Ian Dale and Fiona Thomson

Ian has been a keen walker for over 30 years, completing the Pennine Way when he was 17. His love of the countryside started young as he grew up in a farming family and it expanded when his agricultural career took him to Scotland and the south-west of England. He returned to the north in 1997 to farm in Teesdale. As an active member of a local outdoor club his love of the hills and dales was nurtured locally, whilst regular visits to the Scottish Highlands offered further challenges. He has also explored further afield, enjoying treks to the mountains of Nepal and Peru and the Alps.

Fiona comes from a urban background and grew up in London, where she was always an "outdoor type", enjoying watersports and camping as a teenager. She moved to Yorkshire in 1993 whilst working for Guide Dogs for the Blind, a career she enjoyed for over 15 years. Walking several miles a day training dogs and visually impaired clients gave her an appreciation of decent foot and wet weather gear. Since living in the area she has come to know and love the North York Moors and Dales and has also recently ventured further afield on walking holidays in France and Spain.

Together Ian and Fiona aim to build on the reputation established by Chris Gaunt at the Osmotherley Walking Shop by maintaining his core values of personal service and sound product knowledge.

Gail Fiske

Gail has been with us since 2000 and manages the shop when Chris is away.

Extremely capable and dynamic (Chris calls her Gailforce) with a bubbly personality she is well liked by our regular customers.

Married with a teenage daughter she enjoys walking, exercising her dogs and caravanning.

Like Chris she likes the personal contact with people and nothing is too much trouble for her as many customers will testify.

Would you like a sunshine holiday? Gail has a holiday apartment in Formentera.

Mike Myers

Mike, who recently retired from a career in banking, works in the shop and helps with the administration.

Married with two daughters and four grandchildren, Mike is a keen walker along with many other interests.

Mike loves the "great outdoors", and is now actively leading group walks in the North Yorks Moors and the Yorkshire Dales.

Mike is well liked by customers for his friendly, knowledgeable advice, founded on a lifetimes experience in the customer service sector.

Maureen Eyre

Maureen is our computer expert and is instrumental in dragging Chris into the world of I.T. No mean feat when he would really rather be on the hills.

Maureen leads a very busy life but will always step in to help in the shop or any other aspect of the business.

She is one of our several part time staff but is indispensable for her cheerful personality and computing skills.