The Sidney Stovold cup, with prizes by Tory, Jonny and Archie Long

Mike spoke of Sydney Stovold, who was not just a strong all year round Serpentine swimmer but also competed in national diving competitions with the Highgate Diving Club.  Founded in 1928 and based at the Highgate Ponds, by 1939 the club dominated the British diving scene.  Sid was "up there" with the best.  For more information on the history of this famous old club please follow this link to their website

History | Highgate Diving Club

Sid had an incredible sense of balance and there are stories of him walking out from the changing room on his hands, onto the Serpentine diving board and then gracefully entering the water.  On their seaside honeymoon in 1955 Sid performed his handstand act on a cliff edge.  Gladys recalled that she did not react as her normal quiet and graceful self.  It is safe to say that Sid never repeated it again (at least not on a clifftop).

Though their marriage was tragically cut short, Gladys continued to support the club right up to her passing in early 2011.  Gladys unexpectedly left a very generous bequest to the club in her will.  This helped enable various improvements to the changing room in the "20 teens".  When we get back in the changing room and you make yourself a hot drink, quietly think of Gladys and Sid whilst you sip your sustenance on a frosty morning.  Tory Long (nee Thorpe) has sponsored the race since 2011.

Last year we were joined for the first time by Roberta Ward, one of Sidney's two daughters from his first marriage.  Roberta was unable to join us this year as she was away at a family gathering.  She sends the club her best wishes and hopes to join us in 2025.

Tory is quite private when it comes to talking about herself and doesn’t like a huge fanfare.  A "close friend" however did not hold back -

"Tory joined the Serpentine Swimming Club  in 2008.  She had moved to London and was looking for somewhere to swim.  She stumbled upon the Serpentine and her open water career started.  The first person she met in the club was then President Eric Carter, but that did not put her off!  Tory had not always been a massively keen mid-winter swimmer, but since (then fiance) Jonny joined the club the rivalry keeps her going as she never wants to be left behind (and likes to win :)

"She says she was so lucky to find the Serpentine and she feels privileged to not only be able to sponsor the Stovold cup, but be a member of the Serpentine family. The club and it’s members have always felt like family and she is now so excited that her own little family are growing up with the club in their lives.

"Some brief detail of Tory’s swimming accomplishments:
-Joined Serpentine in 2008
-Swam Lake Zurich in 2011
-Swam the English Channel on the 13th August 2012 in a respectful 12 hours 14 minutes and 10 seconds
-Swam the Rottnest Island swim (Australia) in 2015
-Looking forward to another ‘challenge’ in the next couple of years, as if becoming a mother wasn’t challenging enough :)"

Anon ("close friend")

Tory married Jonny Long in January 2018 and they have a son Archie.  Jonny is very technically proficient, having flown helicopters with the Army Air Corps and piloted commercial airliners.  However, he is often as flummoxed as the rest of us when it comes to the weird and wonderful workings of the payment metres in the Serpentine car park.