I recently met with Andy Webb, owner of the Kent Surf School. We sat on a bench just outside what Andy calls “his office”, the amazing Viking Bay in Broadstairs, Kent, on a very cloudy Saturday morning. Towards the end of the interview, the wind had blown the clouds away and the sun was shining, the sea was glimmering. We talked about family, doing multiple jobs, passion and community.
Andy is incredibly down-to-earth, a very modest man with a beautiful wife who supports him and their two lovely girls, Alana (pictured below) and Betsy (11 and 9).
Andy’s journey began with the idea of buying a beach cafe’ when, out of the blue, a friend suggested buying the Surf School which turned out to be a reality for Andy and his family!
The school has been going a while, since 2005 in fact, and Shaggy, as his friends know him (“I was very skinny with long hair and a camper van when I was younger”) bought what was, in essence, a little garage used for storage and turned it into what is now a well known school and also a club.
After getting support from the Council and more and more people got to the know the School, Shaggy never looked back and the rest, as they say, is history.
There was, of course, a lot of hard work involved, but Andy and his wife, Gemma, built something that is not just a Surf School, but an important focal point for the community, especially when it comes to helping kids with disabilities.
Being a “soul surfer” since the age of 10, Andy is absolutely passionate about what he does and what the School means to him and everyone that uses it. He told me that when he was younger only a few people surfed, nowadays one can get access to wet suits and boards easily and the whole experience is very affordable although Andy does recommend having a lesson first allowing one to acquire a sea safety knowledge which is essential. There are rip currents, winds dangers and general hazard to learn before one can go paddling out at sea.
A basic kit can include a surf board for about £100 and a wet suit for approximately £20, but Andy reminds me that there are rules to every sport and these are learnt during the lessons.
There are “snaking rules” and “dropping rules” to learn, which has all to do with paddling out and dropping in in front of people and knowing exactly when or not to do this. I tell Andy “a bit like driving then and knowing when it is one’s right of way or not”. Andy smiles and agrees.
A soul surfer and great family man, it is clear that surfing is a big passion for Andy, but of his own admission, he tells me that, Gemma supports him all the way, taking responsibilities for the two children, one of whom was born at 23 weeks premature and has become a very good surfer with determination and strength.
Being a proud dad and recognising the need for giving children with disabilities the space and support to surf, Andy has also begun a parallel journey in creating a GoFundme page to buy equipment to adapt surf boards so that, children that need to, can then sit in and go out on the board safely.
What makes Shaggy happy then? “It means bringing people together, sharing a passion, being welcoming to everyone, building something together, giving something out of one’s own time, putting it together and creating something new”.
There is no “average day” in the life of Andy Webb though, he tells me he has always something to do, “in my head I am a busy person, I suffer from dyslexia so I am a different type of thinker, I am training to be with the ambulance service, SECAMB, have been there 15 months, and when I qualify, I want to teach first aid which is another one of my passions”.
“Water itself is a therapy, catch a wave, in the coldness of that water, it cushions you like a big hug, you feel the power of the water, it is a force of nature. All the issues in your head disappear, and you feel at one, that’s just another level. That’s when it becomes an addition, a good one, though, because you immediately want to catch another wave! Being happy is important. Surfing makes me happy. Getting more people to become soul surfers makes me happy”.
All photos © carlhyde.com
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