Tributes have been made in memory of Terry Norris

Tributes have been made in memory of Terry Norris, president of the Swim England South East Region, who died on Sunday 11 April after suffering a stroke.

Terry was well known throughout the swimming community and played a key role as a Team Manager for the Swim England South East Region, Swim England and British Swimming.

He became involved in Chalfont Otters SC when his daughter, Katie, began swimming at the age of nine and he was immediately co-opted onto the committee, progressing from press officer, to fixture secretary, treasurer and chairman.

A statement on Chalfont Otters SC’s website reads: “Terry was truly a great supporter of the club and he helped the club in various capacities over several years, and he will be sorely missed by many throughout the swimming community.

“As a club, Terry was in instrumental to our success and our thoughts are with the Norris family during these times.

“We plan to acknowledge and recognise everything that Terry has done for the club in due course.”

Helpful and caring

In 2016 Terry became President of the Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire – a one year role he held for three years and three months – before becoming regional president.

Dozens of heartfelt tributes to Terry were posted on the Swim England South East Region’s Facebook page and have also been received by the region’s office.

One said ‘Terry was one of the most helpful and caring people in swimming’, while another said ‘Terry was one of a kind and a true gent. A great TM and a real swimming enthusiast; poolside just won’t be the same without him.’

Lindsay Trimmings, Swim England’s coach development manager, said Terry was ‘a really great guy who would be extremely missed’.

He worked closely with the national talent programme as team manager at meets and on camps both at home and abroad.

Lindsay added: “He was heavily involved at a regional and national level mentoring team managers and he carried on supporting up-and-coming team managers in the south east region, helping them to embed themselves in the role.

“He was really integral to delivering team manager training and helped shape some of the national team manager qualifications. It was really great that he has helped the next generation of team managers to come through.

“Terry brought a lot of fun and energy to meets. He was always on the front foot and would always be really positive. Whenever there was a problem, he would find the solution and sort it out.

“He was the heart of the team in a lot of respects.”

Very knowledgeable and a big character

Terry’s term of office was due to end at the South East Region’s Annual Council Meeting on 14 April where he was due to hand over the ceremonial chains to the region’s vice president, Brian DeVal.

Brian said: “I would echo everything people have already said, Terry was just a really nice guy who loved swimming and everything about it.

“He was very knowledgeable and a big character that will be greatly missed.”

A minute’s silence in Terry’s memory was held before the South East Region’s ACM meeting.

Brian later presented the President’s Plate (Jeff Cook Memorial Plate) on behalf of Terry to Kristie Jarrett, one of the South East Region’s club development officers, for her outstanding work throughout the pandemic in maintaining contact with clubs, volunteers and athletes.

Terry is survived by his wife, Heidi, and daughter, Katie. The thoughts of everyone at Swim England go to his family and friends at this time.