Meet The Team
Pool Service Team
Richard Roche
Richard owns and runs Poolside Christchurch with his wife Lynda.
Read the full history of the business and Richard’s career here, including time as a ‘stay-at-home-dad’.
“We have an amazing team,” says Richard, “but it is no accident. We only employ people who aren’t afraid to be exceptional. We create the environment for that to happen.”
Alastair Wood | Service Manager
Alastair is from Edinburgh, Scotland. He has worked with swimming pools and spas both here in New Zealand and throughout the UK for the past 20 years. He enjoys a lot of walking and watching rugby.
The 3 teams he follows are Edinburgh, Canterbury Crusaders and of course what he considers the top team in the world, Scotland. He also enjoys cooking and baking.
Alistair is a Gold Winner for In-field Service Technician in the 2022 and 2023 SPASA Awards of Excellence.
Adam Blissett – Senior Technician
Adam was born and bred in the North Island of New Zealand. He and his wife moved to Christchurch in 2018 which is when he joined the Poolside team.
Adam likes spending quality time at home where enjoys the company of his expanding family and playing video games.
Adam was Highly Commended as Infield Service Technician in the SPASA 2021 Awards of Excellence.
Colin Penney
Colin joined the Poolside team in February 2021. He is a furniture maker by trade and has 25 years experience in the industry.
In his younger years Colin played premier men’s basketball and enjoyed surfing. In more recent years he has learnt to play the saxophone.
Chelsea Cadwallader
Chelsea joined the Poolside team in 2022. Growing up in Gisborne, Chelsea has been in and around water all her life, swimming, lifeguarding, and scuba diving. She loves being outdoors and playing football.
Patrick Steele
Prior to joining Poolside, Patrick had been a mobile technician for 16 years as a security consultant and security technician. While the travel and client facing work is similar, the world of water was quite new to him, but being technically focused, he has taken to it well.
Patrick prides himself in providing the best customer focused service he can. In his spare time, he can be found either with his dog or his mountain bike.
Brett McGuigan
Brett has a background in competitive swimming and enjoys all things water. He’s in his element catching waves on his surfboard, lounging on the beach or swimming laps. He channels his creativity into music, playing in a rock cover band on the weekends.
He enjoys the simple pleasures in life, whether tinkering with projects at home or spending quality time with his wife and their two mischievous cats Moby and Moses.
Shop & Customer Service Team
Lynda Roche
Lynda runs and owns Poolside Christchurch with her husband Richard.
We share Lynda’s full career story and journey from pharmacist to Poolside Christchurch business owner here.
Lee Houghton – Store Manager
Although born in Christchurch, when younger, Lee always loved to move around and has lived in different places. She lived on the West Coast, Kurow, Tekapo, Nelson, and the Far North before moving to the Arnham Land in the Northern Territory and then on to Perth.
After a stint running a back packers in Methven she ended up back in Christchurch and back at Poolside. Initially, Lee worked for Harry Sweeney at the old Riccarton Road site while in her early 20’s, then with Paul and Gael Sweeney before the business was bought by Richard and Lynda.
Lee was crowned the Gold Winner for Retail Service Technican in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 SPASA Awards of Excellence.
Nicole Dixon – Retail Supervisor
After 4 years of manufacturing spa pools and with a love of Christchurch, Nicole moved from Whangarei to Christchurch looking for a new adventure and chance to learn new skills.
She has found exactly what she was looking for with the great team at Poolside Christchurch. Moving from the technician side of the business to the retail, Nicole brings a wealth of hands-on, technical knowledge to help pool owners.
Her hobbies include video games and learning languages.
Steph O’Brien
Steph is a born and bred Cantabrian and joined the Poolside Team in May 2022 with 20+ years retail experience.
She was a Dance mum to her twin girls for many years and helps with the accounts work for her husbands part-time handyman business in her spare time.
She is an avid knitter who always has something in the works.
Tash Hammett
Although her full name is Natasha, everyone knows her as Tash. Tash recently returned to Christchurch after a number of years away.
She loves being able to run round Hagley Park and the Port Hills again now that she is back in Christchurch. Her hobbies include cooking, singing the gambler badly and leaving parties early.
Sally Johnstone
Sally has returned to Christchurch where she was born. She has worked in the banking, early childhood and office management sectors.
In her spare time Sally enjoys travelling overseas, spending time with friends and family, photography and exploring the outdoors.
Hear from our customers
Does your pool need some love?
If your pool is looking a bit sick, or you don’t have time to keep up with the pool maintenance, we are here to help!
Award Winning Poolcare Team
