"The passion of Miss Ellen still shines through"
She comes from a passionate swimming family, got a job as a teenager in 1977 at De Lieberg swimming pool in Hilversum, has fulfilled almost every role there, and after 40 years she still lovingly teaches the little ones. For team leader Martijn Caumon, there were enough reasons to nominate Ellen Grob for the Funniest Colleague competition organised by FNV Recreation. The jury agreed with him, and we surprised the winner while she was unsuspectingly teaching. Ellen: “This is the best job in the world.”
Union representative Johan Bijlsma presents the prize to Ellen Grob
Ellen inherited her love and fun for swimming from home. Her 15-year-older sister Adrie Lasterie was a Dutch and European champion in swimming in the sixties and even won a silver medal at the Olympic Games. Little Ellen was often there when her sister trained in the pool, and her love for this sport naturally grew from there.
87 applications
At 18, Ellen started in cleaning at De Lieberg swimming pool in Hilversum, but soon she was allowed to teach swimming lessons. Forty years later, Miss Ellen is still there. Not because she has to, but because she still enjoys it so much. When she walks through Hilversum, she is well-known, as many residents have had lessons with her. Team leader Martijn Caumon really wanted to put Ellen in the spotlight and nominated her for our Funniest Colleague in Recreation competition. We received no fewer than 87 applications.
Martijn: “Ellen has been giving AquaMini lessons with great enthusiasm and passion for years and has been connected to De Lieberg all her life. Recently, Ellen welcomed the third generation of a family during one of these lessons.” Ellen (FNV member): “I haven’t worked here continuously. In the past, if you became pregnant, you were honourably dismissed. But my son was not even six months old when I was asked if I could come back. And the same happened with the next son. Until 1985, because then the money ran out. In '90, they asked me back for school swimming. That's fine, I said, but I want to be home at lunchtime and after school. And I want a permanent contract. Twenty years ago, the pool came into the hands of Optisport, and I became head of swimming affairs. At fifty, I thought, I’ll quit. Martijn persuaded me to stay, fortunately. I work fewer hours and teach the little ones. I see parents and grandparents returning who had lessons with me as babies or children. You build such a beautiful bond with those little ones, and you can teach them everything.”
Great team of colleagues
Ellen hired Martijn ten years ago when she was still head of swimming affairs. Now Martijn has recently become her manager. Ellen: “Martijn and I brainstorm about how things could be better or different. He appreciates my expertise. We are a great team of about 25 colleagues, we can say a lot to each other, everything is open for discussion. That also makes me love working here. And then I’m also named Funniest Colleague!”