look after all the parachute equipment, keeping it in tip top condition, plus anything else that breaks or stops working. I am known for being laid back & relaxed, & definitely the best looking instructor in the northern hemisphere. I'll look forward to seeing you at the DZ soon.

Stephanie Wilkins
After doing my first Parachute Jump as a one off in 1987. I became well and truly hooked and more than thirteen years later i have amassed around 8000 jumps, having worked on and off full time in the sport. As one of the newer members of the UK Parachuting Team and having worked at several centres in the past. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone coming for a skydive, and can definately say its the most friendliest places to fall from a aeroplane in the country.

Gavin Rixon
I learnt to skydive with the owners of UK Parachuting Tomo and Grant in 2003. I originally signed up for the one jump and by the end of the week i had completed my AFF course, and since then i have not stopped jumping, and have been working my way up the skydiving totem pole to reach the positions of FS coach CH coach and camera flyer. Recently i have completed my Accelerated Freefall Basic Instructors and of course iam Tandem Insructor.

Steve Wickham
Having done my 1st skydive back in 1991, when I still had a full head of hair, I quickly became addicted to the sport. After a break from the sport I began jumping again in 2005 with UK Parachuting. Since this time I have progressed from Club Jumper to Camera Man and FS Coach and am now very proud to be a qualified Tandem Instructor. I am also part of the famous entertainment committee and can normally be found winding my good friend Gavin Rixon up! (For the record I AM much further up the skydiving totem pole than he…)

Ben Thorsen
I have been flying since my early twenties, and enjoy every aspect of aviation. I have been flying the caravan at UK Parachuting for the past 4 years and i am currently UK Parachuting Chief Pilot.

Richard Thompson
Rick AKA (Real Boy) Firstly the owner would like to make one thing clear that Richard is not his brother!! I joined UK Parachuting in September 2010 having had a lay off from the sport for 5 years now flying camera full time on the camera pool. I am one of the full time staff at UK Parachuting helping out in the office on a day to day basis.

Nada Affsharian
Having left the Parachute Regiment in January 2011 after 25 years, i am now one of the full time instructors here at UK Parachuting, currently i am an Advanced instructor AFF and tandem instructor and in January 2012 will be the clubs new Club Chief Instructor.

John O'Connell aka "Irish"
Flying since his early teens, John is Best known for flying the infamous "Black Beaver". He is a BPA pilot examiner with over 6000 para drops to his credit but he has never taken the leap and vows never to jump from a perfectly serviceable aircraft! John first worked with Tomo and Grant in 2002 at Weston on the Green and today his day job is flying the mighty Citation X " fastest civilian aircraft in the world".

Barry Bremner
I learnt to skydive in 1999 after an initial introduction with a tandem skydive in 1995. I have been involved with UK Parachuting since 2005 as a fun jumper and later working in operations and now as a Tandem Instructor and cameraman. I like to travel abroad to jump and develop my skills as well see new places."

Simon Barrett
Just got back into the sport after a 3 years lay off(From taking a down winder and scaring the life out of myself) but its great to be back with the team from UK Parachuting and the new facility in Beccles its awesome. Currently packing parachutes at w/ends and its been a great season.