Laurie Dormer, former Head Coach of Bournemouth Dolphins SC and coach of Littledown Masters has died aged 85 years on 11 February 2016.
During his coaching career Laurie, who started with the Borough of Ealing SC circa 1960 and moved to Bournemouth Dolphins in 1985, has produced a string of National Age Group Championships together with a Commonwealth Games medalist and, since 2006 with Littledown Masters, National Masters medalists and World Triathlon and Iron Man champions.
Laurie’s passion for the sport and determination to raise the profile of swimming, not only in Dorset but also nationwide, was instrumental in the formation of the British Swimming Coaches Association and the Southern Junior League, while his tenacious involvement in the late 1980’s at the planning stage of what we know today as the Littledown Centre has ensured that Dorset got the 8-lane competition pool it so badly needed.
He will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with Luke, Laura, Joe and his grandchildren.
Photo, courtesy of Roger Guttridge: Laurie on his 80th birthday in 2010 with (L-R) his first National Champion Jimmy Faben (1966), Commonwealth Games silver medalist Malcolm Tucker (1966) and more recent National Champions, BDSC swimmers Ben Gibbs and Danielle Moore.