ALAN CLARKSON, a leading official in British and International swimming for four decades, as well as a former England Commonwealth Games swimmer and official at five Olympic Games, has died suddenly in York Hospital following a heart attack. He was 73.

Clarkson had a huge impact on the world of swimming, his work being recognised when he was awarded the OBE in 2004, while in 2007 he became the first person to receive a long service award from the British Olympic Association.

Amateur Swimming Association chief David Sparkes paid tribute to Clarkson’s “unprecedented commitment to swimming”.

“Alan has devoted his whole life to swimming as a competitor, coach, team manager and administrator and he continued to serve with distinction right up to his sudden and very sad death,” he said.

“He made a massive contribution to the ASA and swimming over many years and was a strong influence in FINA (Federation Internationale De Natation Amateur) and LEN (Ligue Europeenne De Natation).

“Alan was such an influence in swimming that it is hard to know where to start. He was a giant in our sport and a true friend of swimming. It is a great loss and he will be missed by everyone from wherever they came.”

Terry Denison, chairman of the British Swimming Coaches Association, said: “Alan made a terrific contribution. I will always remember him as someone willing to help others. Nothing was too much trouble. He was one of the real gentlemen in the sport.”

Clarkson’s daughter Karen said: “I think what summed Dad up is when he told us one day ‘I will do anything for anybody as long as you just ask’.”

Clarkson, one of the few people to have completed the treble of being president of the Yorkshire ASA, the North Eastern Counties ASA and the ASA, competed for York City Baths Club from the early 1950s.

He was Yorkshire 200metres and 400m freestyle champion in 1959 and 1,500m champion in 1956, ’60, ’62, ’63 and ’64. He represented Yorkshire from 1954 to 1964 and was a member of the York CBC team which won the ASA 400m freestyle relay in 1958/9. He gained international honours with Great Britain against Australia.

When his competitive days ended, Clarkson became a York CBC coach from 1959 to ’68 and was club captain from 1961 to ’64. He was Yorkshire ASA swimming committee secretary from 1963 to 1966 and president in 1973, followed by the NE Counties presidency ten years later. He was ASA president in 1997.

Clarkson was ASA general team manager from 1973 to 1976 and 1978 to 1979 and was manager for the Commonwealth Games team in 1970, 1974 and 1978.

He was also general team manager for the Amateur Swimming Federation of Great Britain from 1973 to 1976 and 1978 to 1979. His major events included the European Junior Championships of 1969 and 1971, the European Championships in 1974, the World Championships in 1973, 1975 and 1978 and the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

Clarkson was involved in five Olympic Games – being a race judge at Moscow in 1980, Los Angeles in 1984, Seoul in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992.

He was swimming representative on the British Olympic Association from 1986, a member of the LEN Technical Swimming Executive from 1990, FINA Technical Swimming Committee member from 1972 to 1992 and chairman of the Open Water Committee from 1992 to the present.

Born in York on September 12, 1936, Clarkson was educated at Nunthorpe Grammar School and became an accountant – being a founding partner of Plummer, Clarkson and Lester (now the PCL Group).

His wife Pauline (nee Musgrove) swam in the 110m backstroke at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. Clarkson leaves his wife, son Kevin, daughter Karen and four grandchildren.

The funeral service is at York Minster on Wednesday, June 9 at 1.30pm.