Former Aquatics Development Officer Shirley Bourge has sadly passed away following a long struggle with cancer.
Shirley had a life long involvement in swimming and dedicated a great deal of time and enthusiasm to the sport.
Shirley was a popular character and was a familiar face around the city’s swimming pools, teaching people of all ages and levels to swim for almost 30 years.
During this time she taught lifesaving classes and started a disability swimming club at Eastern Leisure Centre which has since gone from strength to strength. She was also an Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) senior swimming tutor, tutoring many of the current teachers working in Cardiff.
People may also remember swimming clubs such as Shirley’s Stamina Class or the Welsh Whales.
In 1998 she moved to work at County hall to start the Swim Development Team which delivers the swimming programme to the whole of Cardiff. In 2000 the ASA awarded Cardiff Council their prestigious accreditation the Aquamark for outstanding development and delivery for swimming.
Shirley fought off breast cancer for over 10 years and in March 2008 was given the all-clear. Regrettably in February 2010 Shirley received the bad news that she had mesothelioma cancer, a form of lung cancer.
Shirley devoted herself to raising money for good causes and in 2006 she won the South Wales Echo’s Community Champion award for her tireless work for charity.
She also put her own swimming ability and lifesaving skills to the test when she rescued a woman who found herself in difficulties in the sea whilst on holiday in Turkey.
Following her diagnosis Shirley led the way in fundraising for the Llandough Lung Cancer Care Unit. Hundreds of her colleagues and ex-students came out to show their support and participated in events such as sponsored swims to raise cash for the charity.
Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells said: “Shirley was an extraordinary lady. She devoted a great amount of time over the years to teaching people of all ages not only how to swim, an invaluable skill which will stay with them throughout their lives but also taught many others how to teach.
“Her outstanding contribution to the swimming development programme in Cardiff also greatly increased the numbers of those wanting to participate in the sport and engage in physical activity.
“Shirley will be sadly missed but her legacy will continue to benefit the residents of Cardiff for the future”.
