Last updated 05:37, Friday, 12 September 2008

Arthur Robinson was a swimmer. It was the abiding interest and, indeed, passion in his life and although he never quite achieved national championship status everyone who did knew him – and knew he would never give up.

Arthur Robinson: Former Cumberland county champion

Mr Robinson, who died suddenly aged 72, was a competitor, coach and administrator with the Carlisle Secondary Swimming Club. He was hard working and dedicated in all that he did, sometimes to the point of obsession. Through the late 1950s and early 1960s he was Cumberland county swimming champion several times, competing in all distances and using all the various strokes and he was particularly dominant in the longer races, especially in inter-club and national championships over the measured mile.

He never managed to become a national champion but he was many times a finalist who became much admired for his sheer determination and persistence.

His full name was Arthur Sewell Robinson and he was born in Denton Holme, Carlisle, and moved with his family to Harraby, when the estate was being developed.

After education at the Creighton School, he was conscripted for National Service and joined the RAF, serving in the Middle East and Aden and it was at this time that he began to compete in sport, particularly swimming and water polo. He showed natural aptitude in the water and represented the air force in both disciplines.

Returning to Carlisle, his service completed, he worked as a fireman with British Rail and became a national swimming competitor in the railway’s team.

His dedication was such that after working night shifts he would arrive for training sessions at the James Street baths around 6.30 in the morning. In those days there were no bespoke facilities for training and the baths superintendent, a sympathetic man, opened up specially for him and for his friends.

He met Jean Reynolds, a Lancashire girl, when they were both on holiday in Margate and they married in 1965 and went to live in Preston, where he worked for British Aerospace.

Almost immediately he became involved on the local swimming scene where introductions were totally unnecessary. He knew everyone there and they all knew him. With the Preston Swimming Club he was a competitor until he was well into his 50s and he won many events, particularly in ‘new age group’ races. He took coaching sessions aimed at encouraging much younger members, sometimes competing against them but very rarely winning.

Not that this mattered. His aim was to inspire them – and he did.

At this time he also served as club president.

Although he lived and worked in mid-Lancashire for many years, he loved the Lake District and he and his wife spent holidays in Cockermouth, where they had many friends and they also travelled much further afield – to Australia when he was 60.

Ill health finally put an end to his competitive swimming but, even after suffering three strokes and being fitted with a heart pacemaker, his interest in the sport continued until things took a turn for the worse and he died, suddenly, in hospital.

Mr Robinson was cremated in Preston.

He leaves his wife.