A FOUNDING member of Redditch’s popular Bridge Swimming Club has been bid a fond farewell after a change of venue left him unable to continue his volunteer work.
Tom Ryder set up the club formerly known as the Boy’s Brigade Swimming Club more than 40 years ago with David Finney, and over the years, Tom helped transform the lives of hundreds of children by teaching them vital swimming and lifesaving skills.
Before the move to Kingsley pool from Hewell Road, Tom taught lifesaving with many swimmers achieving their coveted badges.
He also taught advanced swimming for many years helping students with the finer points of the sport and building up the stamina needed for the distances covered during badge nights.
However, last month saw Redditch Borough Council pull the plug on the Kingsley Sports Centre, home of the Bridge Swimming Club for more than 40 years, following cutbacks aimed at netting the authority a combined saving of nearly £150,000.
Devastated swimmers and coaches were invited to relocate to the Abbey Stadium from September 25 – however the move meant a change of time and schedule.
The new time slot allocated to the club meant Tom was unable to continue his volunteering and the Bridge Swimming Club has been forced to say a sad farewell to him.
A spokesperson for the club said: “Unfortunately due to the closure of the Kingsley pool and the club’s relocation, Tom has been unable to continue volunteering at the new time as it is now two hours earlier.
“As a highly dedicated team member, who always took the time to give help and advice to the instructors, he will be missed by fellow volunteers and swimmers.”
