Affiliated to The Amateur Swimming Association (Midland District)
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Affiliated to The Amateur Swimming Association (Midland District) |
One
Hundred Years of Boldmere Swimming Club (1895 – 1995)
(Written
by Kath Beauchamp in 1995) It is a strange fact that immediately
one tries to write down historical facts some controversial point emerges.
Whilst everyone had believed unquestionably that 1895 was the year of
origin of Boldmere swimming club, a recently published local history book cast
some doubt on this and it appeared probable that it had existed somewhat prior
to that date. However, reference to the Amateur Swimming Association
confirmed that so far as their records were available this was almost certainly
correct and in the words of the General Secretary of the A.S.A Midland District
“I doubt if any of the founder members will come back to object” In the early days therefore it seems
that a group of people who enjoyed swimming in Powells Pool in Sutton Park
formed the Boldmere Swimming Club and registered with the Amateur Swimming
Association. It seemed significant
that this also was the year that such swimming organisations as Aston S.C and
Birmingham & District Water Polo League also registered. In 1899 some of these swimmers along
with other local people formed the Winter Swimming Club in Blackroot pool and
the annual Christmas Day swim still takes place. Galas at Powells Pool were known as
Water Carnivals. Bands played and
some seven trophies were competed for and great fun was had by all.
Now there are a vast number of trophies competed for by members of all
ages. These trophies have mostly
been donated by many past and present members. Such was the concern of the in the
early part of the 20th century for the need to be able to swim that
it is understood that the membership quickly rose to some 400.
It is natural that there was such concern because of the number of pools
and waterways in the park. Sutton
Park was so popular as a venue for children’s outings and a healthy local
swimming community was helpful in trying to ensure safety.
The club also had to have due regard for the other users of the pool such
as the Steamboat Company which gave pleasure trips to visitors and of course had
to be allowed their due time and space in the pool as this was of course another
attraction to young visitors. The 1914-1918 War however took its
toll on the membership which become somewhat depleted during those and
subsequent years. Several members of the club lost their lives in that war and
in 1921 members and friends of the club provided a memorial, in the form of a
small bronze statue which was erected as part of a drinking fountain in their
honour. The statue was unfortunately damaged when the fountain was destroyed and
has indeed had a chequered career but it is now fully repaired and restored with
the help of the City of Birmingham and to everyone’s delight now stands in the
foyer of Wyndley Baths. The quest for watertime at suitable
venues was ever present and it is understood that around 1911 club members used
what was known then as George Road Reservoir for extra swimming time.
This is now known as Brookvale Park Erdington and part of the structure
of the swimming bath can still be seen there.
In fact it is used by the local Sailing Club to identify one of their
marker buoys for their races. In 1925 the club moved to Erdington
Swimming baths, an indoor pool. Male and Female swimmers had to swim on separate
nights as ‘mixed bathing’ as it was then called was not permitted.
Some summertime swimming still took place in Keepers Pool and also in a
Sutton School pool, now believed to be on the site of Fairfax School. The
Half-Way mark of the century
By the time that the club reached its
half-way mark there had been yet another war, World War II and it is unfortunate
that quite a lot of the written matter and trivia is no longer to hand as it
would have no doubt provided us with some good material for this article.
Many will remember that during the war great quantities of paper were
disposed of in “Paper salvage Drives” and also people were urged to disposed
of paper because it created a threat to safety because of incendiary bombs etc.
Much of the story around that period is the product of personal memories. One certain fact is that the policy
of Boldmere Swimming Club, is and always has been to produce as many as possible
good, safe swimmers who are able to enjoy
as far as possible all aspects and disciplines of the sport. The
motivation of the old stalwarts of the early days still persists. And the
original definition of amateur swimmer by the A.S.A. as one who engages in
swimming solely for pleasure and the physical, mental and social benefit he
derives therefrom is one which the club takes quite seriously.
This is not to say that the club does not aspire to excellence but often
the recognition of great potential may reveal that there is a time to encourage
a move to a situation where more time and space can be develop such potential.
