Our History
As far back as 1870, Watford residents would use the River Colne at the Five Arches Bathing Place at Waterfields, off of the present-day Stephenson Way, as a place to gather and swim. In 1901, Watford Swimming Club was formed. This was reported in the Watford Observer on May 23rd 1901:
“Watford Swimming Club -- A meeting was held on Thursday evening, at the Wellington Arms, when the above club was formed. It was resolved that the annual subscription be 5s.,with an entrance fee of 2s.6d. Time trials will be swum on Thursday next at 8 p.m., at the Bathing Place. It was decided to join the Amateur Swimming Association and Life Saving Society. Mr.Lyons, who is a medallist of the society, will give instruction to any member. The secretary will be pleased to receive names of those desirous of joining. All communications to be addressed to the Hon.Secretary, W.Kinselle , The Ferns, Wiggenhall-road, Watford.”
On Saturday 17th August 1901, the first swimming gala was held with several internationals appearing and the first water polo match was seen in Watford. "The Bathing Place" was on part of the River Colne near where it passes under the five railway arches and beside the Stephenson Way (A4008) road built in the late 20th Century.
In 1908, the Watford Observer reported the following:
“Though the sun was shining when the seventh annual gala of the Watford Swimming Club was opened at the Five Arches Bathing-place on Saturday, frequent showers fell during the afternoon, and the final events were decided in a heavy downpour. In the open handicap the Lutonians had the first man home in Waller, who was on the 13 seconds mark, but Cutchee, of Watford, with 19 seconds, was a strong runner-up, if the term can be used in connection with aquatics. A graceful exhibition of diving was given by club members, and the comic events, "cock-fighting" on a raft, upsetting a boat, and rescuing the "drowning," rod v man, afforded general amusement.”
Between 1871 and 1906, changing rooms were constructed along the edge of the pool area at the Five Arches Bathing Place, providing greater comfort for the men, women and children who used the site. In fact, with the installation of additional changing rooms in 1906, records show more than 70,000 visitors used the pool that year, including the Watford Amateur Swimming Club. Measuring approximately 100 feet by 40 feet, the pool had been dredged and a layer of gravel used to cover the riverbed, providing an outdoor pool sufficient to house its many users. This pool remained open until 1936, when contamination from sewerage convinced even the hardiest swimmer that outdoor bathing had had its day. Three years earlier, in 1933, Watford Corporation Baths in Hampstead Road had been built, becoming the first public baths in the country to be heated, using electricity, and the first covered bath in Hertfordshire.
In 1933, the Club moved to the Watford Central Baths, which at the time was the only municipal covered pool in the county until after the war. Watford Borough Council have since built two 25m pools in 2008 – Watford Central and Watford Woodside, both of which the club uses, along with a number of other pools in the Watford area.
In the past, the Club has produced a number of swimmers and water polo players (when the current two separate clubs operated as one club) who received international recognition, including competing in the Olympic Games. These are listed below, along with a list of past Presidents, Club Chairs and Head Coaches. Today, the Club continues to be highly successful, and is one of the most competitive clubs in Hertfordshire. We currently have over 120 members and our swimmers compete in local, county, regional and national competitions.
Watford Swimming Club is affiliated to the Swim England East Region and Swim England Hertfordshire, and our colours are Red and Blue.
Club Presidents
1945-1948 W.T. Blenkearn
1949 H.E. Coates
1950 Barty Lee
1951 A.R. Lynden
1952 A.J. Cutchee
1953 Jim Henley
1954 Fred Parsons
1955 Bob Daplyn
1956 Bob Claxton
1957 Ernie Ward
1958 Fred White
1959 Digby Wakeman
1960 Ron Chamberlain
1961 Bas Barkway
1962 Ernie Biggins
1963 David Williams
1964 Vernon Fish
1965 Len Elwell
1966 Colin G. Hunter
1967 John Heffer
1968 Ken Murray
1969 Neil Chapman
1970 Roger Harford
1971 Ralph Nesbitt
1972 Ray Froud
1973 Anthony Gimson
1974 Ernie Biggins
1975 Ernie Biggins
1976 Roy Rogers
1977 Rad Pursey
1978 Mick Cook
1979 Cordelia Martin-Dye
1980 John Slaughter
1981 Ray Cheater
1982 Yvonne Smith
1983 Mike White
1984 John Sargant
1985 Mervyn Roberts
1986 John Martin-Dye
1987 Drago Dundjerovic
1988 Cindy Binnions
1989 Captain John Smith
1990 Olive Roberts
1991 John Atkins
1992 Brenda Biggins
1993 Allan Lewington
1994 Fred Crew
1995 Chris Weeks
1996 Bill Charge
1997 John Sargant
1998 Carol Rudge
1999 Glynis Rawlins
2000 Lynne Willer
2001 Olive Roberts & John Sargant
2002 Paul Cuthbert
2003 Margaret Forester
2004 Mike Wildey
2005 Shirley Petchey
2006 John Williams
2007 Nigel McMorrin
2008 Paul R.S.Rogers
2009 Su Tysoe
2010 Paul Cuthbert
2011 Attracta Stewart
Shirley Burns
Andy Taverner
Paul Sutton
2022 Jeremy Irvine
Club Chairs
(1989 prior the President Chaired)
1990 – 2002 John Sargant
2003 – 2007 John Martin-Dye
2008 -- 2009 Nigel McMorrin
2010 -- ? Neil Spence
Andy Taverner
2016 – 2019 Tracy O’Sullivan
2019 – 2023 Gareth Harper
2023 John Cowie
2023 – present Gareth Harper
International Club Representatives
Lorna Frampton
Julie Hoyle, Melbourne Olympics, 100m backstroke, 6th, Melbourne 1956
Brian Curtis
Ann Cottrell, 100m butterfly, 6th, Tokyo 1964, Silver in the Perth Commonwealth games, Bronze in the European Championships,
Elaine Gray
Melanie Tearle
Mike Foskett
Derek Pitts
John Beresford
Catriona Irvine
Claire Stockley
Graham Martin-Dye
Main/Head Coaches
Bill Juba 1948 -1956
Roy Holingdale 1956 -1961
Roy Rogers 1961 - 1978
Mike Foskett 1978
John Martin-Dye
Sasha Djerfi 1991-1993
John Martin-Dye & John Sargant 1993 -1997
Lee Portingale July 1997 - July 2001
John Martin-Dye & John Sargant 2001 - 02
Alan Lewington 2002-2003
Terry Davies 2003-2013
Kevin Ayres 2013-2014
Kelvin Jones 2014-2018
Adam Parfitt 2018-2019
Jack Jackson (temporary) 2019
Matt Paget 2019-2022
Jamie Irvine 2023 - present
Swimming Pools Used
Watford Bathing Place, Five Arches, Water Fields, used from before 1893, but closed May 1936
Central Baths (old 33 1/3 yards) May 1933 – December 2006 (closed & demolished)
Leggatts School/Bill Everett (from February 1991) (5 lanes by 25 mtr.) 1970s until May 2008, (closed & demolished)
Watford Springs from 1990 to October 2000(since closed and demolished)
Watford Central Pool (Opened 09/08/2008).
Watford Woodside Leisure Centre Pool (Opened 7/6/2008)
Westfield/Victoria School Pool
Rickmansworth School Pool
Haberdashers School Pool (both Boys and Girls School)
Northwood College
Watford Girls Grammar School Pool
William Penn Leisure Centre
(This information was collected from the previous club's website -- if there are any errors, or if you have any further information to add to this history, please email the Club Chair on [email protected])