A SWIMMING coach who helped thousands of Teesdale children take the plunge, has died aged 87.
Daphne White, formerly of Teesdale Road, Startforth, passed away at Springfield Court Nursing Home, near Southport, on Monday, May 2, following a short battle with cancer.
Mrs White was a well-known and respected swimming coach, first teaching at Baliol School and then Green Lane School for more than 25 years.
She and her husband Ralph moved from Hampshire to Teesdale in 1970 when he took up a teaching position at Barnard Castle School.
Daughter and former Olympic swimmer Cathy Hyslop said: “They had never heard of Barnard Castle back then.
“It was dad that encouraged mum to get her teaching certificate when the swimming teacher position came up at Baliol School. With dad coaching at Barnard Castle School and mum at Baliol they joked they had both pools in the town.”
Following the death of her husband Mrs White remained in Teesdale, only moving to near Southport two years ago to be closer to family.
Mrs Hyslop said: “She said she’d had a really good life and never really had any illness so it was a bit alien to her, but she is at peace now.”
Mrs White is survived by children Christopher and Cathy, grandchildren Charlotte, Abi, Martyn, Zara and Adele and great-grandchildren Jacob, Harper, Harlow and Ottilie.
The funeral service will be held at West Lancashire Crematorium on Friday, May 20, at 3pm.
The family have asked any charitable donations to be made to Cancer Research UK or the RNLI.
