A Lifetime in the Water: A Conversation with Paddy O’Toole

Paddy O’Toole is one of the familiar faces at Harwich, Dovercourt and Parkeston Swimming Club. A long-standing member of the club, she has supported swimmers in many different ways over the years — as a swimmer, an official, and a volunteer who has helped others gain lifesaving qualifications.

Some people become part of a swimming club for a few years while their children swim. Others become part of the club’s story for decades. Paddy O’Toole is one of those people.

Paddy first came to the water through lifesaving rather than traditional competitive swimming, but over the years she has become a dedicated member of the club squad and competes in Masters swimming events.

Alongside her own swimming, Paddy has always been willing to give back to the club. She is a familiar face at galas as one of the club’s officials, helping ensure races are run fairly and smoothly.

In previous years, Paddy also played an important role in the club by running lifesaving qualification training, helping teachers and coaches gain the qualifications they needed to support swimmers safely in the water.

For many members of the club, it’s hard to remember a time when Paddy wasn’t part of the Harwich Swimming Club community.

We asked Paddy a few questions about her time with the club and what keeps her involved after so many years.

Questions

1 & 2. How did you first become involved with Harwich Swimming Club? You originally came from a lifesaving background rather than competitive swimming. How did that lead you into club swimming?

I became involved with the ’new’ Harwich swim club, that was set up by Peter and Barbara Scotchbrook, soon after the indoor pool opened. Peter was the pool manager and he and his wife taught lifesaving, which is where my first love lies. After a while both clubs combined and I continued with lifesaving, teaching lifesaving skills, and swimming myself to keep fit and able to do the timed swims in the lifesaving awards. Our daughters came to the club and swam, and I encouraged them for as long as possible, leading by example!

3. You’re still actively swimming and competing in Masters events. What do you enjoy most about that?

I’m not sure I do enjoy competing in Masters events!

However, I do like to think that I can do my best and come away with a medal or position in my age group, even if my times slip a little as I get older! Unfortunately having a good training session one week does not necessarily transfer to a good event. But I keep learning about myself and my training over time and I love the personal challenge.

4. You’re also a familiar face at galas as one of the club’s officials. What does that role involve?

Martin, my husband, used to take our grandsons to galas and rather than sit in the spectator balcony, we decided it would be good if we both became time keepers. That way, he was nearer the action and I was able to give back to the club in another way. One thing has led to another, and I am a trainee starter. We had some theory lessons, then had to do practical time keeping at an Essex gala, to show we were capable. From there we did a few more theory lessons and a small exam, to become a J1. All the time we had mentoring at galas where we had to show our competency. Now, quite often I judge on strokes. This means I walk the side of the pool, looking at swimmers strokes, and turns to ensure there are no infractions of the rules.

5. Why are officials so important for swimming competitions?

It may seem harsh for younger swimmers, but I feel that all infractions should be reported to the referee, for them to decide on the degree of leniency. There is then fairness to all swimmers. After all, we don’t want Harwich swimmers, swimming within the rules and other teams gaining any advantage by infractions…

6. In the past you helped run lifesaving qualification training for the club. What was that experience like?

I love lifesaving. I have been involved with the Royal Lifesaving Society since 1974 when I first gained my Bronze Medallion award. I have been a volunteer beach lifeguard for several years in the 1970s and a pool lifeguard. Lifesaving is a life skill and I am passionate about it. I have taught lifesaving skills to children to gain badges and we even entered a team to a lifesaving competition, where the children had to do rope throws and pull people in against the clock, rescue a casualty and tow them against the clock and other competitors, and do resuscitation.

I have taught lifesaving awards to some swimmers who then went on to do open water lifesaving awards at Essex Outdoors on Mersea Island, where the RLSS Essex Branch (and I was one of the trainers) carried out training for open water for a weekend annually.

I have kept my RLSS qualifications & membership up-to-date and taught National Rescue Award to Swim Teachers & Coaches, for many years. This award allowed our teachers who gained it, to teach poolside without the need of the club paying for lifeguards. It allowed the costs to be controlled. Nowadays, the pool has decided the club has to have pool lifeguards, and the necessity of teachers holding this qualification is negated. I used to travel to other clubs to examine this award. So, what was it like? It kept me busy, keeping updated, and doing the paperwork. I loved giving confidence to candidates so that they felt they would be able to do something if needed to.

7. Having been involved with the club for so many years, what changes have you seen over time?

Having just been talking of lifesaving, then one of the biggest changes is the lack of a lifesaving section. I understand why, and I realise that the focus is on being a swim club. We are like a lot of Essex clubs. Their lifesaving sections have folded and unfortunately the RLSS puts more emphasis on the professional qualifications such as the Pool Lifeguard, and not the grass roots lifesaving.

Other changes are perhaps more subtle. We have always swum, but it feels that the club is more focussed and professional!

8. What do you enjoy most about being part of the Harwich Swimming Club community?

The swimming and the friendliness of everyone.

I can’t chat a lot whilst swimming, but I get a natter between sets, and at the beginning and end of sessions. Everyone seems to know why we are here and get on with it. I love that everything seems to come together with everyone’s help on gala nights and love the wonderful coaching team, who understand that my moans about kick, don’t mean I won’t give it a go!

9. What advice would you give to swimmers — or parents — who are thinking about getting more involved in the club?

How do you know what it’s like unless you give it a go? That goes for swimming as well as volunteering. Of course your swim times will be slower than some, but that’s the point isn’t it? We all try to get better (or maintain!). You may find that your stroke improves and that improves your time, or you may just find you can keep going for longer. No one expects you to run a gala on your first time, but you can learn how to press a stopwatch and the rules around that. If you feel that you want more of a challenge, you can move on to learn another role. We don’t all have the same goals, except to make this club the best it can be!

10. Finally, what keeps you coming back to the pool after all these years?

I need the regime. I need the fact that someone is there waiting for me, and that I would be letting them down if I didn’t go! After all, nothing worse in my mind, to be a coach and have no one to coach! Am I doing them a favour? Of course not! I wouldn’t come if I didn’t enjoy it. And of course I am helping myself to keep fit

Closing

Harwich, Dovercourt and Parkeston Swimming Club relies on the dedication of volunteers who support the club in many different ways.

Paddy’s long-standing commitment — as a swimmer, official, and volunteer — reflects the spirit of the club community. Her willingness to help and her continued enthusiasm for the sport make her a valued part of the Harwich Swimming Club family.