Serpentine Swimming Club

Katie Irvine, winner of the fourth of the five race club championship series

President Rob told us tales of Saundra and Tony, and their impact on the "fun" side of the club

Saundra Satterlee was the first lady to win our summer "blue ribbon" event - the Bridge to Bridge

American Saundra Satterlee, Tony's partner of many years, was persuaded in 2000 to join his early morning dips even though she could barely swim. With much encouragement from other club members and the then handicapper Cyril Wood, she slowly mastered the art of completing first the 55 yard Winter series races, the Christmas Day 100 yard race and then the longer spring and summer races. In 2002 Saundra became the first woman to win the club's other Blue Ribbon event, the Bridge to Bridge.

Tony Cuthbert, 1941 - 2011

Tony was a real "character", in keeping with the long tradition of our club acting as a magnet to oddness.

Born in 1941 Tony joined the club in 1998, in his late 50s. His earlier sporting prowess was as a three day eventer. Unfortunately a hip replacement lead him to quite literally hang up his spurs. Equine's loss was swimming's gain. It also left Tony with a very handy choice of outfits for the All Clothes Race.

Tony had a long and successful career in advertising. Tony Cuthbert Cartoons was responsible for many famous and memorable TV and film adverts - BT's Buzby, the Babycham fawn, the Foxes' Glacier Mints' polar bear and best of all Kelloggs' Frosties' Tony the Tiger. Tony also had a strong input into the Beatles' Yellow Submarine film.

Many of us want to believe the club myth that Tony based the tiger character on himself. Sadly (for our dreams) Kelloggs' Tony the Tiger character first appeared in the early 1950s when Tony would not even have been in his teens. That said, his TV and cinema campaigns for Frosties brought Tony the Tiger to animated life. Likewise, the Fox's Glacier Mint polar bear and the Babycham fawn may not have been Tony's original creations but he certainly made them jump out at us from the screen. Given Tony's work on Yellow Submarine perhaps we should claim him as our very own "fifth Beatle"?

For many years Tony was always the best dressed participant in the All Clothes Race

During the "naughties" Saundra and Tony were heavily involved in organising the club's Christmas party

For many years Tony and Saundra took the lead in the Christmas party food and drink preparation. Tony undertook much delight and relish in his own definition of the term "preparation" (i.e. eating and drinking much of what he was preparing). Tony also acted as "master of ceremonies", introducing the acts and leading the sing-song. It was Tony who penned the ditty that has now become the club anthem - "In the duck poo" (to the tune of Darling Clemantine).......

In the duck poo, that's what we do,

Come on in, the water's fine,

You are in my heart forever,

Oh my darling Serpentine.

Tony leading the Christmas party sing-song

In 1998 Tony was introduced to the club by Mark Fraser, who he met in a bar with work colleagues and agreed "after a few drinks" to swim the following morning. Tony was hooked. The rest, as they say, is history.

Tony won the Bridge to Bridge the following year. Though Tony was not first to finish the then handicapper Frank Simms managed to disqualify the first swimmer home for reasons no one could fathom. As if by fate, this first swimmer was the man who had fed Tony drinks and convinced him swimming in the duck poo was a cool thing to do: Mark Frazer! Mark was none too pleased.

For lots more history on Tony and Saundra and their time at the club, please follow this link to the 2021 "race we missed" report:

Serpentine Swimming Club

Cuthbert cup captured by Katie

400m scratch race - 4th of the five race Club Championship series