12th July 2012

LYME REGIS: Paralympian celebrated in museum's latest exhbition

IN the 1984 Paralympic Games in New York, Lyme Regis resident Diane Wiscombe won a gold medal.

Her magnificent achievement is now the subject of Lyme Regis Museum’s latest exhibition “Lyme’s Paralympic Gold”, which opens on Thursday, July 12th as the Olympic Torch will pass through the town.

Diane, who died earlier this year, was the daughter of Muriel and Tony Wiscombe of the well-known local family. Her father died two years ago.

The paralympian born in 1965 as one of twins born prematurely and was diagnosed as having cerebral palsy. The disability first affected her walking but, later in life, movement of her arms and hands became more difficult.

She attended Saint Michael’s Infant and Junior Schools between 1970 and 1976 and then became a weekly boarder at Princess Margaret School, Taunton, a school for children with physical disabilities.

In 1981 Diane moved as a full-time boarder to the prestigious National Star Centre at Cheltenham. Her intention was to return to Lyme and run the office of the family business, A. and F. Wiscombe, a long-established Lyme building company, but her life changed when she met Ken Black, swimming coach at the Star Centre.

Recognising Diane’s potential, he entered her in local and regional swimming galas and soon she was competing in major competitions.

Convinced that she could win medals at the highest level, Diane stayed in Cheltenham until 1985 to continue her gruelling training schedule. The haul of medals grew larger and she began to compete internationally. She was then picked for the British Paralympic team for both swimming and boccia, a form of bowls played with small, sand-filled leather balls.

At the 1984 Games in New York, Diane won two medals - a gold for the 25 metres freestyle swimming, where she set a new world record, and a silver medal for women’s individual boccia.

She returned to Lyme in 1984 and, in 1988, was picked again for both the swimming and boccia teams and travelled to Seoul, Korea. Diane won a silver medal for boccia.

“Lyme’s Paralympic Gold” exhibition, curated by Ken Gollop, will run from Thursday, July 12 until the end of September. Everyone is welcome to the museum on the opening day free of charge.

LYME REGIS: Paralympian celebrated in museum's latest exhbition

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