Tributes paid to former Fylde coast swimming teacher Pauline Nicholls who has died at the age of 90

Pauline, who lived on the Fylde Coast for most of her life, will be remembered by thousands of people in and around the resort for helping them to swim at a small private pool at her home in Maldern Avenue, Carleton.

Born on November 11, 1929 as Pauline Merrill, she was in the infant class at Revoe School at a time when only the older children were allowed on weekly trips to the baths, but as an exceptional young swimmer the headteacher gave her permission to join them.

In the war years she was swimming competitively with Blackpool Swimming Club in competitions between Lancashire towns.

Pauline, educated at Tyldesley School and Blackpool Technical College, went on to achieve her career ambition by becoming a reporter at The Gazette and its sister weekly title, the Blackpool Gazette & Herald.

After her marriage to motor engineer Roy Nicholls she continued as a reporter, working from home. It was when their sons, Tony and Paul, were at Hodgson School that she decided to take up swimming teaching.

Speaking to the Gazette in 2007 when she retired, she said she had been privileged to teach thousands of children over the years both at her own pool and as a schools’ swimming instructor for Lancashire County Council. She even taught opera singer Alfie Boe.

Retired Gazette tourism writer Craig Fleming said: “Pauline was a forthright yet caring lady who I first met more than 30 years ago when my daughter was one of thousands of Fylde coast youngsters she taught to swim.

“On discovering we had a connection in journalism she delighted in sharing many anecdotes about her time as Gazette reporter Pauline Merrill and we became good friends.

“It is unbelievable today that back then the female reporters had to fight hard to be seen as responsible enough to be trusted with what were considered ‘serious’ stories.

“But Pauline stood her ground, proving she was eminently capable of covering any subject.”

Following the death of Roy and with Pauline’s health failing, Tony persuaded his mum to move nearer to his home in Norfolk and she lived there until her death on August 6.

Her funeral will take place in Norwich.