charlie don't surf

A former military Physical Training Instructor is continuing to succeed in his quest to aid those who are set to go into the forces.
Harry Meckiffe, 46, is the owner of Charlie Don’t Surf – a business in Salburn’s Foreshore area, on the lower promenade.  Part of his business entails taking on driven, focused individuals who are aiming to become physically fit enough to pass the required tests upon arrival in the forces. 

Harry, formerly a member of the British Weight Lifting Association and an England under 16’s swimmer, has trained youngsters on a one-to-one basis who have gone in the army, the navy, the parachute regiment and, recently, has successfully trained a young man to join the most gruelling of recruitment processes - The Royal Marines.

Harry, originally from London, is very passionate about what he does and would like to link his training with the military recruitment offices in the future, as he believes that people should have the access to proper training.However, Harry doesn’t only limit his clients to military wannabes, but is willing to take anybody with the right attitude - as long as they’re prepared to work hard. He said: “I’ll take people on if they are motivated as we train to a very high standard; I have some clients who have been with me for nine years. They will usually work with me over a minimum of six months – and they will get results. If people are motivated they can achieve what they want.”

As well as using much of the local area for training purposes, Harry also has a gym for his clients, which is part of Charlie Don’t Surf, and it offers everything that you would find in a regular gym – with the added feature of a glorious view of Saltburn’s beach and pier. The other section of the Charlie Don’t Surf business is a shop selling an abundance of adventure equipment, including kites, hand gliders, mountain boards, boomerangs, Frisbees and air toys.

His passion for this kind of equipment stems from years of hand gliding and kite flying, as his father was one of the first hand gliding pioneers. He said: “I just love anything that flies.”

Harry now has plans to refurbish this side of the business with a brand new entrance to the shop - courtesy of a LEGI (Local Enterprise Growth Initiative) grant – and he will also rejuvenate the interior. When this is done, he says that his product range will increase and beach items will also be sold.

With regard to setting up a new business, Harry has a few tips for up and coming entrepreneurs, he said: “If you’re going in to business to make money, then you need money to start with. If you run a lifestyle business then it is possible to make money but you must live within your means and you’ve got to be clever.”

Having moved up north after living in London, originally to Co. Durham, Harry is now settled in Saltburn and could not be happier, insisting that the area and the people are great. He is also chairman of the Saltburn Foreshore Association - which aims to improve the foreshore - and he is a big believer in the local community.

He said: “I love the people up here; they’re well informed and well educated. Saltburn, as a resort, has really moved forward in the last ten years and it is a year-round location now. I think the local community is important and I, personally, always make sure that I buy things locally – this way the money goes round and round and everything in the area improves.”