A WELL-KNOWN swimmer from Ellesmere Port has been nominated by MP Andrew Miller for a Scottish Power/Trinity Mirror Cheshire Your Champions Award 2010.

Dr Shirley Cooke, an avid swimmer, has taken part in swimming activities throughout her life and actively competed for the University of Liverpool as a student. She has been running Ellesmere Port Swimming Club for more than 50 years.

Dr Cooke co-founded the club in 1968 and has spent much of her spare time over the last half century coaching youngsters, along with running both local and regional competitions as well as preparing the club to be able to fulfil its obligations towards the Amateur Swimming Association.

Ellesmere Port and Neston MP Mr Miller paid tribute to Dr Cooke’s work, saying: “There are many residents, and ex-residents, of Ellesmere Port who have benefited from improved health, good social interaction and fun from having belonged to this club.’

“Through Dr Cooke’s ongoing efforts that she continues to give to the swimming club, she has provided a great deal of opportunities to a huge number of youngsters within the community of Ellesmere Port, many of whom are now second or third generation.”

Dr Cooke’s enthusiasm for the sport has continued with her maintaining links with Ellesmere Port’s twin town, Reutlingen in Germany, continuing the regular exchanges of swimming teams for an international gala.