A Richmond grandmother is swimming
free as a reward for dedicating over 30 years to the
sport.
Eveline Pearson has been given lifelong
membership to the town’s pool.
Bored with watching her daughter
learning to swim at Richmond Pool, Eveline decided to get into the
water with her! Already a keen swimmer she decided to take
the teaching courses to allow her to help out with the pool’s
swimming club.
And as coaches left the club, she stood in -
becoming the continuity the club needed to develop.
In 1982 she was back at school, taking the
swimming officials course to become a timekeeper, judge and starter
for club events - she began officiating most weekends and still
maintains her licensed official status.
For many years she was secretary of the
Richmond Dales Amateur Swim Club. In 1984 she was elected
president of the Northumberland and Durham Counties – a post she
held for a year but led to her continued service on the group’s
Executive Committee.
Eveline is also a member of the national
Doping Control Committee.
As a swimmer Eveline has completed many
challenges including the Lake Swim challenge of 3396 lengths and
the Mississippi challenge of 3410 lengths.
“Eveline can be found swimming at Richmond
Pool every morning – whatever the weather. She is dedicated
to the sport – and it is for this commitment and her contribution
to the pool that we have awarded her free access to swimming at the
facility,” said Austin Gordon, Manager of the Richmondshire Leisure
Trust.
July 1, 2011