A RECORD breaking swimming champion from Springbourne who was the oldest Brit to win gold at the European Masters Championship's, has passed away. 

Dorothy Hilda Williams, known as Dee and GG to her family, died on July 9th at home, aged 96, having competed all over the world in venues in Rio, Montreal and Paris securing some 700 medals to her name.

Bournemouth Echo:

Far from taking it easy in her advancing years, Dee did not leave behind the competitive streak she fostered throughout her swimming life, winning her first swimming trophy when she was 11 years old after her father promised her half a crown if she came home with a medal.

Tom said: "My grandmother was a remarkable woman."

Bournemouth Echo:

Born in Hammersmith in 1923, Dee left school at 14 to work at Dolcis shoes and used her first wage to buy a Singer sewing machine. During the war years, Dee was an aircraftwoman stationed at many bases. She moved back to London during the Blitz and married Ken in 1942 and had Patricia and Sally. 

Dee worked at Hounslow Baths from 1954, where she says she learnt to "swim properly" competing with Hounslow Swimming club. She gained her swimming teacher qualifications in 1962 and spent 20 years teaching in schools in Uxbridge, Ealing and Hayes.

In 1987, at aged 64, Dee returned to competitive swimming inspired after swimming across the Fowey estuary in Cornwall, taking first place in the British Masters. 
Dee moved to Springbourne in 1991 where she then became the proud owner of her beloved dog Wallace.

She broke two world records in 2008 in the 100 and 200 metre breaststroke and Four GB records in the 85-89 age group. 

Bournemouth Echo:

After a series of health setbacks, she came back in 2016 with fresh determination and won gold in the 50 metre backstroke in the European Masters at age 94. 

Dee rediscovered her interest in painting, exhibiting at the Bournemouth International Centre.

Tom said: "She had a love of classical music and so was proud of Ben playing piano and thrilled when Joshua began competing in swimming races. She was very house proud and her cottage was always immaculate. She enjoyed reading her Daily Mail and checking the form on her horses and loved her food and drink and had a particular fondness for treacle sponge, rice pudding and a nice gin and tonic.

Dee leaves behind her daughters, Patricia and Sally, grandsons Jonathan and Tom and great-grandsons Ben and Joshua along with hundreds of friends.

A private funeral was held on July 27 at Bournemouth Crematorium.