The Roy Wrey race - the club's annual tongue twister

Roy Wrey was a true gentleman who graced the club from the late 1950s until he died “in post” as President in 2006.  “A quiet, un-fussy character”.  Roy was a regular from the late 1950s and served as vice Captain from 1965 to 1970.  In the 1980s his wife became ill and Roy spent many years caring for her.  Being unable to leave her alone for long periods a return trip to the Serpentine by tube from Northolt would have taken too much time away from home.  We did not see him for many years.  He was not able to come back to us until the mid-1990s.  Roy was always extremely well-liked and active in the club, and in 2004 was elected our 25th President. 

Roy always took great care over his well prepared post-race speeches, even when his own health began to fail.  A nice, “old world” touch would be exhibited when he led the customary "three cheers".  Rather than "hip! hip!” Roy would lead the cry with a quick "pip! pip! pip! before hooray!”.

Roy's daughter Christine has in the past attended the race to present the cup. Living in Leighton Buzzard Christine found this rather difficult and was happy for Laura and Jon Tomlinson to take over the sponsorship in 2013.  They have a soft spot for Roy, who was president when they met through their common love of the lake.

Laura (nee Moffatt) joined the club in 1999.  She has a lovely speaking voice, as befits a vicar's daughter.  In the early 2000s when spending an extended stay in Texas she featured on a local radio station reading out the names in the entire telephone directory of the small west Texas town of Marfa.  She was a great hit, apparently.

Laura's love for the club was confirmed to us when she arrived for a Saturday morning swim straight from Gatwick airport after an overnight trans-Atlantic flight, large suitcase in tow but swimming costume at the ready.

Jonathon joined in 2005.  After a year or so some of us did notice the growing bond between the two, for instance seeing how Laura would be ready with a cup of coffee for Jon lakeside after a winter competition heat.  We mere mortals had to trudge back to the changing room to make our own!  They married in 2007. 

Aside from swimming, Jon is a very keen photographer and would often “snap away” with his vintage Leica when lakeside.  Jon is also a very dedicated cyclist, with many bumps, scrapes and bruises to show for it.  In fact Rosie George nicknamed him "Tooth" after one in the front went missing following another collision!  His passion for cycling has been inherited by their two boys, Cedric and Billy who both compete locally.  Laura and Jon were also very close to Bill Phipps and visited him during his illness.  Billy is named after Bill. 

Billy is fast becoming quite a competent swimmer and last week swam the 1k length of the Grwyne Fawr reservoir.  Accompanied by dad Jonathon, Billy was very chatty for much of the swim.  Bill Phipps would have been very proud.