Who We Are

Steve Foster completed his training with the Northern Institute in 1984 and started the Foster Clinic in April of that year. Through determination, further training and not an inconsiderable amount of hard work the clinic continued to grow, Steve for his part was suitably qualified and experienced to take advantage of the Health Professions Council registration for physiotherapy and also joined the CSP.

The Foster Clinic became a two centred multi disciplinary therapy centre with 12 staff. The clinics were major centres for local private patients, people seeking help, treatment and support for their respective conditions. The clinics also became therapy providers for Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies, Norfolk and Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and The East Anglian Ambulance Trust together with other companies and organisations. The clinics also were Medico Legal report and assessment centres. Steve retired from clinical work in May 2022 after 38 years and the legacy of his treatment centres is being continued by another therapist and support team.

Steve was offered an LCSP Council position in 1987 and has served since; latterly he assisted the then secretary Ken Woodward and assumed the position of Secretary as Kens health faded. Steve then undertook to oversee the move from Blackpool to Suffolk which has made the Register far more efficient in its day to day operation and provides the Register with its present day administration base.

As Secretary together with the Admin team Steve is very much ‘hands on’ with the day to day running of the Register and with the advantage of almost 40 years of therapy and business experience is able and strives to provide a ‘same day service’ to enquiries and problems.

Now away from the daily treatment of patients, Steve balances LCSP work with home, cooking, gardening, some golf and other sporting activities.

Melvyn first started work as a masseur in 1966 in a sauna and health club just off London’s Fleet Street. After a few years Melvyn got fed up with the long hours and daily commute into the city and decided on a change of direction and spent the next few years trying different jobs, one of which was as a professional wrestler. It was as a result of an injury whilst wrestling that Melvyn was encouraged to return to the profession by the therapist treating him.

Melvyn started studying at The Northern Institute in 1977 and went on to gain their diplomas in Massage and Physical Culture, Remedial Massage Therapy, Manipulative Therapy and ultimately qualified as an Osteopath in 1982.

Melvyn was accepted on to the GOsC register in 2000 but then resigned shortly afterwards, feeling that his work now was more Physiotherapy and Remedial Massage based than Osteopathic.

He applied and was accepted by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in 2005.

He worked in his own busy clinic for over 25 years in Barnet Hertfordshire, and has now happily retired.

Melvyn was honoured and delighted to be given a fellowship of the LCSP Register in 1995 and was elected to the Governing Council the same year.

At the Annual General Meeting on 24th June held in Milton Keynes, Melvyn Eyres was elected as the 27th President of the LCSP Register.

When not working or attending meetings Melvyn enjoys  keeping fit,  tending his allotment and Cruising holidays with his wife Karen.

Beryl Harper qualified as a remedial massage therapist at the Northern Institute of Massage, Blackpool in July 1983. Two years later she became a tutor at the institute and taught for over 20 years.

Beryl has a very varied and busy practice in the Rossendale Valley, where she also teaches Yoga one night a week.

Beryl has always believed that the value of massage for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain is greatly underrated and over her years in practice has searched to find a therapy that is massage based and pain free, yet manages to penetrate into the deeper soft tissue where most musculoskeletal problems linger.

In 2004 she was asked to review a book entitled Massage for Orthopaedic Conditions by Dr. Tom Hendrickson, here she found what she was looking for. Since then she has completed the course run by Dr Hendrickson in San Francisco and has not been disappointed by what she has learned.

Beryl served as President of the London and Counties Society of Physiologists, later to become the LCSP Register of Remedial Masseurs and Manipulative Therapists from 2000 to 2009, and continues to serve on Council.

In her spare time she enjoys reading, attends concerts and is an avid theatregoer.

Jo Lade has been practicing in Cumbria and Wensleydale since 2005. Her journey into practice stretches back to 1994 though when she qualified with a Diploma in Remedial Massage from the Northern Institute of Massage in Blackpool. The year Jo qualified she also got the chance to move to Australia to live and work there for a year – which she grabbed with both hands! After an amazing year of working and travelling all around Australia, she returned to the UK in 1995, with a few debts…!

For the following 10 years Jo worked in a variety of Office Management and Admin roles where she acquired valuable business management skills. This meant that when she was able to return to her practice in 2004/5 she was in a strong position to be able to set up and run a highly successful small business. After a refresher course at the Northern Institute which was then located in Bury, she set up in practice and has been seeing patients in the Eden Valley and Wensleydale, working from the Central Dales GP Practice since then.

