Meet the PEACH team

Ashley Cooper

Being a bit older than the others, this is my third career! I was originally a cell biologist and then worked in industry for a while before joining the department here in Bristol. I have been working on physical activity and health ever since and it is a hugely enjoyable area in which to research and teach. My main interest is to understand the factors that influence children’s physical activity but I also work with adults with illnesses such as type 2 diabetes to understand how being active can improve their health.

My main role on PEACH is to explore what the activity monitor and GPS can tell us. I have worked with activity monitors for about 10 years now but GPS, and combining the information from the two machines, is really new technology. There are lots of interesting challenges to overcome!

I run and cycle regularly and despite the odd ache still go out several times per week. Bristol is fantastic for running – the Downs, Leigh Woods and Ashton Court all provide scenic places to potter round. My main running activity is orienteering and I can frequently be found in nylon pyjamas clutching a map and compass (above left). Orienteering is truly a sport that anyone can have a go at as demonstrated by my niece (right) and if you want to find out more visit the Bristol Orienteering website. My latest enthusiasm is adventure racing – a combination of mountain biking, trail running and kayaking – and my annual “big challenge” is to run a mountain marathon in October. Phew – maybe time for a bit of a sit down………

Angie Page

I have been working at the University of Bristol for 14 years so that probably makes me old (although not as old as Ashley Cooper!). My research has always focused on young people’s diet and physical activity and PEACH is a great example of putting it all together.

I try to practice what I preach and walk to and from work every day which takes about 40 minutes each way. I also encourage my own children to walk to school whatever the weather. Apart from the odd drenching from the rain I really enjoy the walk as it helps me get my brain in gear on the way to work and to relax on the way home. We also have an allotment and more recently four chickens so plenty of fresh food! But I'm not perfect - my capacity for chocolate consumption is considerable but I'm working on it....

Becky Crump

I have been interested in exercise and health since a young age which led to me studying it at university. After a couple of years working within the health industry for BUPA Wellness I decided it was time to go back to studying. I went to the University of Exeter and did a masters specialising in children's exercise and health. I put my newly learnt knowledge into practice out in the field working for a local authority on a number of projects, including after school clubs, weight management, Sure Start centres, walking initiatives. Now I find myself here as the newest member of the PEACH team with the task of collecting all the data from the PEACH participants.

I try and put my knowledge into practice personally as well. After 24 years of dancing I finally hung up my dance shoes back in March 2010, having enjoyed learning the arts of ballet, tap, modern and Irish. I recently started playing basketball again for a local team, I started playing when at school and continued throughout university but then stopped. I can be found most weekends at the Bristol Climbing Academy, I really enjoy the challenge of trying to get to the top of a route, although I am still on the easy ones! I also like to escape the city and head for the north Devon coastline with my surfboard and catch some waves in the freezing cold English waters.....

Where are they now?

Previous members of the PEACH team have moved on to new roles. Many of you will have met Pippa and Laura - here's what they are doing now.

Pippa Griew

Pippa worked as a researcher on the PEACH project from May 2006 to August 2009. She is now completing her PhD where her particular area of interest is investigating how schools can influence the health behaviours and decisions made by young people.

Before joining the PEACH project Pippa worked on the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme helping to implement the scheme across primary schools in the South West of England, and also worked on a range of other government schemes including Sure Start and Children’s Centres. She is now at Exeter University.

Laura Davis

Laura did a BSc in Exercise and Health Sciences at Portsmouth University, followed by an MSc in Physical Activity and Health at Loughborough University. She then worked for the MRC on DASH, a study into the social health and well-being of ethnic minority teenagers in London and in May 2006 started work on the PEACH Project. Laura is still in Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences in Bristol, where she now works on the Bristol Girls Dance Project.

Ben Wheeler

Ben helped us a lot with mapping the GPS data, making maps of where people were physically active and relating them to maps of other features, such as green spaces or different types of neighbourhood. He is still helping with the project but is now based in Truro where he is a Research Fellow in the Environment and Human Health.

Ben has a background in environmental science and public health research, and his particular interest is in applying Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to studies of health, particularly looking at environmental and social impacts (good and bad) on public health.

Ben: "In my spare time I try to use maps to find my way around on my mountain bike, which means I often end up carrying it through muddy bogs in mid-Wales. I also spend time helping out in my friend's woodland, doing jobs such as splitting firewood and making charcoal, which means I get to spend more time outside, where I'd usually rather be!"