WILLIAM (BILL) STEIN M.B.E.
The President Amanda Bell, all Officers & members wish to offer their condolences to all Bill’s family & friends. Sadly, he passed away on the 14th August in his nursing home.
Bill was a Life member of the British Long Distance Swimming Association but did much of his swimming in Scotland, where he lived (often with Y.A.A.B.A. with their very often cool, tough & challenging events on the River Tay), venturing across the North Channel to Ireland on a number of occasions with the odd foray into England & Wales.
Without a doubt, this strong & dedicated swimmer’s most fabulous swims were his crossing of the Channel in 1978 when the Channel Swimming Association (CSA) awarded him the Van Audenaerde Cup for the Greatest Feat of Endurance in the Year. He followed it up by crossing again in 1979 when he represented Scotland in the 5th Cross Channel Race organized in conjunction with Saudi Arabia in 16 hours 9 minutes. This time the CSA awarded him a Special Award for a disabled Swimmer.
Bill, in my experience, made light of his disability but was always very assertive in seeking acceptance of his particular needs. I remember well the pre-race discussions with him before the Humberside Festival of Swimming in 1979 when he competed successfully in the 4 miles race for which I was the organiser.
He was appointed a Member of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 1996 for his services to swimming. This was a well-deserved recognition.
Margaret J Smith