Jim Foster's Biography

Jim was in the Metropolitan Police Service for nearly 26½ years, a career terminated as a result of a foot injury received in a road traffic collision in 1997.

He qualified as a First Aid Instructor in 1982 and in 1985, due to a shortage of First Aid Instructors in Area Training Units, was appointed to one that also had a shortage of Police Duty Trainers. The Police service Trainer Training courses followed, to qualify as a trainer, and subsequently a City & Guilds 7303 Further Education Teaching Certificate (Distinction).

He was advised to contact the Open University and use the C&G qualification as a Foundation Course. The result of that initial contact was a Professional Diploma in Post Compulsory Education, and in 1996, a Masters Degree in Education and Training.

Within the Police Service, He was a First Aid at Work (FAW) trainer/assessor and a Police Medic (later a National Police Medic Course Trainer). He maintained First Aid interest outside the Police by joining St John Ambulance, in 1985 in which he served until family commitments intervened in 1998. This involvement maintained practical First Aid experience, supplementing the practical experiences in the Police Service thus enabling First Aid Presentations anecdotal examples. Within St John Ambulance facilitated on London District and National Leadership Courses. He is now a member of ScoutMed National Scout Fellowship, who provide a service similar to St John, to maintain his practical first aid skills.

Jim found he had an ability to help people relax by gentle intuitive massage of the neck and shoulders and in May 1997 began an ITEC Therapeutic Massage, Anatomy & Physiology (TMAP) Course. Then in October the Road Traffic Collision (mentioned above) occurred and the examination was undertaken with his left foot in plaster. Unable to return to Police Duty he enrolled on the ITEC Aromatherapy course, and in July 1998 passed with credit.

In 1996 he had qualified as a Home Office Crime Prevention Officer and was working in Fulham, London SW6 and did not need to be fully fit to remain in that role. Over the following months he increased hours/days though unable to return to full time active police duty due to continued pain and difficulty walking long distances. He was granted permission to undertake the Home Office Crime Prevention Design Advisor Course and qualified as such in 1999.

In August 2000 another operation was necessary on his Left foot and returned to work in late September, but was still unable to do full time. In June of 2001 he was informed the decision had been made to retire him on Medical Grounds and on September 14^th 2001 he left the Police Service.

Initially he was uncomfortable with the decision but now feels it opened up new possibilities and strengthened his desire and philosophy to help other people when ever able.

He now trains first aid and provides visiting massage service.

All types of courses are organised and trained in a friendly and enjoyable atmosphere. Courses are registered with Companies who have been approved by the HSE to provide training.

He has trained a variety of differing clientele including Supermarket and Store personnel, Cleaning Supervisors, Reiki Practitioners, Massage Therapists & Reflexologists, NCT and Nursery Groups (Paediatric First Aid) Security Personnel and Parking Enforcement Personnel/Attendants.

He is able to offer a range of complementary therapy’s within a Massage Treatment as he works intuitively and as far as possible to ensure sufficient flexibility in appointments and gives extra time when necessary. He offers a mobile service and obtains clients by referral and limited advertising.

He maintains an interest in motorcycling having a Honda ST1100 PanEuropean which he rides as often as possible and on which he assists, as an Observer for London Advanced Motorcyclists, others to attain the standard required to pass their IAM assessment.

Helping people to learn, whatever their age, background or other defining characteristic and, where possible assisting, through First Aid and Massage, those who need some TLC is what he enjoys being involved in whenever possible.