Serpentine Swimming Club

A race and cup celebrating 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.

A second success

Literary themed prizes

The Cselkos were out in force

Jock Fee, 1917 - 1983. The third and final "Superintendent of the Serpentine Lido"

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.

Writing in 2019, past President Mike Olizar penned the following picture of Jock Fee -

"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."

Peter joined the club in the late 1950s

Peter Saunders, Lido staff and Royal Parks Gardener

After Jock's retirement in 1983, as a Royal Parks' employee Peter continued to open up the facility to early morning club members

Peter Saunders was a club member from the late 1950s. 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.

Peter and Jock were active club members.

For an in-depth look at Jock and Peter's history with the club plus lots of background on the Cselkos please follow this link to the 2021 web report.

Serpentine Swimming Club

Past president Norman Jones stood in for the absent President Rob

One Cselko in 2001, then four more in 2013

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. George and the Hampstead winter swimmers prevailed.

Jessica, Gemma and Pheobe started racing in club fixtures in their early teens, winning many trophies. They were so inspired that they completed an English Channel relay crossing in 2014.

Katherine herself is no ordinary swimmer, having completed the Dart 10k and other long distance events. She is best known as our very own "mistress of music", leading the Serpentine choir in Saturday morning post-race practice sessions and organising marvellous performances at the Serpentine Christmas party.

On Christmas morning 2019 Katherine treated herself to an early morning birthday present (her birthday is on the 25th December) by romping home to finish first in the Peter Pan cup race.

The Peter Saunders race for the Jock Fee Cup - prizes by the Cselko family

A literary prized theme from the Cselkos for a race remembering our dear friends Jock Fee and Peter Saunders