Somerset swimming coach wins award for inclusive teaching

After more than 30 years in the Royal Navy, Mr Podbury left the service in 2012 and began coaching children at Burnham-On-Sea Swimming Club.

Mr Podbury said he attended Mendip Swimming Club as a child until the pool opened in Burnham-on-Sea in 1974.

“My father decided to open a swimming club in the new pool,” Mr Podbury said.

“Swimming was still an amateur sport, no one was paid, everyone was a volunteer.”

He said swimming as a sport had now changed and was “more intense”.

“We are in one of the toughest counties in the country,” he added.

“The kids really have to work hard to achieve that qualifying result.”

He said he was “delighted” to receive the award from Swim England.

Mr. Podbury said some parents of the children he teaches are nominating him.

“We are very much a community club and we are here in Burnham-on-Sea to provide a service.

“There are very few coaches left in Somerset who don’t get paid a penny.

“I was so excited when I was invited to the awards ceremony that I didn’t even expect to win.”