TAVISTOCK Swimming Club is proud and delighted to announce that volunteer committee member Esther Rookes has been recognised as the Swim England South West volunteer of the year.

She has also been selected as a finalist in the Volunteer of the Year category at the Swim England National Awards Presentation Ceremony, which will be held in the Great Hall at Birmingham University in November.

Esther has been a stalwart of the club for 15 years, serving variously in many volunteer roles including treasurer, membership secretary and competition secretary. She also volunteers for various other amateur swimming events in the South West, utilising her qualifications as timekeeper, starter, judge and is currently completing referee training. She also encourages others to train in these roles. 

Twenty club adults and senior swimmers are now officiating at club events here in Tavistock and at galas across the county.

It is a tremendous accolade for the swimming club, which operates as a charity and aims to provide personal development for all its hard working volunteers as well as its swimmers.