MEET ABBY
Today is Abby's 43rd birthday, so I thought it would be nice to tell you a little more about the person so many of you see coaching on the gym floor every week.
Abby was born in Oldham but grew up in Littleborough, where she spent her school years playing in the brass band before heading off to university to complete a Bachelor's degree.
She then spent 16 years working for the NHS as a Speech and Language Therapist, specialising in supporting teenagers with learning difficulties. It was a career built around patience, empathy and helping people reach their potential – qualities that still define her coaching today. During the final few years, she split her time between the NHS and this little project we had started called P1.
In 2015, she began coaching fitness alongside her NHS career and quickly found her passion. Over time she specialised in supporting women through hormonal health, menopause and the many challenges that come with balancing work, family and looking after yourself. It's a subject that's very close to her heart, and one she continues to study relentlessly.
Away from the gym, she's probably the biggest animal lover I know. Every day she looks forward to getting home to Bertie, our 15-year-old Devon Rex cat, who has absolutely no idea he's a cat and instead believes he's the centre of the universe.
If fitness hadn't worked out, she could probably have built a career in skincare or makeup. She knows more about serums and moisturisers than most beauty consultants, and if you've ever been in the gym after she's finished cleaning, you'll know she's an absolute clean freak too. I often joke that the weights are cleaner than the plates in our kitchen.
For all the qualifications, knowledge and experience she has, the thing that makes Abby such a great coach is how much she genuinely cares. She remembers the little details, notices when someone isn't themselves and quietly goes out of her way to help people feel stronger and more confident.
P1 wouldn't be what it is without her.
So next time you see her, make sure you wish her a happy birthday.
Happy Birthday, Abs. ❤️