Serpentine Swimming Club

Laure Latham was on speech and presentation duty

Anna Hillyer joined us in January 2004 along with Jessica Avery and Janie Saunders to prepare for their "Water Babes" Channel relay, to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

"Before signing up for the Channel we had been leisurely breast stroking and chatting in an indoor pool and signed up without really realising what we were getting into. We had some swimming lessons, as Jess and Janie weren't really front crawlers. Our teacher was more keen on teaching us to skull on our backs in case we got tired I seem to remember. We visited the (Hampstead) Ladies' Pond for a January dip and they recommended the Serps. Everything improved from that moment. It really was life-changing."

Charlotte was deemed the fastest against her handicap across the two races

Prize winners from the first race -

Prize winners from the second race -

Two races for the morning's entertainment. The slow to middling; followed by the not quite so middling to the fast, and the very fast.

Second race getting onto the board and ready

Hon. Secretary Laure Latham spoke admiringly of Anna's swimming achievements, including tales of "Channelversary" events, and presidential predictions

Anna and Sam met right after her solo swim, got married, and on her fifth Channelversary, their son Max was born. Followed two and a half Channelversaries later by Theo.

When Norman Jones was club president he announced that when they grow up Theo will play football for Queens Park Rangers and Max will play rugby for England (or is it the other way round?). In the meantime, you can find them on the beach - they are now known as “the Baker Beachboys” - training for the surfing event of the 2024 Olympics.

Laure concluded her speech by warning "if anyone here at the club is silly enough to be swimming leisurely breaststroke, chatting as you go – be very careful who you chat to. You may suddenly find yourself swimming to France – relay or Solo".

The 2004 WaterBabes Channel relay team comprised Anna Hillyer, Jessica Avery and Janie Saunders, raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital. They completed the crossing in 17 hours and 12 minutes.

Anna was so inspired by the Water Babes relay experience that she signed up for a solo English Channel attempt the following year

Anna completed her English Channel solo on 13 July 2005 in 17 hours and 32 minutes, only 20 minutes longer than her relay. At the time, the reports said that she looked slightly distressed, but she did it, supported by the Adams family. It always helps having two experts on hand to assist.

Relay completed, and its bubbly with coach back on the boat back to Dover

In 2021 Anna was asked why she was daft enough to join the Serpentine Swimming Club -

"I joined in January 2004 to prepare for the WaterBabes Channel relay, alongside Janie Saunders and Jessica Avery. Before signing up for the Channel we had been leisurely breast stroking and chatting in an indoor pool and signed up without really realising what we were getting into. We had some swimming lessons, as Jess and Janie weren't really front crawlers. Our teacher was more keen on teaching us to skull on our backs in case we got tired I seem to remember. We visited the (Hampstead) Ladies' Pond for a January dip and they recommended the Serps. Everything improved from that moment. It really was life-changing.

"Janie lives in north London and Jess is in Worcestershire. We reunited for the Zurich relay and went out with a large contingency from the Serps in 2008 I think.

"I met Sam at Oxford in September 2005, shortly after my July solo. He quickly learnt to join in with the swimming. I remember he walked from his parents' home in Golders Green on Christmas day 2005 to watch me in the Peter Pan race. He also did the Zurich relay with Mark and Teresa (Faure-Walker)."

Evening meal with some of the support crew the evening before the solo

Arrived, after 17 hours and 32 minutes in 16c water

Laure also reported on the recent International Winter Swimming Association World Championships in Tallinn, Estonia

Katie Irvine achieved 1st place in the 450m, 2nd in the 200m and 3rd in the 100m and 50m freestyle. Katie's time of 06:02:58 for the 450m in water just above freezing was not to be sniffed-at.

Alan Luckhurst was 2nd in the 200m and 450m freestyle.

The 4 x 25m mixed relay team, consisting of Katie, Alan, Tom Elliot and 'Honorary Serpie' Laura Nesbitt, came 7th.

Ruta Satikaite and John Conningham-Rolls also represented us and flew the flag for Team Serpentine.

Laure noted that Team Serpentine performances may have been affected on Thursday due to the previous evening's karaoke with the Argentinians - videos not publicly available!!!!

Long time Serpie now residing up-north, Colin Hill, also had a big hand in then event.

If you wish, you can look up the results for our Serpentine swimmers here -

Winter Swimming World Championship 2024 (racetecresults.com)

Before the crowd dispersed, we all sang happy 7th birthday to Chloe

And thanks to Robert Fisher for taking time to capture the pre race view from John Rennie's bridge

(report compiled by Brian Thomas)

Prizes from Anna and the Baker Boys for the second race of the Emmi Hunte series

First place for first class baker of cakes, Charlotte Hallward