Alan Clarkson

Mr Clarkson made a huge impact on the world of swimming, his work being recognised when he was awarded the OBE in the 2004 New Year's Honours List, while in 2007 he became the first person to receive a long service award from the British Olympic Association.

Amateur Swimming Association chief executive David Sparkes paid tribute to Mr Clarkson's "unprecedented commitment to swimming".

"Alan has devoted his whole life to swimming as a competitor, coach, team manager and administrator and he continued to serve with distinction right up to his sudden and very sad death," he said.

Terry Denison, from Leeds, who coached at six Olympics and is chairman of the British Swimming Coaches Association, said: "Alan made a terrific contribution. I will always remember him as someone willing to help others. Nothing was too much trouble. He was one of the real gentlemen in the sport."

Mr Clarkson, one of the few people to have completed the treble of being president of the Yorkshire ASA, the North Eastern Counties ASA and the ASA, competed for York City Baths Club from the early 1950s.

He was Yorkshire 200m and 400m freestyle champion in 1959 and 1500 champion in 1956/60/62/63/64. He represented Yorkshire from 1954-1964 and was a member of the York CBC team which won the ASA 400m freestyle relay in 1958/59. He gained international honours with Great Britain against Australia.

When his competitive days were over Mr Clarkson became a York CBC coach from 1959-68 and was club captain form 1961-64.

He was Yorkshire ASA swimming committee secretary from 1963-1966 and president in 1973 followed by NE Counties presidency ten years later. He was ASA president in 1997.

Mr Clarkson was ASA general team manager from 1973-76 and 1978-79 and was manager for the Commonwealth Games team in 1970, 1974 and 1978.

He was also general team manager for the Amateur Swimming Federation of Great Britain from 1973-79. His major events included the European Junior Championships of 1969 and 1971, the European Championships in 1974, the World Championships in 1973, 1975 and 1978 and the Montreal Olympics in 1976. He was involved in five Olympic Games, being a race judge in Moscow (1980), Los Angeles (1984), Seoul (1988) and Barcelona (1992).

Mr Clarkson was swimming representative on the British Olympic Association from 1986, a member of the LEN Technical Swimming Committee from 1990; FINA Technical Swimming Committee member from 1972-1992 and chairman of the Open Water Committee from 1992 to the present.

Born in York on September 12, 1936, Mr Clarkson was educated at Nunthorpe Grammar School and then became an accountant, being a founding partner of Plummer, Clarkson and Lester (PCL Group).

His wife Pauline (nee Musgrove) swam in the 110 metres backstroke at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

Mr Clarkson leaves his wife, son Kevin, daughter Karen and four grandchildren.

The funeral service is at York Minster on Wednesday, June 9, at 1.30pm.