This time we meet Jim Harris

Operations Manager at Essex Outdoors Harlow

Tell us a little about you

My name is Jim Harris and I am the Operations Manager for Essex Outdoors Harlow and the Lock Climbing Wall.

What do you do at Essex Outdoors?

As you can imagine it’s a very strange time at the moment and instead of welcoming schools, groups and climbers to both the outdoor and climbing centres, I find myself sitting at and staring at a laptop. In fact, I seem to spend most of the time staring out of the window at home! I do however still manage to visit the centre regularly as there are a number of health and safety regimes that need to be continued even in a closed centre. I do find myself wandering around our climbing wall, looking at the various routes that I’ll climb soon (or try to climb!), or staring out at the river, beautiful in the glorious sun we’ve been enjoying, itching to grab a boat and disappear downstream.

When you’re not at work, what are you most likely to be doing?

All will return, in good time, and I’ll appreciate those opportunities even more. Enjoy the freedoms that we feel on a river or the mental and physical challenge that is the essence of climbing. I also look forward to the opportunity to work with our customers again. To assist in their enjoyment of outdoors sports.
Being active and outdoors offers us a completely different perspective and, in light of what we are all going through, that’s never been more important.

I’ll certainly not take our facilities for granted and will remain thankful that we’ll all have the chance to get out, paddle, climb or bike safely with Essex Outdoors in the near future.

Best Wishes from all of us at Essex Outdoors. Stay safe, and well

Jim Harris
Operations Manager – Essex Outdoors Harlow and The Lock CLimbing wall