A devoted Lanark swimming coach who has dedicated more than five decades to leading the town’s swimming club has been recognised in the King’s new year honours.
Karen Kelly will receive the British Empire Medal in recognition of her incredible work as head coach at Lanark amateur swimming club – and marked the announcement on Hogmanay at the poolside for one of her regular early-morning training sessions with the club’s young members.
She is among the stars and community stalwarts across the country to be named in the honours list for her voluntary service, after first joining aged 10 and taking up her first coaching role aged 16, going on to help generations of swimmers to a host of titles, medals and personal achievements.
Karen told Lanarkshire Live: “I got letter from the cabinet office a few weeks ago saying I’d been nominated – it was a real surprise and I think it’s a reflection of how well the club has done over the years – there are a lot of people who work really hard to do that.
“I first joined when I was 10 and I always enjoyed coaching from when I started helping – I like seeing kids from a small club like Lanark reach levels on the national stage and I love helping all of our swimmers to be the best they can be.
“You make good friends as swimming is a close-knit community and I get a lot out of it, and it’s rewarding to see how well everyone does and how they progress.”
Head coach Karen runs six training sessions per week for the club’s 80 members aged from nine to young adults – including two “early bird” sessions every week which take place first thing before school – as well as taking on hours of further tasks such as administration and competition entries.
She combines her incredible volunteering with her job in administration at the St Andrew’s hub in Carluke; and she was in her usual poolside position before work early on the last day of 2024 as the news of her royal honour was shared.
Karen said of her British Empire Medal award: “I was thinking of just waiting to see how long the grapevine took for people to find out!
“I think everyone at the club will be really happy – we’re a close team and I have great coaches who I work with at the club, and everyone is always very supportive of each other.
“Our swimmers have done so well over the years; we compete nationally and at district level, and we have a swimmer going to represent the Scotland youth team in Geneva this month and another winning five titles last month.
“The reward for me is seeing everybody be the best that they can be. Receiving this is a really nice thing and a great honour.”
Karen was first introduced to Lanark ASC by mum Mary, who she describes as “a stalwart of the club for years”.
The head coach celebrated her 50th anniversary with the Lanark club in 2023, making her the longest-serving member in its history – and was praised then as a “one-off” by fellow volunteers.
Club secretary Janet Bone described her five decades as “an amazing achievement and said: “I can’t say enough about how much we value Karen; the dedication and inspiration she gives to the kids is outstanding and if it wasn’t for her, I don’t think we would have such a strong club.”
Karen was also recognised with presentations from neighbouring swimming coaches and with a motion at the House of Commons, noting her “extraordinary work as a volunteer” and successes including coaching dozens of Scottish and district champions, two Deaflympic athletes and earning coaching accolades from bodies including the Scottish amateur swimming association and Clydesdale sports council.
She was also honoured with invitations to the Princess of Wales’ festive carol service at Westminster Abbey as well as to a Holyrood garden party – and is now looking forward to a special presentation of her royal honour at a Lanarkshire venue in the coming months.
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