1066 Swimmers honoured with top award

Entirely voluntarily run, it has been given accreditation as a Swim 21 club, a national initiative set up by the ASA and Sport UK to take the sport into the 21st century.

Very few clubs receive this award, akin to a 5-star rating in catering, and the next nearest recipient, geographically, is in Barnet.

The club was honoured at a special ceremony at the Rother Council Chamber at Bexhill Town Hall on Monday night when council chief executive Derek Stevens welcomed members and guests.

Nuala Muir-Cochrane, ASA regional development officer for London, explained the Swim 21 accreditation and East Sussex deputy lieutenant Derek Norcross presented the prestigious certificate to 1066 head coach Sean Collins and club captains Lyndsey Hollands and Graham Watkins.

1066 also became the only swimming club in the south of England to receive the Sport England Club Mark which was presented by Steve Padfield, Sport England development manager for Sussex.