A well deserved points victory saw Kiwi Dave McGregor take this historic series named after past-President Bob Kelly.
7c in; 7c out. An equilibrium of air and water on the shortest day of the year.
Dave McGregor, winner of the Bob Kelly Winter Series
The Bernard Fettes Cup was presented by Duff Kelly, Bob's middle son
Saturday 21 December saw the end of the 2024 Winter Competition. Cameron, Duff and Jesse were on hand to represent the Kelly family and present the Bernard Fettes cup.
This particular cup has been swum for Winter Competition since 1958, presented originally by Bernard Fettes. The Winter series of the Serpentine Swimming Club span many generations and harks back to the early years of the club in the 19th century. Since the mid-1970s the series has been sponsored by the Kelly family. American artist Francis Bob Kelly was club President 1983 to 1986. Present this morning were Bob's sons Duff and Jesse and grandson Cameron. Sean, Bob's eldest son, is currently across that other pond in Cleveland, Ohio, enjoying the latest additions to the Kelly family.
Bob's passion for very loud Hawiian shirts was honoured and fondly remembered by many present.
President Rob oversaw proceedings
A tasty tableful of prizes
Norman Jones 2nd
Jamal Saad 3rd
Adam had his eyes on the loot
Andrew Fuller 4th
A second trophy was also presented - the Handicapper's Cup
Linda Paxton was nominated by Dani Lobo and his assistants Mike Barron and Thanos Papasavvas for her inspirational presence in and out of the water during 2024.
Busy at the board
Swimmers were eager to register for a race and obtain their mark
Thanos in charge. (photo: Robert Fisher)
A dull, grey morning
Nick did his best to ensure competitors achieved some last second acclimatisation
The grey waters of the Serpentine
Rob and Andrea grimace during the post-race wade ashore. (Note to self - Andrea doesn't do grimace, whatever the weather)
The Bernard Fettes cup has been presented at the end of the Winter Series since 1958
Bernard standing next to bearded Frank Simms, overlooked by Sid Richardson and Roy Wrey, 1963. The Winter Series itself dates back to the early years of the club in the 19th century
Bernard Fettes swam with the club for many years up to the early 1960s. Alan Lacy recalled that Bernard, a dentist, was an established member when he joined in 1948 and would arrive at the Serpentine in his pride and joy: his Jaguar motor car. Research by Mike Harris showed Bernard Fettes to have served in the Army's Machine Gun Corps during WW1. Bernard was still with us for the 1964 Centerary season.
1972, Bob and the boys
Duff, Sean and Jesse with Bob. Four years after this photo, in 1976, Jesse won the Bridge to Bridge at the age of nine.
Bob Kelly joined the club in 1968 - living in Bayswater he saw Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park as "his own back yard". Bob was club president from 1983 to 1986. Bob led the "Save our Serps" campaign in the early 80s when the future of the Lido and of the club was seriously threatened by government budget cutbacks. He was also instrumental in ensuring women were allowed to join the club as "full members" in 1985, "associate member" status having been introduced a dozen years earlier in 1973.
In his professional life Bob was Francis
Bob's paintings, drawings and etchings have been exhibited world-wide
For much more information on both the Winter Competition and Bob Kelly please follow this link to the 2020 "race we missed" report.
Also, the SSC website, 31 October 2012 remembered Bob shortly after he died.
(Report compiled by Brian Thomas)