An ex-navy officer has won an award for his work as a swimming coach, highlighting his inclusive approach.
Burnham-on-Sea swimming coach Mark Podbury has received a Swim England award for “South West Swimming Development Coach.”
This comes in the same year his club, which his dad set up in 1974, celebrates its 50th anniversary.
“We encourage the kids, and we train three nights a week. It would help if you let the child decide what they want to do,” Mr Podbury said.
After more than 30 years in the Royal Navy, Mr Podbury retired in 2012. He then started coaching children at the Burnham-on-Sea swimming club.
Mr Podbury said he was with the Mendip Swimming Club growing up until a pool opened in Burnham-on-Sea in 1974.
“My father decided to set up a swimming club in the new pool,” Mr Podbury said.
“Swimming was still an amateur sport; nobody was getting paid, and everyone was a volunteer.”
He said swimming as a sport has changed now and become “more intense”.
“We’re in one of the hardest counties in the country,” he added.
“Kids have to work hard to achieve those qualifying times.”
He said he was “pleased” when he received the award from Swim England.
Some of the parents of the children he teaches put him forward, Mr Podbury said.
“We are very much a community club, and we’re here to provide the service for Burnham-on-Sea.
“There are very few coaches in Somerset left who don’t get paid a penny.
“I was so pleased when I got invited to the awards, I didn’t expect to win.”