George Brutton, a club regular from the 80s and 90s, was on hand to present race prizes for the cup with two names. George and Annette were joined by their extended family, who braved the morning's constant drizzle.
An Aussie first and fourth. Second place for a Pom. A Taff third.
A massive cheer was raised for Nancy, who was presented with a prize for completing her first ever half mile race.
A special presentation
Five year old Serena did the honours and ensured Fiona Gibson received a prize as well as a cup
A hard fought second place for Chris Hatcher
Paul the Hat third
Fiona's fellow countryman Nick Hungerford fourth
And a very well received prize for Nancy, who valiantly completed her first 800m race
First away, last home. Enthusiastically cheered-in at the finish by all. (photo: James Norton)
Constant drizzle greeted the extended George-Annette family
But it didn't dampen their enthusiasm
Greg and Tom spotting the tiddlers in the shallows
President Rob Ouldcott told us of the history of "the cup with two faces"
A cup from 1935, with a second title from 1991
George Brutton joined the club in 1982. Living in West Kensington, George was close enough to our lake to enjoy a dip most mornings before work, as well participating in the Saturday race. He is remembered as a solid breast-stroker who always gave of his best in every race and who never once complained about his handicap. George won the 1986 Peter Pan cup - his "never complain" attitude obviously worked wonders! A lesson to us all.
George commenced sponsorship of a late-summer quarter mile race in 1991.
The then club Secretary Alan Titmuss used a cup that had come back into our possession which had been presented by Louis Fabre in 1935. The trophy was for a series of four midweek races competed for between June and October. Louis is remebered by those of us who have been around long enough as a great multi discipline athlete with a competitive streak and a will to break records.
Alan Titmuss's (not very) private joke saw the reintroduced cup engraved "Uncle George", a reference to George's role in playing the parent to the three children of his then partner (ultimately wife) Annette. We thus swam on Saturday for a cup engraved Louis Fabre on one side, and Uncle George on the other.
George won the 1986 Christmas morning race
Fifty two years before George, Louis Fabre won the 1934 Peter Pan cup
Louis receiving the Peter Pan cup from Marjorie Greenbury, wife of club president Albert.
Writing in the mid 2000s, Alan Titmuss captured memories of Fabre -
"Louis, a likeable Frenchman, full of Gallic charm and a Maurice Chevalier accent, was born in the South of France. His love of horses brought him to England at the time of the First World War, with the idea of signing up. It is not clear what happened but he never made it back to France. Right up to his death at the ripe old age of 88 years you would have thought he had just got off the boat at Dover, his accent was so strong. But it paid off with the ladies, especially at his wife's hairdressing salon in Paddington.
"Always fond of the open-air life, at seventy-six he could still be seen, early in the morning, exercising racehorses on Epsom Downs."
A true all-rounder
Louise Fabre amassed quite a trophy haul across a range of sporting disciplines
President Rob spoke of Louise Fabre's multi-disciplined efforts
And shared some interesting photos from the past
The attempt was made on the 9th September 1949, in the presence of a leading specialist in each sport, two official timekeepers, and also the press who followed the entire event.
The performance commenced on the track at Padddington Recreation Ground - one mile running in 7 minutes 29 seconds, one mile walking in 11 mins. 13 secs., one mile over 32 hurdles in 7mins. 30 sec., and five miles cycling in 15 mins. 20 secs.
Changing to his road machine Louis cycled the four miles from Paddington Recreation ground to Hammersmith, where at Lyons Boat House a sculling boat was waiting.
A quick change and off he went for a one mile scull from the 'Bemax Works' to Crabtree in 6 mins 25 seconds.
He then dived into the Thames and swam the mile to Putney Pier in 15 mins 53 seconds, finishing his 10 mile non-stop performance.
He accomplished his feat in the astonishing time of 63 minutes 50 seconds. A remarkable achievement, and rightly claimed by Louis as a world record.
In 1949 the age of sixty one may have been considered "old", but definitely not for an old soldier like Louise
Louise fought in the French infantry during World War One and received shrapnel wounds. He came to Britain before the end of the war to work with army horses.
It should be noted that Louis was a very competitive club runner with Queens Park Harriers, an experienced cyclist as well as a long time competitor with the Serpentine SC. He was also no novice with the oars. What definitely helped the achievement was the fact that the sculling and swimming legs were in the River Thames between Hammersmith and Putney - i.e. tide and current assisted.
The club archives record Louis's All Clothes Race prowess
Winner, 1931
And again, 1935
"I remember Louis well. When I joined in 1967 he was the oldest club member still racing. Current members from the late 1960s and early 1970s remember Louis fondly, epecially the Kelly brothers, Sean, Duff and Jesse who lived close to Louis in Bayswater.
"Louis repeated his 1949 multi-discipline event as a septuagenarian in the late 1960s, this time involving a mile gallop on a horse. The feat earnt him an interview on the BBC Saturday evening prime-time Simon Dee Show (Dee Time). Simon Dee was a summer daytime Lido user, but never part of the early morning crowd. Louis was well known to all at the lake."
(Brian Thomas)
George may not have won the All Clothes Race, but in 1988 he was a picture of sartorial elegance
This year's All Clothes Race is on 14 September. Our toughest, but still the most fun, race of the year. A true blue ribbon event.
During his speech President Rob shared a copy of this photo from 1968
Easter 1968 - the club's oldest and youngest racers. (The younger is still racing, and producing club race reports).
Another shared printout captured George with the 1986 Peter Pan cup
Pat Thomas (sadly no longer with us) plus three still swimming members - Brian Thomas, Mike Olizar and Norman Jones.
(Report compiled by Brian Thomas. Images provided by Brian and the club's archives, unless credited to individuals)