Richard Dwyer

At the age of 4 years old, Richard Dwyer attended his very first gymnastics class when his mum was desperately searching for a way to help him and his elder brother to burn off their seemingly infinite levels of energy! By the time he was eight years old he was training for ten hours per week and soon went on to compete at regional and national championships across the country.

At this time Richard also started his acting journey treading the boards from the age of 9 in a production of Fiddler on the Roof at Richmond Theatre. As a talented child actor Richard had his first professional gig in front of camera for a National Savings Bank commercial at 10yrs old and was attending his local ‘drama club’ to learn his craft. He auditioned for many roles for television including BBC and ITV dramas including Grange Hill, Stig of the Dump, Dizzy Heights and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

Richard’s mum would help him to juggle his gymnastics training, competitions, acting lessons and auditions, along with school and homework and remains his biggest fan!

Richard was invited to assistant coach gymnastics classes at the age of just fourteen years old. It was clear that teaching the sport would quickly become his main passion. Taking his first coaching exams over the next couple of years, the young Richard Dwyer was well on his way to passing on the knowledge and skills he had accumulated to a new generation of athletes.

In September 1998 at the age of just 21 and now a nationally qualified Gymnastics and Trampolining Instructor, Richard founded ‘Flair Gymnastics’, staging classes for just a few kids aged five years and over in a small sports hall at Kenyngton Manor Primary School in Sunbury. The first sessions used only a few mats, a vault and a couple of benches, relying upon the desire and enthusiasm of the coaches to inspire the budding new gymnasts. From these perfectly humble beginnings Richard developed his vision to bring expert coaching to more and more children throughout Surrey, aiming to help them have fun, keep active and build their confidence.

In the meantime, his career was taking another exciting turn. Indeed he became an increasingly in-demand stuntman for television and film productions!

After attending (for 2 years) the National Centre For Circus Arts as a full time student, Richard gained a diploma in Performing Arts and Circus and soon went on to become one of the UK’s youngest ever TV and Film ‘Equity’ registered stunt performers.