Stalwart Burnley swimming teacher retires after 40 years' service

A swimming instructor is retiring after 40 years of teaching generations of children at pools across the Burnley area.
Pictured from left, Burnley Leisure area manager Scott Bryce, Patrick Ellins and Neil Hutchinson, Burnley Leisure’s head of group operations.Pictured from left, Burnley Leisure area manager Scott Bryce, Patrick Ellins and Neil Hutchinson, Burnley Leisure’s head of group operations.
Pictured from left, Burnley Leisure area manager Scott Bryce, Patrick Ellins and Neil Hutchinson, Burnley Leisure’s head of group operations.

Patrick Ellins, aged 66, has worked at local pools and leisure centres since 1980 as a lifeguard and then an instructor, and taught thousands of school children.

Respected and popular, Pat is well-known to both young and old and often recognised home and away by children, parents and grandparents who have attended his classes over the years.

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He taught at Burnley’s former Thompson Leisure Centre and old Victorian Gannow Baths. Later, he taught at the brand-new St Peter’s Leisure Centre and Padiham Leisure Centre.

Pat has been thanked by Burnley Leisure, the charitable trust which serves the community with local recreational, sport, entertainment and cultural activities including the St Peter’s and Padiham leisure centres, Prairie Sports Village, Towneley Golf Course, Thompson Park Boathouse and Burnley Mechanics theatre.

Reflecting on his career, Pat said: “I’ve taught many children to swim from schools across Burnley. Primary and high schools, boys’ and girls’ schools. I couldn’t guess the exact total of children but it’ll be a good number.

"I’ve also taught different generations of families. Children I taught have grown up and had their own children, who I’ve then taught. Some have gone on to swim at national level too.”

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Pat describes his teaching style as a combination of firmness, encouragement and fun, which paid-off with great results.

Recalling different types of children and school classes, he said: “We had lots of fun and jokes. I had nicknames for the kids and there were plenty of characters amongst them. It was great to see them learn to swim.

“Of course, now and again I’d get the odd tricky pupil or class. I was once sent a ‘class from hell’ who had a wild reputation. Some people expected me to be tough on the kids but I felt they probably already had a hard-enough time at home. They needed attention and encouragement, I felt. They soon settled down and were a good class.

“Another time at Gannow Baths, I was sent two ‘bad’ lads who’d been missing school. Well, they both turned up bright-and-early at 6am every day then again at lunchtime and after school. They even helped with the coal for the boilers! They started attended school regularly again. Their teacher said coming for swimming lessons was the best thing that ever happened to them. I think they both later became army PT instructors.

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“It’s been a good job and I’ve worked with many nice people. I’ll miss the atmosphere of swimming pools and the reactions of kids. I have lots of people to thank including two of my early managers, Alan Garner, who was at Padiham and Gannow; Brian Cockroft, who was at Padiham, and Bill Schofield, who was based mainly at Padiham.”

Neil Hutchinson, head of group operations at Burnley Leisure, said: “We want to thank Pat for his great service to the community for 40 years. He has been a real stalwart of the Burnley swimming and leisure centre scene. We wish him the very best for his retirement.”

As a boy, Pat grew up in Burnley’s Cog Lane and Sycamore Avenue areas. He attended St Mary Magdalene and St Theodore’s schools. His dad (William, known as Billy) took him to the old Gannow Baths and he gained a swimming certificate at school aged seven or eight.

After school, his first job was with the Tom Smith tobacconist and confectionary wholesaler. He later worked as a binman then travelled to France. On return to the UK, he moved south to find work and spent next three years doing seasonal contracts at a Pontins holiday camp at Brixham, Devon. He then returned to Burnley and worked at the former Mullards TV components factory at Simonstone, which became part of the LG Philips empire.

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During the 1970s, Pat exercised at Burnley’s Thompson Leisure Centre, which was then one of the exciting new generation of leisure centres developed in post-war Britain. There, he heard about a vacancy for a swimming pool lifeguard which interested him. (There were also rumours of redundancies at the TV components factory).

So, Pat attended an evening class to gain his life-saving qualification and was then offered a lifeguard job in 1980.

From there, Pat had the opportunity to improve his skills and qualifications. He developed a career as a lifeguard then as a lifeguard teacher, examiner and adviser.

He gained multiple accreditations and awards including a bronze medallion, award of merit, bronze and silver crosses and a distinction. He gained other qualifications to become a pool lifeguard trainer and assessor then a beach lifeguard and a first aid instructor. He also had ASA swimming teacher and advanced swimming teacher status.

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He added: “I’ve benefited from various career development and training opportunities for people working in the leisure and swimming pool industry. I was able to build up my own skills while working, which really suited me. Leisure and swimming is an interesting sector with lots of good people and opportunities.”

Looking ahead to his retirement, Pat hopes to spend more time on his hobby of joinery and also dancing with his wife Rachel Pickard. They enjoy sequence, modern and rock’n’roll dancing across East Lancashire including Burnley, Darwen, Clayton-le-Moors and Bacup.

Rachael, who works in adult social care at Burnley’s Chaddesley House said: “Wherever we go, locally or on holiday, there’s always someone who recognises Pat from his swimming lessons. It’s amazing how many people know him.”

The couple, who live in the Palatine Square area, have four children – Sarah Ellins, Nick Pickard, Adam Pickard and Carla Cartwright – and eight grandchildren.

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Burnley Leisure area manager Scott Bryce added: “Swimming or other types of activity play a vital part in boosting physical and mental health for people of all ages. This is especially important with the ongoing Covid situation.

"Burnley Leisure venues and activities are helping the community to combat the physical, mental and social impacts of coronavirus whilst also strengthening resilience to other illnesses and viruses.

“All our venues and activities feature the highest hygiene and Covid-secure arrangements while retaining a great atmosphere and friendly welcome. We’ve got something for everyone.”

This autumn, Burnley Leisure is offering more access to its swimming pools, gyms, fitness classes, sports pitches and personal training.

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It is also launching a new digital offering which will respond better to changing customer patterns in the new circumstances with timetable booking improvements, online workouts and wider leisure and culture information.

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