On Saturday 30th March 2019, David passed away suddenly and unexpectedly whilst doing something he loved and enjoyed; a bike ride in glorious sunshine. Dave was on his way home, with only 5 minutes left of his journey, when he had a sudden and fatal Heart Attack. Dave was fit and healthy, looked after his body, enjoyed life, seized the day and lived for the present. It is quite hard to comprehend how someone with such a huge heart, was eventually let down by his own.

We feel as a family it is our duty to let everybody know not just how great of a man Dave was, but how much of a great Coach he was too.

Dave’s Story, by Adam Farrell

Coaching to Dave, well he lived it, and breathed it! Coaching was him, and he was a Coach every second of every day, even when it was easier not to be.

David was a self-employed Life Coach, a Goal Mapper, a NLP Master Practitioner and part of the established Coaching Academy, with 17 years’ experience of changing lives. He had a gift for asking brilliant, and sometimes annoying, questions that seemed to switch a light on in people’s minds making what was difficult to see, obvious. And what was difficult to do, very achievable. His gift wasn’t just reserved to corporate businesses who needed to make important decisions, but he connected with schools; students; teachers; people struggling to find their place in life; other coaches; business owners; sports people; the homeless etc. The list is endless. Dave wasn’t just a great guy; he was genuinely an authentically great coach. A man who took it on himself to help others live a better life, and to be the best version of themselves. He saw the potential in everyone, and helped them see it too.

The concept of a Life Coach may not be clear to most, but Dave seized it with passion and made it his own. Dave considered his role as a Coach to, in his own words, “help you use the expertise you have about yourself to make the changes in your life that you have always wanted to make”. Dave’s coaching style was not based around one size fits all; “Making your should have’s, could have’s, will have’s and must have’s, into choose to have, and help you overcome the barriers that you sense are in your way”. For those of you who know Dave, you would know he was recognised as a ‘bundle of positivity’ and brought an amazing energy to any group.

After training as an NLP Practitioner (Neuro-linguistic programming: an approach to master the art of communication, personal development and psychotherapy), Dave moved from Novice to Master Practitioner, learning how to use NLP to improve his own life and the lives of others. This was the beginning of Dave’s journey into Coaching, and a stepping stone of opportunities for him to develop as a Coach and to continue his intention to help others.

Dave later took on the role of coaching students in local schools. Initially he worked with the more challenging students, to help them achieve their grades or to stay in school, but it wasn’t long before Dave was dealing with the broader student body, exam preparation, teachers, support staff, and in a couple of cases, the board of directors. Such was Dave’s skill as a Coach, once they saw the results, everyone wanted in. School’s attendance rates rose significantly, and exam grade obtainment rose considerably. The word heard around schools by students to describe Dave was simply, LEGEND.

Along his journey, Dave started working with Brian Mayne, the creator of the excellent Goal Mapping tool (a proven and popular method for setting and achieving goals using both the left and the right sides of the brain, to create sustainable success using words and pictures). Working with Brian Mayne directly, it wasn’t long before Brian recognised how exceptional Dave was as a trainer, teacher and a coach. So much so, Brian encouraged Dave to travel to America to present Goal Mapping to The Global Youth Foundation for Tony Robbins, and was also awarded ‘Life Lifter of the Year’ on a separate occasion. Dave’s intention still was to continue to help people find direction and motivation to take action, where he helped lift thousands of lives. This then led Dave to The Coaching Academy , the world’s leading coach training provider, where he helped develop the next generation of coaches in his image, supporting new coaches always telling them as it was.

Through Dave’s journey as a coach and the success stories that developed through his career, no matter the client type, or the tool he used, the constant was Dave, and his irrepressible and contagious drive to help people be the best version of themselves. His skills and dedication to coaching was second to none. He didn’t just coach, but he embodied all that is great in coaching.

The fact is, Dave was so modest, and he never realised or perhaps accepted just how good he was. This authenticity and humility Dave had, and perhaps a sense that he felt he didn’t quite deserve the praise, is what anchored him to his values, and made him so approachable and effective. His testimonials speak louder than anything, showing just how effective and humble Dave was. Phoenix Coaching Testimonials

Dave asked the right questions, listened and helped many of us out there. And now there is a gap where Dave once was. He was incredibly passionate about what he did, and had such a magnetic and infectious personality that allowed him to engage with the young and the old. And all those who met and worked with him, have his enthusiasm and coaching talent imprinted in our minds, ready for when we need it. And that is part of his legacy.

Although this is a sad time, we have been able to reflect. And knowing Dave, we know that he would want us to remember the happy days, the fun and laughter, and turn anything into a positive. Over the past few weeks, it has been so comforting to hear from those whose lives have been touched through Dave’s passion and success in his work. Thus, we as a family believe it would be sad for his legacy to die with him, and so we have set up The Phoenix Coaching Trust in Dave’s memory to allow his good work to continue.

The Trust is currently in it early stages, and aims to raise money to support coaching programmes and provide professional coaches in education, businesses and projects. Our upcoming projects involve secondary schools in Bedfordshire and working with The Kings Arms Project with students and the homeless to help get their lives on track.