Jo continues to add annually to her knowledge and portfolio of treatment protocols with CPD activities ranging from a Neuromusculoskeletal Anatomy course at Cumbria University, Foot and Ankle Biomechanics & Orthotic prescription, Neurobiology to the latest in Pain Science through online learning, lectures and face to face courses. Jo is passionate about sharing the knowledge and experience she has gained and has run many workshops and given many talks on the subjects of Pain Science and Injury Management.

Jo manages a Facebook page where she posts information and research regularly – check out Reflex Orthopaedic Massage on Facebook for interesting facts and info.

Her unique practice methods combine conventional massage and soft tissue manipulation with myofascial release, neuromuscular techniques, joint mobilisation, stretching and rehabilitation advice and Pain Science Education to produce results where many other practitioners have failed.

Jo’s first love is for swimming and she has competed in many outdoor events as well as competing in indoor pool competitions. She also qualified as a Mountain Leader in 2024 so when she’s not swimming you can find her out on the Fells hiking or riding her mountain bike.  When she's not outside you may find her playing her saxophone or penny whistle in local pubs.

Jo was delighted and proud to join the Board of the LCSP Register in 2020 and hopes to see the organisation grow from strength to strength.

Tim is the registrar and founder of the Sports Therapy UK, and has over 30 years experience in developing and teaching sports therapy courses, both through his organisation Sports Therapy UK and as a senior lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire. Tim is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has acted as advisor for national occupational standards, to national awarding bodies, colleges, and universities. He has also been a panel member for various validations of degree and foundation degrees and is currently a Consultant Advisor to VTCT for their training awards in sports massage.

Tim is a published Sports Massage therapy author and is currently working on the 4th edition of his book, The Complete Guide to Sports Massage. He is also working on a follow-up book on advanced soft tissue techniques with his colleague and Academic Lead for Sports Therapy UK, Jade Revell.

During his career, Tim has worked with many sportspeople, in particular the players at Finchley R.F.C. He has also presented research at various conferences around the world including the World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy World Congress: Athletic rehabilitation and conditioning for the athletes in Tokyo, Japan in 2007 and San Antonio, Texas U.S.A in 2009. More recently, Tim reported on latest research conducted with colleague Peter Sheard on the ‘differing effects of four variations of neuromuscular technique (NMT) on range of motion in healthy athletes’ at the inaugural European Society of Athletic Training and Therapy Conference in Jerzmanowice, Poland.

The formation of BeActive Clinic is the fulfilment of Tim’s long-term ambitions to create a centre combining education, a range of treatments based on sound evidence, outstanding service, and physical mobility to improve individuals’ comfort and longevity. The BeActive team of staff, instructors and practitioners combine and constantly strive to deliver education and excellence.

A motivated professional working in clinical settings and home visits delivering quality treatment services to clients across all age ranges.

My aim is to develop a professional and welcoming rapport with clients responding to their needs and the conditions presented. As someone who is constantly seeking to improve my practice, I am committed to the principals of continuous professional development which ensures my approach is both contemporary and informed by current research and best practice.

As a Lead Academic Tutor my role is to ensure all training and assessments are carried out to the highest of standards and that students receive quality training. My training role also includes curriculum development, industry best practice, and changing educational requirements needed for adult accredited qualifications.

When not working I enjoy spending time with my two young children and occasionally attempting to run! 

I initially became interested in a remedial massage and treatments having experienced a knee injury back in 1981. I began my Remedial Massage course in 1984/5 and progressed to Manipulative Therapy. During this period, I was privileged to be asked by Mrs Woodward to join the Council, a proud moment indeed.

I began my practice in 1989, and soon became extremely busy. My vision was to open a multi disciplinary complementary clinic. This I did in 1999, after much consideration and I named it the Soma Clinic. It consisted of 12/14 practitioners, 2 receptionists, and probably the first Floatation tank in the area.

I was delighted to be given a Fellowship of the Society in 2004 and also the opportunity to be accepted into the Health Professionals Council for Physiotherapy.

There is no doubt that massage is one of the most wonderful tools we can offer in the treatment of muscular skeletal problems, I’m very proud to be involved in such a profession and this organisation in particular.

My spare time is taken up with delightful grandchildren, golf, walking, playing bridge and I'm also a member of a ukelele band!