A WELL known swimming teacher has decided to call it a day after almost a quarter of a century at Ulverston Leisure Centre showing both children and adults the ropes.

Christine Hodgson, 62, who stepped down from her role in September, was well known for her quirky ways on the poolside and rarely went home dry as she was known to get into the pool on a regular basis to show her pupils how it is done.

The Ulverston resident had a different perspective when it came to coaching adults as she only learned to swim at the age of 36 herself, so was able to easily empathise with them as she was in their shoes once.

Her daughter, Elizabeth Dempster, said: "We thought she needed a good send off as not many people were aware that she was leaving, and the response on social media was great, everyone seemed to remember her.

"She only learned to swim at the age of 36, when me and my sister were learning as kids, and then she started helping out on poolside. Then she eventually went into coaching.

"She actually took children from Chetwynde School to the national finals with Manny Boyd.

"I think she was inspired to start coaching by Gale who taught her, when we were kids she was the only teacher there, so mum would help out.

"One person told me about how she went into the pool fully clothed during a lesson to demonstrate a stroke. That is what made her different.

"A lot of people will remember her doing funny things like that.

"When she whistled she did it without a metal whistle or fingers but still managed to get it loud enough that the parents heard her.

"She was amazing but it was just time to finish really. It is not the end she imagined with coronavirus being present but she has grandchildren who live away from the area, and she wants to spend more time with them."

The grandmother will be sorely missed by all her former students, including those she helped with injury rehabilitation and triathlon training. However, a new role of grandma has now taken centre stage as she waves the pool goodbye.