Alan Luckhurst kept it in the family, replicating younger brother Will's victory last year, and was crowned 2023 Club Champion.
The five-race series commenced in February, with our championship contested through winter, spring and summer. The distances - 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m (55 yards, 110 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, 880 yards) mean the championship of our "all-the-year-round outdoor swimmig club" is decided across varying Serpentinian conditions. Mind you, some may contend that with the water 15.5c and the air 11c, Saturday might have been our first race of "metrological summer" but not quite summer weather.
Alan Luckhurst, Club Champion 2023
With Arthur's daughter Julie Thayer and President Rob Ouldcott
President Rob recalled Arthur's long and distinguished history with the club
Receiving the Gilbert Varley cup, 1935
Arthur Goffrey joined the club in 1934, aged 29
For many decades now the club champion has been presented with the Arthur Goffrey cup, in memory of a true gentleman, past President (twice) and for thirty years from 1952 Hon. Handicapper. Arthur is famous within and without the club for his dscription of the Serpentine lake - "the water is like wine, my boy, like wine".
Arthur joined the Club aged 29 in 1934. He served in the Royal Artillery 1939-45 in the UK, France and Germany, landing in France a few days after D-day. Most of his working life was spent with a well-known firm of wholesale silk and fabric merchants which involved buying trips to Europe. On retirement he worked for a few years at Harvey Nicholls in the Antiques department. Apart from the Serpentine his other great interest was cricket, both as player, umpire and spectator, as well as being an avid fan of Chelsea Football Club.
Handicapper Arthur with his "little black book", making final adjustments for his first Christmas Day race, 1952
An interview with Arthur whilst swimming was part of the BBC’s Man Alive documentary recording 24 hours in the life of Hyde Park. It was filmed in summer 1971 and first aired on TV on 15 December that year. Hopefully this link will take you to the Lido snippet of the documentary.
BBC Two - Man Alive, Hyde Park, The Serpentine Set Start The Day with a Dip
At the start of the clip Arthur is seen walking through the then entrance to the Lido. He is interviewed towards the end of the extract.
For much more information on the background to the club championship and to Arthur Goffrey's long contribution to the Serpentine SC, please follow this link to the 2021 report - Serpentine Swimming Club
Scratch start, no handicap
800m (880 yards) to go. (photo: Sarah Ouldcott)
No handicap, but some still took their time to get going
Safe and sensible: avoid the crowd. (photo: Sarah Ouldcott)
11 February, 50m
The Ros Young Race
4 March, 100m
The James Norton Race (photo: Anthony Wood)
25 March, 200m
The Ouldcott Furlong
15 April, 400m
The Tony Cuthbert Cup. No action shots, so here is race winner super fast Katie Irvine being presented with the cup by Saundra Satterlee
First home on the morning and top of club championship points table, Alan Luckhurst
Smiles in celebration of Arthur
Alan joined the club in 2014, along with sister Katherine, brother Will and mum Linda. Dad John had joined in 2011. Alan was appointed club vice-Captain during 2019.
For the past year Alan has been training hard for a solo English Channel attempt this July. We wish our club champion "fair winds and following seas" for summer 2023.
Second home, Jesse Kelly
A previous club champion
Third home, Anita Goyos
Champion to be?
Fourth home Nick Adams, who received family assistance in collecting a prize
A many times past club champion
Three big cheers for Arthur Goffrey and daughter Judy, who joins us every year to present the cup
Judy attended the club's centenary dinner at the Cafe Royal in 1964.
And finally, birthday celebrations for the First Lady - Mrs Ouldcott
An appropriate quote for a school mistress.....
"Oh, when she’s angry, she is keen and shrewd! She was a vixen when she went to school. And though she be but little, she is fierce."
Rob unveiled his secretly purchased Midsummer Night's Dream tee-shirt. Sarah became Hermia for the morning.
Let them eat cake
Foreground, baked by Rob. Afar, baked by Sarah. Both scrumptious! (Some of us sneaked back for seconds)
Arthur Goffrey, 1904 - 1992
Arthur hoisted aloft by fellow club members on an extremely cold late October morning, 1935
(report compiled by Brian Thomas)