he is the man who has taught generations of Dundee youngsters to swim – and even in his 85th year his passion for the sport is undimmed.
During a career that has spanned 77 years, Frank Jordan’s achievements are countless – even helping Menzieshill High to achieve Guinness World Record success.
Now, at 84, he is still involved in the water polo and swimming scene, which has been a key part of his life his since he first took an interest at the age of seven.
In that time, the sport has taken him all over the world as a competitor and coach.
It was legendary Dundee policeman George McLaren who got Frank hooked on water polo.
Frank said: “I was just a laddie aged seven standing on a street corner when George came and spoke to us about taking up sport.
“He invited us down to the Whitehall water polo and swimming club and that was it, I never looked back.”
Some of the kids he has taught have – like Frank – gone on to honour and glory at national and international level.
Honorary president of Menzieshill Whitehall Swimming and Water Polo Club, he founded one of the club’s predecessors, Menzieshill Swimming and Water Polo Club, in 1971.
As the numbers kept on increasing, Frank organised local inter-school competitions and friendly galas.
In 1974, the school swim team began winning titles at district and national level, setting the long–standing record of winning all four Midland Schools Swimming Championships.
The greatest achievement for the pupils as a school swimming team was the setting of world records for the 100–mile marathon relay swim on three occasions, 1974, 1977 and 1980.
In 1974, the time for this event was 27 hours but, by 1980, the record was set at 22 hours eight minutes, maintaining the Menzieshill place in the Guinness Book of Records.
It merged with Whitehall Amateur Swimming Club in 2003.
In recognition of his achievements, Frank was presented with the British Empire Medal by Lord Provost Ian Borthwick at a ceremony in Dundee City Chambers.
The lord provost said: “He has spent thousands of hours coaching thousands of youngsters and richly deserves his medal.”
At his presentation, Frank – a former swimming coach at Menzieshill High – said: “Being involved in aquatic sports has taken me all over the world.
“The kids I taught had the four Ds, determination, desire, dedication and discipline.
“These four Ds are necessary to succeed and it has been a pleasure to be involved.”
Frank, who writes the weekly water polo and swimming notes for the Evening Telegraph, describes himself as “a proud Dundee laddie”.
And, despite his advancing years, he still has daily contact with aquatic sports. Such is his dedication to the sport, he only gave up coaching last year.
He said: “I may be in my 80s but I still keep up to date with what is happening on the local water polo and swimming scene on a daily basis.
“My enthusiasm is still the same – I keep as active as I can and doing the water polo and swimming notes for the Tele also keeps me sharp.
“I am still involved 77 years on from the day I first started and I aim to stay involved in whatever way I can.
“I would recommend aquatic sport to anyone. It is very fulfilling and rewarding.”