Tributes to ex-policeman Adam Baxter who taught thousands to swim

Adam Baxter was the trainer of the North Yorkshire Police life-saving team. He retired from the force in 1977, and for many years taught children to swim at York City Baths Club.

He joined the police in 1947 after service in the Far East with the RAF and was promoted to sergeant in 1966. He also helped in the training department and in the control room at York.

Born in Glasgow in 1923, Mr Baxter moved with his parents to Escrick when he was seven after his father got a job as head gardener at Escrick Park. He went to primary school in the village and joined a school swimming team when he was 11, starting a lifelong love of the sport.

He was a keen sportsman, playing tennis and football. He played football for both York Police and Yorkshire.

Mr Baxter met his wife, Pat, when she was working behind the bar at the King Edward VII pub on Nunnery Lane in 1954. He was working in CID and came into the pub as part of routine inquiries. The couple started dating and married in 1955.

The couple, who made their home in Clifton, shared a love of swimming, both competing professionally and both coaching the sport.

They had one daughter, Susan, who swam for Great Britain and a grandson, Scott, who is in the police in West Yorkshire.

In 2003, as president of York Baths, Mr Baxter was awarded a special award by the North Eastern Counties Swimming Association to mark the work he had done for the sport in the region. The York club followed this up by making a special presentation of their own to thank him for his service he has given down the years.

Over the years was general secretary of York City Baths Club as well as a Yorkshire committee member, and took up various official duties.

Mrs Baxter, who still teaches swimming, said: “He loved coaching and seeing the kids progress and until recently he would come to the pool with me and sit poolside and help out.”

Mr Baxter’s funeral will be held on Monday, at York Crematorium, at 12.20pm.