Three Cselkos on show to present the Jock Fee cup to Robin

George Cselko joined the club in 2001, followed by Katherine, Jessica, Gemma and Pheobe a dozen years later in 2013.  George was elected onto the club committee in 2012, where his skills as "legal eagle" were greatly valued.   He went on to serve as Hon. Secretary from 2017 to 2020.

Before becoming fully ensconced with the Serpentine SC, in the early/mid 2000s George was heavily involved with the Hampstead Heath ponds and the legal challenge to the City of London Corporation to ensure winter bathing could continue -  i.e. swimmers swimming at their own risk without the Corporation's lifeguards needing to be present.  The case went to the High Court and the swimmers prevailed and a legal precedent was set.

Jessica, Gemma and Pheobe started racing with the club in their early teens and also completed an English Channel relay as part of the St James' school team.

Katherine herself is no slow swimmer and can effortlessly churn out a half-mile race in 18 minutes.  She is best known as our very own "master (mistress?) of music", leading the Serpentine choir in Saturday morning post-race practice sessions and organising marvellous performances at the Serpentine Christmas party.

For anyone interested, Katherine is keen to emphasise that the choir is there for any club member who would like to give it a go after the Saturday race, irrespective of vocal ability.

Jock Fee, a wee, tough Glaswegian on the outside but with the softest and grandest heart of gold on the inside. He would brook no nonsense from anyone during the summer bathing season, ensuring the public could safely and happily enjoy the magnificent facility that is the Serpentine Lido.

Club member Jock was assistant to Sid Richardson (another club member) in the early 1960s and became Lido Superintendent in 1967 on Sid's retirement.

After our winter races we would be met by Jock with a tray of hot drinks, usually Bovril unless you had the temerity and the nerve to ask for tea or coffee.  During weekdays swimmers would also be met with their favourite hot beverage and be regaled by Jock with the latest gossip.  In the winter season, when we had what is now almost half the restaurant area as our changing room Jock had his "private" room-come-kitchen at the back of the pavilion  Here you might find a police officer with a cup of tea hiding away from superiors whilst mugging up for sergeants exams or perhaps one or two Royal Parks gardeners and litter pickers stopping by for tea and biscuits.  Jock would often have Polish Stan Zoladz in this inner sanctum over tea and a cream cake.  Stan's wife worked at the Harrods' gateaux counter and in those days at shop closing staff were allowed to take surplus cakes home. 

Jock reached the then retirement age of 65 in 1982.  Seemingly still full of zest and in robust health, Jock continued to join us every morning.  Unbeknown to many, Jock did suffer from circulation problems and he died at home of a heart attack on 7 November 1983, aged 66.  Jock's ashes, like those of the original Lido Superintendent Ted Stoter, were scattered in the rose garden by the original entrance to the Lido, at the rear of the pavilion.

For an in-depth look at Jock and Peter's history with the club plus lots of background on t he Cselkos please follow this link to the 2021 web report.

http://serpentineswimmingclub.com/news/51105/2021-jock-fee-cup