Andrew Fuller backstroked to the end and back to claim the Cyril and Yvonne Wood cup

Cyril and Yvonne Wood, long term members of South London Swimming Club, joined the Serpentine SC in 1980 when Tooting Bec was under refurbishment.  They became fully ensconced with the club.  Yvonne would swim before races and then help with the judging.  Cyril, a strong swimmer, carried on racing into his late 80s.

Cyril was club President, 1995 - 98 and Hon. Handicapper 2001 - 2004.  In his role as Handicapper, Cyril introduced a "modern", scientific approach to the handicapper's art.  With his trusty assistant Yvonne, he could be seen, stopwatch in hand, giving a running commentary of the proceedings into a cassette tape recorder hung around his neck, which he would download and then hand out detailed result sheets the following week, down to the last second, all punched out on his old Department of Education typewriter. 

This was quite some contrast to the previous "back of an envelope" approach, with handicaps produced on the morning of a race, depending on who had turned up -  the number of racers was somewhat lower then.

In 1994 Cyril and Yvonne were part of a band of faithful members, including Bill Deely, Justin Fahy, and Mark Fraser to swim with the St Petersburg Walrus's. They were initiated into the club by 'King Neptune' himself, after completing a 50 meter swim cut out of the ice, 450mm thick on a lake, not far from St. Petersburg.

Serpentine swimmer Clare Doyle was intrumental in organising the trip, using her contacts in the Russian city.  Though not formally a member of the club at that time, Clare was a Lido regular and continued to swim early mornings out of season at a time when there were no separate facilites for women so had to enjoy the delights of changing in the, albeit large, disabled toilet.

In 1997 Paddy was cycling through Hyde Park to Paddington when he saw swimmers in the Lake, he asked about the Club and whether he could swim and after that moment was taken with the whole eccentric set up and soon became a member. 

Paddy recalls simple and happy days of there being only around 10 to 15 hard core daily swimmers during the weekdays, with the now lost generation of swimmers – Long Legged John who would wear shorts throughout the year, Bill Phipps – a silversmith who made pieces for the Royal Family, Shaky Bill (still with us, but you have to arrive very, very early to catch him) who is a man of very few words only and shook his tea everywhere, and Martin a caretaker from one of the local mansion blocks who was a talented artist, but who filled the changing room with his BO – sorry to speak ill of the dead (Paddy’s words not Rob's).

The incredible Rosie George who has been a constant for the club - making her annual collection for the electricity meter where every member had to donate 50 pence to ensure that we had light and power.

Upon his first club biathlon Paddy stormed the running and was a long way ahead of the second competitor.  So that he did not have to take the limelight of any prizes he held back and of course came near to the back of the swim – to this day a position that he is more than comfortable with letting others take the lead.

Paddy ran the Harrow Marathon with Eric Carter.  Much to both their annoyance and frustration the marshals got the numbering system wrong which proved to psychological torture as after reach the 19 mile point, the next marshal was holding up a sign for 16 miles and then marshal after that holding up a sign for 23 miles. 

Paddy met Kirstie Neilson travelling in South America – she was horrified that he was travelling without a book in the Atacama Desert.  When she asked him where he was sleeping that he night, he answered that he did not know.  Kirstie soon sorted something out and offered some motherly guidance.  They walked the Cusco trail together and when they were both back in the UK met up at the Serpentine by chance and rekindled their friendship.

Through Kirstie he was introduced to Mary Olivarri and the first year of swimming together Mary and Kirstie both said that they would swim until the end of September and stop for Winter.  Paddy subtly pushed them to swim until the end of October, then November – by which time they were fully geared up to swim their first Christmas Race.  Since then neither have looked back.

For Mary Olivari's 70 Birthday, Paddy arranged to meet at Polpo Restaurant with Kirstie.  He arrived early and briefed the waitress that when two ladies arrived that she should tell the petite lady with the white hair that unfortunately she would not be able to eat the restaurant due to an age policy of no over sixty year olds!  Kirstie was fuming and started saying that she would report the Restaurant to the Evening Standard whilst Mary had virtually left the restaurant thinking that they would just find somewhere else to eat – it was only after a 30 seconds that they heard Paddy’s laughter that they realised that they had been had!