Swimming Coach Honored for Inclusive Instruction

Mark Podbury, a swimming coach from Burnham-on-Sea and former navy officer, has received a Swim England award for “South West Swimming Development Coach,” acknowledging his inclusive teaching methods. This recognition coincides with the 50th anniversary of his club, which his father established in 1974. Mr. Podbury stated, “We encourage the kids, we train three nights a week. You must give the child the opportunity to decide what they want to do.” Following over three decades of service in the Royal Navy, Mr. Podbury retired in 2012 and began coaching children at the Burnham-on-Sea swimming club. Mr. Podbury recounted that he was a member of the Mendip Swimming Club during his youth, prior to the opening of a pool in Burnham-on-Sea in 1974. “My father decided to set a swimming club in the new pool,” Mr. Podbury explained. He added, “Swimming was still an amateur sport, nobody was getting paid, everyone was a volunteer.” He observed that swimming has evolved as a sport, becoming “more intense.” He further commented, “We’re in one of the hardest county’s in the country.” “Kids really have to work hard to achieve those qualifying times,” he noted. Upon receiving the award from Swim England, he expressed that he was “pleased.” Mr. Podbury mentioned that some parents of the children he coaches nominated him for the award. “We are very much a community club and we’re here for Burnham-on-Sea to provide the service,” he stated. He highlighted that “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,” he concluded. Readers can follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X, and submit story ideas via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not accountable for content on external sites and details its policy on external linking.