ONE of North East Lincolnshire's fastest women sprinters has died aged 81.
Olga Dye was a sprint champion, beating European and world-class runners.
She was the first female president of Grimsby Harriers, as well as a businesswoman and active member of a number of choirs.
Today, her family have paid tribute to a woman of "determination and courage".
As a young Olga Haigh, the Nunsthorpe School pupil began her athletics career at the school.
She later went on to be trained by the British running coach Denis Watts.
Her personal best was achieved at White City in London, when she clocked 100 yards in 11.2 seconds.
She also achieved 220 yards in 24.8 seconds – beating other world-ranking athletes on a cinder track, wearing hand-made leather running shoes.
She met Denis Lake, the skipper of Grimsby Harriers, and the couple married in 1953.
Two years before, she had become the first female member of Grimsby Harriers and went on to blaze a trail for other female athletes in North East Lincolnshire.
She became the Harriers' first female president in the 1960s and was a founder member of Lincolnshire Women's Amateur Athletics Association in 1954.
And Olga was a mainstay of the cinder path running track, off Pinfold Lane, in Scartho, before King George V became the club's new home.
The talented woman retired from running in the late 1950s and dedicated her life to coaching young athletes and organising events, including exchanges with twin town Bremerhaven in Germany.
She is survived by her three children Karen, Catherine and Richard.
Karen – herself a tri-athlete champion – said: "She would go off running in her tracksuit and children would run after her shouting 'you still have your pyjamas on', but nothing put her off.
"She had an internal drive and she always wanted to run."
Catherine added: "She had a determination and courage in everything she did. Nothing held her back.
"With Mum, it wasn't about being the greatest, it was having a go. She always brought the best out in people.
"She encouraged them and was always there for her family and friends in times of need. It was unconditional and she was always kind towards others.
"Karen, Richard and I all agree she instilled a drive and determination in all three of us."
Having divorced in the 1970s, Olga remarried in May 2001 to a former mayor of Cleethorpes, widower Ron Dye.
They met through their love of music. Olga was a member of Grimsby Philharmonic Society and Ron joined later.
He died in 2002, but Olga carried on through her love of singing, which she enjoyed with Waltham Choral Society, the Haven Methodist Church Choir and the Grimsby Philharmonic Society, with which she sang for 20 years.
Olga also taught a generation of young pianists and was teaching until she was 80.
She also enjoyed playing bowls and was a member of Cleethorpes Ladies Bowls Club and played for Lincolnshire Ladies team.
Karen said: "She was a competitive person and enjoyed sport generally."
With Jean Holgeth, she ran Waltham Antiques, in High Street, for more than 20 years and was a regular feature at antiques fairs in the area.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, May 24, at All Saint's Church,Waltham, from 1.30pm, followed by a service at Grimsby Crematorium at 2.30pm.
Her family has requested donations in lieu of flowers to Grimsby Philharmonic Society and they can be sent to treasurer, Alan Ashton, at 13 Hardys Road, Cleethorpes.
