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Mario graced the Serpentine Swimming Club from the early 1960s for over forty years.  A naturally gifted musician, Mario piped the Christmas Day swimmers onto the board for many decades.  A true gent, a true character, and a true friend to all who had the honour to swim in his company.  Mario Mcclarnon:  1932 - 2007.

Mario's school teacher daughter Anna (who also answers to Maria) presented the cup and told "interesting" family tales.

The early Hyde Park morning saw the opposite side of the lake accomodating much busy activity in readiness for the eager entrants to the Swim Serpentine event celebrating open water swimming.

Meanwhile, we had fun doing what we have been doing since the mid 19th century.  The club's first All Clothes Race was held in 1866.

The fun fest of our All Clothes Race dates back to the very beginning of the club.  It reflects the club's Royal Humane Society origins promoting water safety.  Originally it was an event to test a swimmer's ability to survive and swim fully clothed should they fall into a river or canal.  The race nowadays sees many "dressed to impress" fancy outfits.  Yet this event still reminds the competitor just how tough it is should they find themselves in the water in a heck of a lot more than a mere slinky, skimpy swim suit.

The morning kicked-off with our hardy youngsters smiling through 100m to show their metal in the Cygnets cup race.  Bright young faces representing the future of the club.

One of our swimming bretheren, originally hailing from San Francisco's Dolphin Club, has supplied details of his seven marathon swims in seven separate seas.

The last of the seven swims was completed on 26 August this year, at Deal, Kent.

Dusty Rhodes was one of the club's many "characters" that have adorned our ranks over the decades.  WW2 submariner, Brentford docks stevedore and penny farthing rider.  He also found time to enter Masters' swimming events.

Having returned to racing at the end of August, September arrived with blue-green algae keeping us out of the water.

This race celebrates Clare Doyle's long membership of the club, whilst recalling the poignant memory of Percy Clears, who joined the club in the 1900s with his three brothers. Percy was killed in action in October 1918 at Harlebeck, Flanders.  He was 36.

George Brutton, a club regular from the 80s and 90s, was on hand to present race prizes for the cup with two names.  Rob Ouldcott had been whisked away for a weekend break by wife Sarah.  Brian Thomas deputised, and promptly had to anounce himself as winner of an amazing piece of silverware.

Plus massive congratulations were forthcoming all round for our latest conqueror of the English Channel, Laure Latham.

Laure Latham will set off from Dover at 01.30 on Wednesday 23 August.

Use the CS&PF tracker to follow progress.  She is on the Optomist.

http://cspf.co.uk/tracking

Boris Mavra, Rob Ouldcott, and Nicola Sanderson are crewing for her.  Paul Forman is the pilot.