Last Sunday, in front of a strong crowd at the pool for the last meet of the season, the Cootamundra Swim Club paid tribute to this legend of the pool with the naming of the Club Rooms in his honour.

A plaque was unveiled reading “Pud Williams Club Rooms - In appreciation of his endless contribution”.

On hand to do the honours was Southern Inland Swimming Association president Mike Donnelly as well as the late Pud’s family.

“Pud was a top coach and a real decent guy,” Mike said in paying tribute to a man who did so much.

Ingrid Corcoran, also from Southern Inland Swimming, commented that “Pud was South West swimming, he attended every carnival and if anyone ever needed help in the pool, he was there”.

Such was Pud’s committment to teaching young people how to swim he built a pool in his backyard to continue lessons and training throughout the winter. The pool continues today led by his grandson Adam Gammon. 

Generations of families have been taught by Pud and his legacy will live on always. 

Daughter Diane Williams represented the Williams family in paying tribute to her dad on Sunday. 

“Pud was involved with the swimming carnival for more than 40 years, having children not just from Coota but surrounding towns such as Harden, Wagga and Young,” Diane said. 

Pud started teaching at the local pool with Gordon Vesperman and later opened Williams Swim Centre. 

Pud was a Life Member of the Coota Swimming Club and in 2010 was named the inaugural president of the newly formed Southern Inland Swimming Association, of which he was also a Life Member. 

“He could come across hard at training but he knew that the kids could work hard and achieve great results,” Diane said. 

Pictured during the unveiling are son Jason Williams, daughter Diane Williams, grandson Adam Gammon, SISA president Mike Donnelly, Pud's wife Faye Williams, daughter Donna Williams and daughter Anne Gammon.