Team GB Rebecca Adlington's award to Basildon swim teacher

Retired Team GB hero, Rebecca Adlington OBE, who struck gold twice at the Beijing 2008 games, visited Basildon Sporting Village to present swimming instructor Joshua Milner with the "Swim Teacher of the Year" award.

Open to more than 3,000 swim teachers across Everyone Active’s more than 230 sites across the UK, the award recognises an inspirational individual who goes the extra mile in providing quality swimming lessons each week.

Joshua's journey as a swim teacher started when he embarked on the aquatics apprentice programme at the gym in 2018, a programme managed by operator Everyone Active in partnership with Basildon Council.

Today, Joshua runs an array of classes including "learn to swim" lessons, school swimming lessons, and 121 sessions.

Surprised - Joshua Milner with his trophy (Image: Everyone Active)

He also runs the Level Water sessions which offers children between the ages of four and 11 with mobility, visual or hearing impairments the opportunity to learn to swim.

Rebecca said: “I’d like to congratulate Joshua for his award and for how instrumental he has been in the success of his classes.

“Forgetting all my Olympic medals and all that sort of stuff, I still remember my swimming teacher and all the lessons I had with her.

“Learning to swim isn’t just a case of learning a life skill, it’s developing these kids, it’s giving them an education, it’s building confidence – and it’s the same in adults.

“It’s so much more than just a skill or a medal, it really shows you who you are as a person.”

Customers praised Joshua as "kind, caring and lovely", always going out of his way to help those he works with.

Nina Carter, swim manager at Everyone Active and Joshua’s nominator, said: “Joshua’s teaching has not only made a massive contribution to his customer’s skill development, but to their holistic personal wellbeing and lives.

“I truly believe Joshua is one of a kind and the efforts he has made to make his sessions succeed is second to none.”

In addition to all of his lessons and sessions, Joshua supports a hydrotherapy transition group, which provides a six-week treatment programme for hospital patients to promote physical health and wellbeing through water-based activities.