Alison was a competitive swimmer when she was a child and progressed up to county-level competitions representing the county of Norfolk.

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 In 1995 Alison qualified as an assistant swimming teacher and taught small groups at the Kingfisher pool in Kingston Upon Thames.

She then spent several years working for British Airways and travelling until having a family, after which she undertook further training to become a level 2 swim instructor and return to the water to teach full time.