Award for woman who's work saves children's lives

Anne Bickmore, of Phyllis Avenue, Peacehaven, attended a ceremony at Crawley's new K2 swimming pool where she receive the surprise award.

She met Olympic champion Duncan Goodhew who presented her with a plaque for her outstanding services to children's swimming in Sussex.

Anne had gone to the ceremony to celebrate the 500,000th child learning to swim on the Southern Water Learn to Swim scheme.

Anne has been teaching swimming for more than 24 years, working with local schools and through her own swim school based at the Eastbourne DGH hydrotherapy pool where the shallow warm water helps her to specialise in the under fives and very nervous adults.

She said: 'I had no idea I was to receive the award and I am absolutely over the moon.

'I swim a mile every morning. It is just such an important skill. One day it might save somebody's life.

'There are so many other benefits; it is physically good for people.'

Mr Goodhew said: 'Thanks to instructors like Anne, many children from Brighton to Eastbourne have been taught the necessary skills to be safe in water.

'Anne has undoubtedly saved the lives of children in Sussex and the award is very well deserved.' Anne has not only taught thousands of youngsters to swim, she has also helped hundreds of poor families have a decent Christmas with her very own charity.

Anne set up the ABC fund (Anne Bickmore Charity) as a result of her swimming lessons.

She said: 'About 12 years ago the children were doing their distance badges and I thought it was only fair these privileged children, whose parents pay for swimming lessons, realised there are less advantaged children so we started raising money for local charities.'

The fund now helps families who have had problems whether through financial troubles, illness or bereavement.

It provides families in the Newhaven and Peacehaven area with days out, Christmas hampers and much more For more information about the fund visit www.abcfund.org and for Anne's swim club visit www.annebickmoreswimming.co.uk