Dennis Yeoman has received The Harold Fern Award for his outstanding contribution to swimming at National and International level.
Currently in post as the Chairman of the Swimming Trust, Dennis has garnered many exceptional achievements throughout his 50-year career in aquatics, which began with becoming Head Coach of Marlborough ASC at the age of 17. Since then, he has taken on a number of roles, from Vice Chairman and Team Manager of Wroughton ASC, to being appointed as a Judge at county level. In 1974, at the age of 26, Dennis became Honorary Secretary to Wiltshire ASA, and later became an ASA Referee, officiating at many national and international events.
In addition to his club roles, he has also undertaken national roles, and when he was first elected in 1977 he became one of the youngest members of the ASA Committee. After being re-elected in 1987, he collaborated on The Way Forward with David Sparkes and was later awarded the ASA Gold Pin for long service to the committee. In 1998, Dennis joined the Commonwealth Games Board where he remained for 15 years, and was also appointed as Aquatics Director for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
With a keen interest in aquatics across almost every discipline, Dennis has worked with both FINA Diving and FINA Diving Live TV. He became Field of Play Manager for Synchronised Swimming at the 2012 Olympics, Field of Play Manager for Swimming at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and was also responsible for Swimming at the 2013 Youth Olympics.
His professionalism, contribution and dedication to many of the aquatic disciplines both at national and international level is extraordinary, but it is for his forward-thinking approach, sustained efforts and outstanding commitment to the ASA that he is commended.