Management Team
The Adult and Community Learning Manager and Team Leader lead on key strategies, service delivery and projects.
They are supported by course Development Workers, Business Support staff.
Angela Marshall
Adult and Community Learning Manager
Jenny Wilkes
Team Leader – Adult Learning
Administrative Officers
Maria Chidgey
Business Support Assistant
Sam Spears
Business Support Assistant
Hayley Leonard
Business Support Assistant
Abi Reeve
Learning Centre Assistant
Rachele Piffaretti
Learning Centre Assistant
Development Workers
Veronique Bontemps
Veronique is the curriculum lead and course organiser for Arts, Crafts, Health and Wellbeing, Film Studies, Sewing and Textiles
Marlis Mulder
Marlis is the curriculum lead and course organiser for Languages, ICT, Cookery, Gardening, History and General Interest
Work For Us
We are always on the lookout for new courses and ideas. We welcome expressions of interest from adult learning tutors who are passionate about their subject and interested in sharing and inspiring others to learn.
If you are interested in teaching for us please send us a summary of your skills and experience and the subjects and classes that you would like to offer.
Any vacancies in our management and office team are advertised through the Bristol City Council Job pages.
Lecturers, Tutors and Facilitators
Sheila Broun
Subject: Drawing Techniques for Beginners and Improvers Biography: Drawing is the basis of my art practice. It is the most immediate and enjoyable way of creating images as it requires few materials. Over time it develops concentration, keen observation, and a knowledge of techniques. The famous St Ives artist,
Russell Walker
Subject: American History Russell’s main interest is American history and the development of the US constitution, the American Civil War and the 1960s and the war in Vietnam. He is also interested in the Crusades and medieval history, but that’s a bit difficult to fit into ‘American’ history. Russell is a speech and language therapist […]
Sarah Edwards
Subject: Willow Sculpture I have been teaching craft and willow workshops at Stoke Lodge since 2011 and I love showing people how to turn a pile of sticks into a work of art. I am a designer maker and my particular interest is in creating installations out of willow and recycled materials. I have created […]
Bill Guilding
Bill Guilding is a professional artist and has been teaching drawing part-time for over 10 years. As an artist he has carried out several commissioned public mural paintings and portraits. Bill originally graduated in Fine Art at U.W.E, later qualified as a teacher with a PGCE, and has taught in schools and colleges. Here Bill […]
Roma Widger
Subject: Painting, Drawing and Printmaking I’m Roma Widger, I’m professional art teacher and I have taught Drawing, Painting in all genres, and printmaking for over 20 years. I want to share my professional art secrets with you by delivering my courses online as an opportunity for all students across the UK. I offer group classes […]
Lisa Takahashi
Subject: Linocut and Watercolour Painting I am a Somerset based artist and teacher. Since completing my BA Hons in Fine Art At Middlesex University in 2005, I have worked as a practicing artist, exhibiting my paintings and original prints on a regular basis. Previous exhibitions include the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the Society of Women Artists, […]
Isobel Morris
Subject/s: Pottery, Sculpture, Soapstone Carving, Pastels Creative from my youth, pottery/sculpture making is a lasting passion, first experienced as a teenager at evening classes. Painting and drawing, especially pastels, is another favourite and I am also a keen photographer. Following volunteering, a Sociology degree, co-founding a co-operative restaurant and teacher training, I taught English to […]
Sara Viguera
Subject: Spanish Tutor My name is Sara and I am a native Spanish speaker and an experienced teacher with a passion for languages. I have a MA in English language and literature from the University of Salamanca (Spain) and I have also completed the Spanish Certificate in Language Teaching to Adults. Throughout my career I […]
Rosemary Caldicott
Subject: Family History Research I gained a further education teaching qualification following my masters degree and have taught extensively as a university lecturer in history and research. I now specialise in social and political history having a key interest in workhouse records, and exploring how the concept of the family has changed throughout modern history. […]
Caroline Davenport
Subject: Spanish I studied French and Spanish at degree level, gained a PGCE and then an MA in Translation. I have lots of experience teaching Modern Languages in both the adult and secondary sectors. I have taught at all levels from complete beginner to A level. In my classes there is an emphasis on communication […]
Eve Bechmann-Johnson
