Swimmer who made splash dies aged 91

A champion swimmer from the Black Country who met Hitler while she competed at the 1936 Berlin Olympics has died after a long illness at the age of 91.

Gladys Lees, who took part in the historic event under her maiden name of Morcom, broke records and won trophies throughout a success-studded career in the pool.

She was 400m freestyle national champion for two years running and set an English native record at the British Empire Games that stood for 10 years.

Mrs Lees told friends she had been forced to learn to swim as a child but quickly fell in love with the sport and dedicated much of the rest of her life to it.

She took her first tentative strokes at Tipton and Dudley Baths and later taught swimming at Wolverhampton Baths for 40 years, taking pupils to competitions throughout the country including a regular annual trip to the National Championships at Blackpool.

She was appointed coach of Heath Town Swimming Club in 1949 and taught both swimming and diving to all grades of performers.