A MUCH respected swimming coach, who was instrumental in the development of several Olympic athletes, died last month aged 63, after a long battle with cancer.

A former shift worker at Pilkingtons, Ivor Tattum from Clock Face was known for his remarkable dedication to the sport.

Every morning he was up at 5.30am for an intensive two-hour training session and straight after work he was again poolside, whether it was Parr baths or Boundary Road, for another two hours.

Fellow coach, Helen Billington, who knew Ivor for 15-years said: "He was a very determined man and a good friend.

"Ivor was very approachable and always had the best interests of his swimmers at heart."

Among the list of notable names he has coached are Helen Don-Duncan, David O'Brien from Rainhill, who is competing in Athens and Para Olympian Jennifer Coughlin, from St Helens.

Ivor who had been recognised as the District Sports Council's 'Coach of the Year' in 2000 and the swimming coaches 'Coach of the Year' two years in succession, attended the last Olympics in Sydney as a coach for the British team.