PEEBLES' Lauren Jocelyn has been selected as a coach for Team England’s swimmers and para-swimmers at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Better known as Lauren Greenshields in the town, she enjoyed a successful swimming career setting GB junior records and Scottish senior records in 200m breaststroke.

She later moved to New Zealand with husband-to-be ‘Tig’ Jocelyn who spent two years playing rugby for Peebles.

Lauren continued to swim competitively down under and holds masters’ records at 200m individual medley, as well as 50m and 200m breaststroke in the women’s aged 25-29 grade.

Peeblesshire News: Lauren Jocelyn

After returning to the UK, she coached the Borders Elite Swim Team (BEST) Performance squad before being appointed the new National Performance Centre assistant coach, working with the British Para-Swimming.

During the pandemic she took up a post as head of swimming at a private school in England.

The 37-year-old who currently lives in Bollington, Cheshire, said: “Selection for Team England came as a complete surprise, particularly since I no longer work with the National Performance Centre, but I am absolutely delighted and so excited.

"I have never coached at a home games before and it will be even more special because at the Commonwealth Games, unlike the Olympics, the swimmers and para-swimmers are all in one inclusive team where everyone comes together.

“I will be allocated a number of swimmers to coach but I don’t now who they are yet as there are still trials to take place. We all go into a holding camp in Loughborough a week before the games start. It will be an amazing challenge but I am so proud and our son Archie is buzzing.

"And I won’t be the only Borderer in the team. Euan Dale has also been selected as a coach. He’s from Duns and we used to race together when we were youngsters.”

Dad Tommy and mum Fiona still live in Peebles as does brother Ross and his family and everyone shared her excitement.

Fiona told us: “Lauren was actually in Peebles when she heard the news so it was celebrations all round. It came as a complete surprise because none of us knew she had even been interviewed but we are all delighted for her and so proud. She really deserves it because she has worked so hard.

“Lauren has always excelled at all sports. She has excellent coordination and was good at gymnastics and also won the seven bridges race. We don’t know who she will be coaching yet but hopefully it could be Adam Peaty.”

In addition to Lauren, Peebles Amateur Swimming Club has produced excellent swimmers throughout its history, representing the town at district, national and international levels including Margaret Smith in the 1930s; Jamie Murray in the 1970s; Carol Shiell in the 1980s and Lynne Duncan in the 2000s.