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Swim king Charles rewarded weeks before stepping down
The man who transformed Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club into one of the biggest forces in the pool in the county is stepping down.
Charles Dainton was rewarded for his 12 years as head coach when he was given the prestigious Roy Rogers Memorial Trophy at the Herts ASA AGM.
It came five weeks ahead of August 31 - the date the 60 year old will leave his post, along with wife and coach at the club Linda, 58.
"Coaching swimming at a club like Hemel Hempstead means you have got to be available every day and I have done that for a long time," he said.
"My wife and I just decided that we wanted our weekends back."
Charles, who will continue coaching at the club, spent 12 years as head coach after seven as a regular coach.
He also spent five years at the City of St Albans Club.
During his time he has helped many swimmers to National level, including Olympic long-distance swimmer Richard Charlesworth.
On the award, given to him last Monday, he said: "Honestly I was absolutely gobsmacked. I was just going to the meeting as normal and when it came to the awards I got that one.
"I was very surprised but pleased with the recognition."
Charles, who joined with kids Philip and Nicky, has overseen a massive upturn in the club's fortunes.
They now have 50 swimmers regularly competing at county championships compared with a handful when he began. This year they had 13 regional swimmers, wheras they had zero when he took over.
He will continue to teach swimming lessons at primary schools in the town.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
