The Serpentine Swimming Club's Christmas morning handicap is swum over a 100 yard course for the Peter Pan Cup. The club's Christmas Day race has been held every year since 1864. In the early years it was customary for the winner to be presented with a medal. Author J M Barrie became associated with the Christmas Day race in 1903, donating a medal to the winner. The following year he donated the first Peter Pan Cup. This coincided with the play Peter Pan's debut on the London stage. Barrie continued to present a cup for the winner each year up to 1932. The honour then fell to Albert Greenbury, a dedicated member since 1909 who served as club president from 1935 to 1955. To this day the Greenbury family continue the tradition. Albert's granddaughter, Lucy Harris, is a current member and races all through the year.
Christmas Day race, 1897
The club on Christmas morning, 1911
Arthur Hester won the race in 1889.
A race is swum in Arthur's memory each July, sponsored by great grandson Bobby Baxter
1911, the race finishes
1911 presentation to winner A C Fear
Sir James Barrie
Sir James continued to present a Peter Pan cup up to 1932
1913, George Gyton first home
The 1917 race was postponed due to ice and swum in January
1917 winner 14 year old N Blunstone
1930 A Stonyer the winner
Albert Greenbury
Albert was one of three brothers who joined the club in 1909. A solicitor by profession he became President in 1935 and remained in office until his death in 1955. A devoted servant of the club, he excelled in other sports besides swimming, being champion of his tennis club for 20 years. The trophies he won were proudly displayed to clients in a show-case at his city office, with the Peter Pan Cup won in 1929 taking pride of place. The family continue to present a Peter Pan Cup to this day.
1950 Tommy Basset
1951 Arnold Smith
Loius Farbe, top, continued to swim up to the early 1970s
1952 Sam Swain
Alan Titmuss won the 1963 100th race.
Postponed due to ice and swum on 4 January
Club champion Tony Radford won the 1967 race
Snow on the board for the start to the 1970 race
L to R: Bob Kelly, Brian Thomas, Alan Woodward (about to dive), Bill Harman, Len Fabien, Mario McClarnon, Alan Lacy, Richard Wakeford (in water), Arthur Goffrey, Sam Youlton, Nick Smithers (winner), Maurice Ferris, Sid Levy
Edward Greenbury presents the 1970 cup to winner Nick Smithers
1980 winner Ashwyn Pandya made the local press
Ice greeted us in 1981
Mike Olizar won the February re-scheduled 1981 race
Piper Mario McClarnon the 1983 winner
1983, club members on Christmas morning
1988 and Japanese TV are reporting lakeside
1988, on the board
1988 and the race is on
1988 winner Peter Larrad has swum every Christmas morning since 1967
1991 winner Norman Jones
Ever present Norman was club president 2013 to 2016, which included our 150th anniversary year
2002 Winner Nick Adams
Nick swam the 100 yards in a club record 57 seconds. Not bad considering the water was a strength sapping 5.5c.
2002 Second home was Yoko.
Yoko is flanked by Val and Stephen Greenbury. Sadly, Val passed away in the summer and is greatly missed.
2003 race won by Alan Lacy
Alan won the centenary Christmas race in 1964
2010 was the last time the race was postponed due to ice
Bill and Andrew Deeley
Michael Wynn glides past the ice
2010 and Alan Lacy slowly enters the frozen lake
Alan treads water
Alan Lacy was a member from 1948 until his sad passing in March this year, aged 96.
2010 Eric and Brian have a very quick dip
At least President Eric's post swim speech did go ahead
Frozen 2010. A bit of glamour, plus Nick
2018 Venessa and Molly
2018, a rather tired Topo at the finish
2019, the traditional piper Lechlan gets Mike Olizar motivated
2019 crowds line the bank
The 2019 line up
With no race this year, 2019 winner Katherine Cselko still holds the Christmas honours
Katherine leads the Serpentine choristers