FORMER Great Britain international and Masters swimmer Terry Boyes has died after a short battle with illness aged 81.

Born in the South Bank area, Boyes was a member of York City Baths Club.

The relay team, which included other internationals such as Alan Clarkson, Peter Kendrew, and Roddy Frame, won the national championships.

Boyes swam for Great Britain for the first time, aged 21, when the team travelled to Peking to face a full Chinese international team and he won the 400m freestyle.

In 1958, he was chosen to swim at the Commonwealth and Empire Games in Cardiff.

During national service, he represented the Royal Air Force in inter-forces swimming competitions.

After completing his national service, Boyes returned to York and worked at Williams Sessions Printers in Huntington as an engraver.

In 1960, he was training to represent Great Britain at the Olympics but his opportunity was shattered when he suffered a broken leg watching the Isle of Man TT races! An out of control bike had slid into spectators at the roadside and Boyes subsequently spent three weeks in hospital.

Boyes developed his love of adventure after the accident and travelled around the USA for the next two months.

When he returned to York, he was appointed manager of Pocklington swimming pool where he also gave swimming and life saving lessons.

After a brief period working for Britannia Airways in Luton, he returned to York again and managed the Edmund Wilson pool.

Boyes returned to competitive swimming in the late 1970s following the introduction of the Masters swimming in Germany.

He competed all around the globe and is credited with introducing Masters swimming to Great Britain, setting world records, and regularly winning gold medals.

He finally retired from competitive swimming in the late 1980s and turned his attention to exploring Alaska and the Yukon territory of Canada.

He hiked the Chilkoot Trail from Alaska over the mountains of the Canadian border four times.

He also travelled extensively with his partner Caroline and the pair were engaged on the frozen Yukon River in 2003.

He was father to Sarah, Nathan, Anna and Sophie, and grandfather to George, Elsie, Noah, Daniel, Emelie, Jonny and Sam

Caroline has revealed that Boyes will make one last trip to the Yukon in February when a friend carries his ashes, his photo, and his Union Jack swimming trunks from Whitehorse to Dawson City via a dog sled.

His ashes will be released into the Yukon River by Caroline in April.