A SWIMMING coach has made a real splash for a small community club, raising numbers and helping to keep it well afloat during the lean period of the pandemic.

Anya Francis’s dedication volunteering at Hetton Amateur Swimming Club, in Hetton-le-Hole, has earned her “surprise” recognition in the Queen New Year’s honours.

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The 48-year-old civil servant by day has been awarded an MBE for services to young people through swimming.

A one-time enthusiastic swimmer and coach at the club, she reached the quarter-final stages in a relay team trying to qualify for the Olympics.

But after, she left the sport in her adult days, she returned to the baths when daughter Scarlet began attending the club as a young girl.

“I was just sitting at the poolside and one of the coaches recognised me from when I was a coach in his younger days.

“He just said: ‘I need some help’, and that led to me getting back into it.”

Her enthusiasm has helped to engender a real team spirit at the club among about 100 young members, aged from eight to 19, including several disabled swimmers.

She has persuaded some of the older swimmers to maintain the cycle by trying coaching themselves.

Despite the dark days of Covid, which particularly affected swimming, she has helped to maintain numbers, even when down to one session a week, and they enjoyed the first gala in two years recently.

Anya said: "To my friends and family; ‘speechless’ is not something I’m synonymous with, it feels unreal – why and how me?

The Northern Echo: Anya Francis

"It’s an honour and a privilege to receive such recognition and to be held in such high regard by my colleagues for my nomination. I never thought at my age I would still be making my parents, family and friends so proud and I hope its an inspiration to all civil servants and volunteers out there.

"I had no idea that I had been nominated. Receiving a letter labelled ‘On Her Majesty’s Service’, from the Cabinet Office even sparked interest to my postman. I read the letter about four times and still couldn’t believe it – was it a joke?

"After the shock subsided, I felt so proud. I hated keeping it a secret for four weeks, I wanted to run outside and shout at the top of my voice 'I’m going to be Anya Francis, MBE."

She added: "I feel privileged to have great family and friends around me which drives a community spirit and I have a keen interest in giving something back and supporting others.

"As a swimmer, I had the opportunity when I was young to get involved in coaching back in the late 80s for Hetton Amateur Swimming club.

"Whilst at college I volunteered in a local soup kitchen, then as I moved into my civil service career I volunteered for the Samaritans, along with a group of my work colleagues.

"Then several years ago I returned to my local swimming club as a volunteer swimming coach, bringing together, and helping to lead a club of 100 swimmers between the age of eight to 18.

"The club is about creating an atmosphere where all members find swimming enjoyable and a sociable experience to make new friendships, whilst promoting a healthy lifestyle and teamwork through competitions.

"Being able to inspire the swimmers and young coaches motivates me each day.

"Over the last few years, the club has grown stronger, I’ve watched young children grow up to be teenagers and adults, and I have witnessed children with disabilities achieve more than I or they could have ever imagined.

"Seeing their passion and enthusiasm makes me feel passionate and drives a sense of pride that myself, coaches and club members support together.

"Please consider volunteering – it’s a wonderful experience."

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