Four of the five wonderful Cselko family joined us to present the Jock Fee cup to winner Charlie Frith. Some lovely prizes went to Charlie and those who came in hot on her heels.
The race and cup celebrates Jock Fee and his work colleague and fellow club member Peter Saunders. Jock was the third and last Serpentine Lido Superintendent. The others being Sid Richardson and Ted Stoter, who was appointed when the Lansbury Lido opened in 1930. The Lido Superintendent was a direct employee of the Royal Parks. The post lapsed when operation of the Lido became a commercial franchise in1983. Scroll down for some captured memories. Plus lots of live memories concerning the Cselkos.
Charlie Frith, proud and happy winner
(photo: Norman Jones)
Jock Fee, 1917 - 1983
Winter 1963
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.
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.
A lovely early summer morning for the 800m race
Tim Outen did a bit of Serpentine weeding whilst awaiting his mark
Robin Hunter counted down whilst others confirmed, pondered and queried their handicap mark
Tony Schiemann got the race underway
No action shots of the morning's event, so here is a snap of the post race "pontoon posse" having a ponder
President Rob told us tales of the best job title in London - "Superintendent of the Serpentine Lido"
Ted Stoter became the first Lido superintendent when the Lansbury Lido opened in 1930. Though he did not swim with the club, he always ensured members were able to enjoy their daily dip. As recalled by members of the day, "when asked about the dawn brigade and their unbelievable excursions, he smiled gently and replied 'they say they enjoy it, but they don't even break the ice, I do'”.
Ex Royal Marine Ted Stoter being given a hard time by a Lido customer
Our records show Sid Richardson swimming in club races in the late 1940s. He worked as assistant to Ted Stoter, and was promoted to Lido Superintendent on Ted's retirement in the late fifties.
1957 (or 58?) Ted Stoter with Serpentine Lido/Royal Parks colleagues, including a shirtless Sid Richardson. Possibly a retirement photo?
Sid leading swimmers onto the board for the 1965 All Clothes Race
1966, Lido Superintendent Sid Richardson feeding the swans
Club member Jock Fee was Sid Richardson's assistant from the late 50s/early 60s. As with Sid following Ted, Jock Fee became Lido Superintendent on Sid's retirement in 1967.
1963, a donkey jacket for Jock. No such thing as a puffer jacket or dry robe in those far off, innocent days.
The winter of 1963 was a great opportunity for the press. Jock (smiling) with Tommy Randal (not smiling).
For many years Jock Fee presented the prizes for the Ted Stoter memorial cup. Seen here in 1978, with assistant handicapper Bill Harman receiving his winning silverware.
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.
Peter Saunders was a club member from the early 1960s. He worked at the Lido to Jock in the 1970s and 80s. When the Lido went out to a commercial franchise Peter remained working for The Royal Parks as a gardener, conveniently based at the Lido to open up for us early in the morning throughout the year. Even after retirement Peter continued to unlock the gates for early morning swimmers (including himself, of course).
Peter died in 2009, aged 84.
1988, Peter with compulsory Serpentine cake. Some early morning post swim rituals are eternal.
Rob showed a print out of the Channel track of the girls' 2014 relay
Friday 8th August, 2014, Jessica, Gemma and Pheobe were part of the nine girl St James' school English Channel relay team. Shown below, and in Rob's hands above, is a very healthy looking Channel track, completed in a time of 16 hours and 9 minutes
Jellyfish stings and the remnants of Hurricane Bertha could not hold back the nine girls in the team, aged 17 down to just 13.
2014, Dover Harbour training for the St. James' girls, encouraged and assisted by Dani Lobo
Another very cold 2014 training session at Dover.
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.
Jessica, Gemma and Pheobe started racing in club fixtures in their early teens, winning many trophies. This inspired their 2014 Channel relay crossing.
Katherine herself is no ordinary swimmer, having completed the Dart 10k and other long distance events. She is best known as our very own "music mistress", leading the Serpentine choir in Saturday morning post-race practice sessions and organising marvellous performances at the Serpentine Christmas party.
Cselko tales from Rob
With coach Norman Jones
Katherine took over from Rob, and told her side of the story
Quite some moons ago Norman taught swimming to the girls of St James' junior school. One of the little girls was our very own Katherine.
Some lovely prizes
First pick to Charlie
Second place for Laura Ozaki
Third home, just out of the water Katie Irvine
Peter Georgio receiving a handshake from George
Ted Gerald, Masters' UK record holder (over 85s) snuck in for a prize
In Ted's diary there were several references to wartime activity in Hyde Park. Sadly the diaries have not survived, but Alan Titmuss did record second and third hand records of some of Ted’s more memorable entries. In 1941 Ted noted that a large German bomb landed on the island reducing it greatly in size. Another fell at the western end between the bridge and pavilion. Fortunately no damage was done, but it did kill hundreds of fish. These were collected in baskets and boiled down to feed the Hyde Park pigs (there was a war on). Silver barrage balloons were erected in the Park and close to the old Lido entrance air raid shelters were built. Whilst all this was happening the Park "kept calm and carried on" and in true British fashion the Serpentine was restocked with some 1,600 fish from the River Kennet, plus also some Scottish Trout. On 14 June 1942, the Royal Parks Office issued the first permits which allowed fishing between the bathing area and the southeast corner. Fly fishing was not allowed as it was considered too dangerous to spectators. The fishing was free, but undersized fish had to be returned to the water. The first fish caught was a silver eel. During those war years, with ration books and all, the thought of some nice jellied eel's must have been very tempting to a cockney fisherman. In 1939 the Park's nurseries covered about three acres of glasshouses. Situated behind the 'Bird Sanctuary', it supplied plants and flowers to Kensington and Buckingham Palaces, the Houses of Parliament, and 10 Downing Street. To help the war effort, it was given over to growing tomatoes and 12.5 tons were grown in one year alone. In 1944, a bomb fell on the nursery and destroyed the lot. Ted Stoter, who was on fire duty that night, recalled that it was a sight he would never forget. Fortunately nobody was hurt, but broken glass and tons of tomatoes were splattered everywhere. Tomatoes and pigs were not the only produce of the Park, sheep grazed peacefully in what had become pastures.
On the 24th August 1944, at 7.20 a.m. a V1 flying bomb (or "doodle bug" as they were known) dropped about 50 yards from the entrance to the Lido, breaking every window and literally raising the roof of the pavilion by three inches. With some clever workmanship, it was later somehow put back without taking the tiles off. It was a lovely Sunday in summer and so with the help of a few policeman, staff and bathers they set to work and by 2.00 pm the Lido was open with bathers piling through the gates to enjoy the sunshine and swimming. The only person injured was an attendant who went through a door and cut his head when a window dropped on him. If the bomb had dropped five hours later there is no doubt thousands may have died or been injured that day.
1954
(report compiled by Brian Thomas)