Subject(s): French and Bilingualism Originally from Paris, I have settled in Bristol and have been running classes at Stoke Lodge for many years in addition to private teaching and teaching French in businesses. I am passionate about languages and I love to share my knowledge of the French language and culture. I am interested in […]
Laura Geraci
Subject: Italian Language and Culture I am Italian, grew up in Sicily and came to England in 1999 inspired by a great love for traveling and for foreign languages. Having finished my language degree in Exeter I completed my PGCE and began teaching. In 2005 I started running Italian evening classes and I have been […]
Lorna Watson
Subject(s): Bridge and IT. I have taught Bridge since 2006 and love introducing new people to this fascinating game. I love seeing the friendships develop among my classes as well as seeing how bridge gives people a new challenge to keep the mind active! I have played bridge socially and as a club member for about […]
Christel Stoecker-Danby
Subjects: German Hallo, ich heiße Christel! Having been born and bred in a rural area near Cologne, I have also lived and worked in Bonn, Stuttgart and Zürich, before settling in England. I love teaching my mother tongue, German, to adults using lots of different activities and games to consolidate the learning. On German Days […]
Philippa Winkler
Subject: History, International Relations I have a History BA from London School of Economics and a PhD from University of Bristol. My main interests are women-centred societies and current geopolitics. I have taught at university for twenty years with an emphasis on open debate and multiple viewpoints. Much of my adult life was spent in […]
Lorraine Joseph
Subject – Dressmaking & textiles My name is Lorraine Joseph and I have worked for the Bristol Adult Learning Service for many years delivering Dressmaking classes and a variety of Saturday Sewing Workshops. As a Designer/Dressmaker I specialise in Wedding and Special Occasion Wear. My reward as a tutor is to pass on my skills […]
Marilyn Mitchelmore
Coming from a family of glove makers in Wales, I’ve always been keen on sewing. I find the benefits of sewing to be vast! Sewing can be calming as well as teaching us patience.
Julián Segura
Subject: Spanish I’ve been teaching Spanish for more than 8 years in Bristol in public and private institutions and have taught all levels from GCSE and A-level, up to advanced and conversational classes. I use modern communicative methods when I teach which helps immerse students in the language. We always have fun and I make […]
Luz Marina Lecomte
Subject: Spanish I am a graduate of the University of Tolima in Colombia, my native country, where I earned a degree in Modern languages specialising in teaching English and Spanish as a second/foreign language. My most recent achievement has been my PGCE, Level M, course with UWE. During the last fifteen years, I have taken […]
Laurel Smart
Subjects: Painting and Drawing – Space for Creativity: Acrylic, Watercolour, Mixed Media, I have taught painting in schools, colleges, universities and, since 1983, in Adult Education. I have built up a wealth of knowledge about how people learn and how to create a friendly and productive learning environment. I have taught structured courses in which […]
Eric Smith
Subject: Maths Café I have taught Mathematics for over 30 years and still have an enthusiasm to communicate with others about this fascinating subject. There is always something new to discover! I have a degree from Cambridge University and a PGCE teaching qualification from Bristol University. I am looking forward to teaching the Maths Café […]
Christine Pritchard
Subject/s: Gardening and Garden Design I worked as an under-gardener at Showerings in Shepton Mallet before going to horticultural college. In 1987 I came back to Somerset to start my own landscape design business. I received my MA in environmental policy and management from UWE, where I focused my dissertation on landscaping barn conversions. Following […]
Mary Kelly
Subject: Painting in acrylic, watercolour, mixed media, making handmade paper and sculpture. I am a qualified Art teacher / Artist, with a degree in fine art-painting and a teachers’ certificate. I have 23 years teaching experience across the country in galleries, schools and adult education centres. This has included working for national parks, outdoor pursuit […]
Sarah Andrzejewski
Subject: French Tutor Bonjour et enchantée! I am a French native and a passionate language teacher with 8 years of experience. I was born in La Rochelle and I have studied and taught in Poitiers, Paris and Bristol. I have qualified teacher status in both France and England. My teaching is based on a communicative approach […]
Debby Bird
Subject/s: Textiles – Embroidery, Knitting, Crochet and Felt Making I am an experienced teacher and textile artist having taught for over 30 years. I have had many exhibitions with my textiles and mixed media work worked as an artist in residence. I love colour and use layers and exquisite details in my pictures and embroidered […]
