AROUND 100 swimmers will gather at Bournemouth's Littledown Centre this weekend to raise money for charity in memory of dedicated swimming coach Laurie Dormer.

Laurie, who died aged 85 in February last year, was well known in the area and was instrumental in campaigning for and designing the Littledown swimming pool.

Sam Woodward, assistant head coach at Swim Bournemouth and coach of the Littledown Masters, said: "There will be people who were coached by Laurie 40 years ago there.

"It started off as a small way for us to remember Laurie. We wanted to have a gala and raise a bit of money for the charities he supported.

"But the response has been wonderful. Laurie coached a lot of people, and many of them want to come on Saturday."

Laurie's children will also be at the gala, which will raise funds for charities Action for Children and the Heal Project.

Laurie started his career at a lifesaving and teaching club in Middlesex in 1950 and went on to coach many swimmers to national titles.

He was also a founding member of the British Swimming Coaches Association and served as the chairman from 1985 to 1991.

He joined the Bournemouth Dolphins in 1984, transforming it into one of the leading clubs in the south west, and also founded the Southern Junior League.

In the early 2000s Laurie was head coach of the West of England team at various meetings and he led Bournemouth Dolphins to a record 49 medals at the ASA Maxwell Open Meet in 2003.

Outside of swimming, the father-of-three was a keen charity supporter and founded the Ringwood branch of Tools for Self Reliance in 2008. The group worked to restore tools including saws, planes, hand drills, spanners and screwdrivers before sending them abroad for people to improve their communities.

Sam said all who knew the coach are welcome to join the gala.

"Registration is at 5pm," he said.

"There'll be swimming from around an hour and a half, and then after that we'll have food and drinks in the bar."