Burnham-On-Sea resident Pat Pusill has been presented with a prestigious award this week to mark her service to aquatic sport over 37 years.
Swim England has named her as the ‘South West Region Winner for Service to Aquatics in 2017’.
Pat was presented with the award for showing outstanding volunteering services in the sport at club, county and regional level plus to the local community of Burnham-On-Sea.
Pat told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week it was a “great honour” to receive the award.
that she was introduced to open water swimming by her father, which was a tradition passed onto her own children.
She is one of Swim England’s many dedicated volunteers, carrying out her duties quietly for the benefit of local swimmers and love of the sport.
Pat’s volunteering journey started in 1980 when like so many other parents her children joined Burnham-On-Sea Swimming Club.
When her children started competing Pat became the Team Manager and Competition Secretary in addition to Membership Secretary.
She also played an active role on the Committee, duties she continued to perform many years after they left the club.
She compled her Level 1 and Level 2 teaching awards to develop her technical knowledge of the strokes and competitive skills required for the swimmers to enjoy the sport and compete at the highest possible level.
Pat’s enthusiasm and passion to support the swimmers and club activities encouraged many others to volunteer over the years, including 2016 Aquatics Young Volunteer runner up Nathan Clarke and 2016 Youths Sport Trust Coaching Academy candidate, whom she mentored.
Transferable skills gained have been used for the benefit of the local community.
Pat continues to teach swimming as a volunteer for three primary schools and has supported Somerset/SW Sea Cadet Corps swimming activities.
Not content with helping at club level she began volunteering for Somerset ASA in 1983 marshalling at events, (continuing to date), and performing these duties for SW ASA 1985 – 2008.
Pats outstanding contribution to aquatics within Somerset was rewarded with a Somerset County Badge in 2000 and Somerset ASA Wyvern Plate for Services in 2004.
Pat’s outstanding service was recognised in 2010 when she was awarded Life Membership of Burnham-On-Sea S.C. and a 2011 Burnham & Highbridge Civic Award for Services to Swimming.
In 2016 Pat left Burnham-On-Sea and joined Norton Radstock Swimming Club, a club in which she had made many friends over the years, acting as a critical friend when asked for advice, acknowledging her wealth of experience in all club matters.
Pat joined the poolside team, teaching on a Tuesday evening for 2 1/2 hours, making a round trip of 54 miles, where she is a well-respected volunteer.
