It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that I write to inform you of the passing of Trevor Pollard on 11th April 2019, who was the Wigan Swimming Club (WASPS) Chairman from 2008 to 2014.

Trevor oversaw our move out of the Wigan International Pool, where our club sessions were dispersed all over the Wigan Borough and brought us back to our home base that is now the Wigan Life Centre, in what was a very testing 2 years for the club. A re-brand from Wigan Swimming Club to Wigan Swimming Club (WASPS) along with the current logo that we have today was overseen by Trevor once back in the Wigan Life Centre.

Once back in our home, Trevor along with the newly formed Wigan Swim Development Group introduced a new gala for all the borough’s clubs that now takes place annually in January – the Swim Development Gala for all the new and upcoming swimmers of the Wigan Borough.
The Swim Development Gala wasn’t the only gala that Trevor introduced as his time as Chairman. Having just moved into the new Wigan Life Centre, Trevor pushed for the use of the newly installed electronic timing system to aid the time trials and competitions. He was influential in getting a Level 3 licensed meet, which later became the Starter Meet, and continues to be successful to this day. This wasn’t to be the only new gala that our swimmers got to experience under Trevor’s guidance, the Micro League was a new team gala that we entered in early 2011, where we subsequently progressed through the rankings to make it to the top division, which is where we are today.

Our annual Swim Camp to Rossall School in Fleetwood was also the brain child of Trevor, which continues to be a popular addition to the calendar each year.

Trevor wasn’t just a Chairman, he was a Judge 2 qualified Official and as such mentored a number of parents and committee members to become timkeepers to enable the club to hold licensed meets. He was a Team Manager and was often seen poolside at various team galas throughout the calendar, giving up his time freely to support the up and coming swimmers whenever needed.

The work of any Chairman and Committee is often unseen by the wider swimming community but the work that Trevor put into Wigan Swimming Club (WASPS) and the borough is now being enjoyed by the next generation of swimmers and built upon by the current Committee of Wigan Swimming Club (WASPS).

Trevor’s daughter Sarah is currently one of our club coaches, having come through as a swimmer like most of our club coaches previously.

On behalf of everyone at Wigan Swimming Club (WASPS) we would like to offer our sincere condolences at this very difficult time to both Pam, Trevor’s wife and Sarah, his daughter.
Wigan swimming and the wider community have lost a true gentleman, who will be truly missed.

 

Trevor’s funeral will take place at Charnock Richard Crematorium on Monday 29th April at 2:30pm, then onto the Bowling Green to raise a glass to the great man he was.