County meet promoter Alan Thurlow has been recognised for services to swimming in the King’s birthday honours.
He will be presented with a British Empire Medal (BEM) at an investiture ceremony to be hosted by the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, the monarch’s personal representative.
Alan, who hails from south-west London and is affiliated to Wandsworth Swimming Club, has been involved in the sport for more than 25 years.
He is organiser and promoter of the Surrey swimming championships and meet manager for the London Swimming events.
A referee for almost two decades, he was a technical official at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. In 2016 he was made an honorary life vice-president of Surrey County ASA.
Kelly Stannard, business manager for London Swimming, said the award was well deserved as “he does so much” for his discipline.
Diane Gamble, chair of Surrey County ASA, said it was fitting for him to be recognised in this way for the time and effort he has given to swimming at all levels.
She said: “Alan has put so much into the swimming community for so long and will not expect any reward for the work he has done over the years.
“Everything he does for swimming – locally, at county and regional level and nationally – is done as a volunteer.
“He gives freely of his time with the sole intention of providing the best event for the swimmers to perform to their highest standard.”
Describing him as a “quiet and modest person”, she said Alan was a trusted, reliable and forward-thinking volunteer for whom nothing was too much trouble.
She added: “His mantra is that we are there for the swimmers and they must come first in everything we do. This applies at whatever level we are working – grass-roots through to Olympic trials.
“He is always asking, What more can we do to enable our swimmers to reach their fullest potential?”
After a four-year stint as a company director of London Swimming, he stepped down earlier this year.
Recipients can use the letters “BEM” after their name on official correspondence. Special privileges include the use of the chapel at St Paul’s Cathedral for baptisms, weddings and funerals.
Almost 1,200 people covering a wide variety of fields, from sport and medicine to technology, community work and the arts, have been recognised in this year’s honours.