Gorka Diaz
Subject: Spanish I grew up in Pamplona, North of Spain, where I went to university and gained my degree in Philosophy. After finishing my PGCE, I moved to Denmark where I worked as a Spanish teacher. Then, I spent two years at Eastern Michigan University where I pursued my Masters in American Literature and worked […]
Ann Huntley
Subject: Sewing My early enthusiasm for making clothes was ignited when my grandmother allowed me to take her tailored suits apart. I had my first sewing machine at the age of ten; by fourteen I was following the latest fashions and making my own clothes. I went on to gain a City & Guilds in […]
Marika Parisi
Subject: Italian Tutor I am an Italian native from Sicily, but grew up between Turin and Milan, so I know very well the culture of very different parts of Italy. I worked for two years in Rome as a tourist guide. After that I came back to Sicily where, in Siracuse, I ran my own […]
John Stevens
Subject: History A lawyer by profession until my retirement in 2013, I have a lifelong interest in history and an enthusiasm to communicate and share this interest by both the spoken and written word. My interests are wide and include in particular the Stuart era in Britain and nineteenth century English and European political history. […]
Mariví O’Leary
Subject: Spanish I have worked in adult/community education for a number of years. At Stoke Lodge, I have taught my mother tongue, Spanish, at all levels. I have also run Spanish theme days, Spanish cookery classes, Spanish discussions and Spanish film days. At present I teach intermediate level Spanish and advanced conversational Spanish. In my classes, you […]
Charles Prior
Charles is known for a practical and thoughtful approach to space and colour, always allowing the client’s personality to come through in each interior environment. Charles has operated an Interior Design Business for almost 25 years in Australia and the UK. An acclaimed interior designer Charles has been featured in several high profile publications. Passionate […]
Nicky Hamilton
Subject: Upholstery My first experience with upholstery began in an evening class over 20 years ago, I loved it and was hooked. I gave up my job as a Physio and embarked on a full-time, 2 year, City and Guilds course in Upholstery which I passed with distinction. Once the course was over I set up a business with a […]
Jason Loh
Subject – Japanese Garden Design I was born in Singapore and lived in South-East Asia for 21 years. Following the 2009 financial crisis, I left a decade-long career as a property lawyer and retrained at Oxford in Landscape & Garden Design. After winning an RHS silver medal at BBC Gardener’s World Show Garden competition for […]
Barbara Disney
Subject: Printmaking I have many years experience of running courses, workshops and creating public art within a socially engaged practice. As a printmaker I work on a variety surfaces, including textiles, paper, porcelain and enamelling metal.
Stefanie Weller
Subject – German Hello, I am Stefanie! I teach German as a Foreign Language and I have worked in a variety of different schools in Germany and England. I am originally from Stuttgart but have been living in Bristol for the last seven years. I love teaching German and it is great to see my […]
Matthew Heyse-Moore
Subject: Music I have been listening to music for as long as I can remember, playing my parents’ records and receiving piano lessons from my Grandma. Later I had more formal lessons in clarinet and piano, but still remember how much I learnt from that journey of discovery, listening to and reading about music, and […]
Richard Stride
Subject: History My passion for studying the past led me into a teaching career at a leading Bristol school. My interests range across the centuries but with two degrees in Ancient History I have decided to run my Stoke Lodge courses on aspects of the ancient world. This is an exciting subject area as we […]
Nen Crosby
Subject(s): Tai chi and Qi gong (gentle exercise) Every day I feel the benefits of doing Tai chi, of slowly improving my posture, being able to relax my mind and body, breathing more deeply, using my body more efficiently – I feel it boosts my general wellbeing. I teach because I love to see other people […]
Warren Sealey
Subject: Art Warren Sealey is a classically trained artist who works in oil paint, watercolour, pastel and various drawing media. He first trained at the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto Canada before moving on to Florence Italy where he remained for four years studying at various schools in the city. This has given him […]
Kathryn Delve
Kathryn Delve British Master Florist BSc Hons, ACIB, MDPF, AIFD, IOPFAF I am an independent British Master Florist, tutor and floral demonstrator based in North Somerset. I studied at ‘The British Academy of Floral Art’ achieving a Master’s Diploma in Floristry. I have had the opportunity to demonstrate in the USA, where I achieved American […]