The average Swimming Club with limited time and many members of differing
abilities can only do so much. Many changes have been seen to take
place during this second part of the century, particularly in attitudes and
goals to be achieved and the opportunity to achieve them. Boldmere existed very much as a family club for a time but
nevertheless took part in the local competitions offered.
Whilst swimming galas as we know them were only permitted during the
autumn, Age Group competitions did not exist and only the County competitions
for schoolboys or girls aged 14, juniors aged 16 and Open events were available.
Therefore local leagues etc. were supported by Boldmere and entering into
the sprit which engendered friendly competition and also co-operation within the
sport. This was furthered when a
small group of local clubs representatives saw an unmet need to develop talent
at a modest level and by suggesting that a somewhat under used facility could be
brought in to create a preliminary coaching scheme for swimmers on the north
side of the city. Boldmere
representatives were among those who requested this and after some struggle was
agreed to. This brought in other
clubs – even some of which had been purely social or Business House Clubs who
benefited by an extension of their teaching and coaching.
During this period also such co-operation took place in other spheres.
It was realised that competitive sport did not end with racing.
Older boys and men may choose Water Polo and the limitation of water time
could not always permit this so members, often still retaining their membership
of Boldmere were encouraged to swim for clubs where the emphasis was more
towards that discipline. Similarly
ladies and girls moved to a group who took part in what was then know as Water
Ballet, along with members of other clubs.
This was new, and very much pioneered in the area and to many spectators
found their displays the most interesting part of the gala.
This discipline has become very much more sophisticated and is now known
as Synchronised swimming. The
basics of this are still taught at Boldmere but it is very technical and
sophisticated. Life saving and survival techniques changed quite rapidly
during this time and hapily Boldmere teachers have moved forward with the times
and still teach this to members and again encourage them to further their
interests in the local R.L.S.S clases. The Last Quarter
The 1970’s eventually saw the
opening of Wyndley Swimming Baths. Boldmere
moved in in 1971. At this time the
Mayors of Sutton Coldfield were the Presidents of the Club but when the Borough
became part of Birmingham it was decided to elect long serving officers as
Presidents each year During the course of the century many
honours have been achieved in the various disciplines of the sport, - Swimming,
Diving, Life Saving and Synchronised Swimming at local, county, Midland District
and even National Levels. There
have been acknowledgements of services to the Royal Life-Saving Society and
appointments of Officers and Presidents of the Warwickshire County and
Birmingham Association of Swimming Clubs etc.
Whilst it would be difficult to mention all of these individually there
is one which is somewhat unique, as one of the Club Members, Miss Dilys Beynon
achieved a World Record in 1970 for swimming from Minorca to Majorca (Balearic
Islands) in 16 hours 10 minutes. Boldmere S.C.
takes part in many events during the year and provides officials for
Sutton Schools, Scouts and Cubs, Girl Guides and Brownies and during 1994 for
the Sutton Coldfield Special Olympics. Whilst
in this article names have been avoided it is significant that many of the names
of older members are remembered in the naming of the trophies either because
they have donated them or they have been attributed to the work they have done.
Many of the swimmers who have achieved greater recognition in higher
circles have their names engraved on the trophies when in their earlier days
they have won them. It is
encouraging to note that some of the very successful swimmers still maintain
that they owe much to Boldmere Swimming Club for their early training. It is appreciated that much has been
done in providing a good base for teaching, and much progress has been made in
advance coaching, but this leaves out too many of the moderate ability who could
benefit and enjoy progress and in their sport in participating in a suitable
level of competition and partnership. Naturally as in all sports we aspire
to achieve excellence but our main aim is towards the grass roots of swimming
where one cannot calculate how many peoples’ lives have been saved by having
learned to swim and how much pleasure is created by partaking in this activity. “Boldmere’s ideas have surely
been somewhere on these lines always so let’s hope that it works out well –
its up to us all” |
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