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Myra Beatrice Larcombe (; 1 September 1927 – 9 April 2022) was a New Zealand swimming coach, police officer and historian. She was a swimming coach for over 70 years, and was one of New Zealand's first female police officers in the 1950s.
In 1951 she became one of the first female police officers in New Zealand, aged 23, and in 1954 became the first female police officer in Northland when she was transferred to Whangārei. The Northern Advocate reported on the occasion, noting that female police officers "possess the same authority as male constables and, if need be, can arrest a man". Describing the difficulties of being a female police officer in later life, she said: "It paid to be fitter than the men and to have acerbic wit. A number of new recruits left in a flood of tears. I was okay, could answer back and was extremely fit."
She was an amateur historian, with expertise in maritime history and the history of Opua. She and her younger sister kept records of ships visiting Opua; their records are held at the New Zealand Maritime Museum and were displayed at the Kawakawa Library in June 2021.
Larcombe taught children to swim for over 70 years, and at the time of receiving the Queen's Service Medal was continuing to teach aqua exercise classes and work as a Top Energy WaterSafe instructor for schools in the Bay of Islands region. In her later years she taught the grandchildren of students she taught early in her career.
Larcombe died on 9 April 2022, survived by her daughter and four grandchildren. A farewell service was held at Opua School. In addition to teaching the school's students to swim for many years, Larcombe had opened the school's pool in 1969, published a booklet celebrating the school's centenary in 1986, and together with the principal compiled a further booklet in 2011 for the school's 125th anniversary.
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