60 SECOND INTERVIEW: Becky Loader

AFTER a career spent touring the globe in her work as a physiotherapist Becky Loader moved to West Dorset eight-years-ago.

Becky now works out of her own clinic in Charmouth whilst also taking care of her three young children, Holly, 10, Emily, five, and Matthew, two.

Becky qualified as a physiotherapist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham more than 20-years-ago. She has kept her work fresh by always looking for new challenges and has spent time working in London, Hong Kong and Australia.

Becky has spent a lot of her career specialising in sports injuries after completing a postgraduate degree in the field.

Becky now works with a range of patients at her clinic in Charmouth which re-opened last month. She took time out to speak about her career journey and her plans for Christmas day.

What do you like most about the area?

I love the way the children are being brought up and I think that was the main reason we moved here. It’s really safe and there’s loads to do. They’ve got the beach, the walks and the parks. It’s a very slow pace of life and so laid back. It’s great, very natural.

What made you choose a career in physiotherapy?

Biology was always my favourite subject at school and I wanted to combine that with working with people. A friend of mine had left school a couple of years earlier and was saying how much she was enjoying the training so I think it was a really nice combination for things I enjoy doing.

Who are the most high profile athletes you have worked with?

It would be the all England ladies Under 16 hockey team. I worked with them for a year as a physiotherapist, helping with the training, rehab and at pitch side and that was fantastic. We travelled to Spain, Germany and Lilleshall and Bisham Abbey and that was really interesting. In Hong Kong working in the sports clinic I used to treat people from the Western Samoa rugby team as well.

What is the best part of your job?

I think its making a difference. People can come to me in a lot of pain, or are off work or having their life affected in a number of ways and you can actually help to change that and I think that’s really nice to know.

Who would you recommend your service to?

Anyone who has been in pain for quite a while or whose activities are limited. Perhaps you are not able to work to your full capabilities or enjoy the sports you’d like to. It’s always better to treat things early on.

What has been your biggest achievement?

In my career I think it is probably working with the England hockey team but I think keeping the job fresh as well. I recently did an acupuncture course that I really loved and I like bringing all those things together. As you get older, the more experience you get, you can bring other things into it as well. There are always new techniques, approaches and methods of teaching to learn. Outside of my career it has to be my children. They are happy and confident children and that’s great.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

It’s suiting me working here at the moment because the children are so small but I would love to work with other professionals in a bigger clinic. Just to work in a big multi-disciplinary clinic would be really good.

Who would be your three dream guests for a dinner party?

It would be Rick Stein to do the cooking, Ella Fitzgerald for the music and Colin Firth for everything else.

What is your favourite part of Christmas?

I absolutely love Christmas. I love the lights, candles and everyone coming together. We have got a big extended family. There will be 15 of us at Christmas eve and 12 on Christmas day. It’s just the fact that everyone comes together and we can catch up and all the children can play together.

What three things are on your Christmas list?

Well obviously peace, happiness and joy. I don’t really have a Christmas list, I think it would just be seeing the children happy and doing what they want to do. I just want everyone to enjoy there Christmas day together.

Describe your perfect Christmas day?

We get up really early in the morning and the children will open their stockings. They’ll bring all the presents onto the bed so we can unwrap everything together. We have a lazy breakfast and then go down to the beach for the Christmas day swim and my mum usually takes some champagne down to the beach. After that we all come back home and have a drink and unwrap presents. Then everybody cooks the Christmas lunch together while the children play and then after a long lunch we go for a walk and that will be the perfect Christmas day.

What are your New Year’s resolutions?

I want to get fitter and find time for more exercise. I want to go down to Bridport Leisure Centre gym, which is always busy after Christmas. Some friends of mine have started running so I might start with some fast walking because we have got some fantastic walks around here. I want to take up a new hobby as well. I’d like to try horse riding, I’d like to ride a motorbike and id like to go sailing. I want to do something with a bit of adrenalin.

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