Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Swimming Club were pleased to welcome local MP Bob Blizzard along to one of their club training nights recently. The club took the initiative in inviting him because of the interest he has shown in swimming, both as healthy exercise and as a popular and challenging sport.

 

Mr Blizzard was welcomed onto poolside by club treasurer Chris Wood, president Myles Kemball-Cook and chairman Peter Williams. They discussed the rewards and challenges of running a large and successful community sports club, including the small army of qualified and dedicated volunteers needed to provide top quality teaching and training opportunities. Community head coach, Simon Pickering, explained the club's structured swimming programme and the opportunities available to swimmers of all abilities, to learn to swim, to train and to compete. This includes thriving groups of disability swimmers, some of whom compete at national and international level. He highlighted the less tangible benefits for club swimmers in terms of increased self-discipline, self-reliance and stronger social skills.

 

Mr Blizzard took the opportunity to chat to other coaches. He was presented with his own named club polo shirt, and photographed with swimmers, coaches and committee members. His verdict was that, “The club is doing a great job for huge numbers of local youngsters. They are producing some top quality competitive swimmers and enabling so many young people to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and have fun at the same time. I was really impressed.”