Ted Gerald first in the Roy Wrey race, our annual half mile tongue twister. Twenty-five of us swam in memory of a real gentleman and true friend to many longer-term members. The go-ahead for the club to swim came through quite late on Friday, which accounted for the low turnout. ("Just like the old days", claimed some with longish memories).
Ted sped to victory
Laura Tomlinson presented the cup remembering her favourite President
Robin Hunter-Coddington led the morning's proceedings and spoke of Roy Wrey and also of how Mr & Mrs Tomlinson met at the Serpentine
Laura's husband, cycling nut Jon, was in France for Le Tour.
Roy joined the club in the mid 1950s. He was Vice Captain 1965-70 and President 2004-06.
Christmas 2005, President Roy with Peter Pan cup winner Geoff Ransom.
Roy, first on the left in this 1957 club photo.
Roy Wrey, 2003
Many club members will empathise with Roy's equipment malfunction from twenty two years ago. (Note: the photo is from the Titmuss archive, unattributed. It was most probably taken by Andrew Buurman, prize winning photographer and previous club member)
Roy Wrey was a true gentleman who graced the club from the mid 1950s until he died “in post” as President in 2006. “A quiet, un-fussy character”. Roy was a regular from the late 1950s and served as vice Captain from 1965 to 1970. In the 1980s his wife became ill and Roy spent many years caring for her. Being unable to leave her alone for long periods a return trip to the Serpentine by tube from Northolt would have taken too much time away from home. We did not see him for many years. He was not able to come back to us until the mid-1990s.
Roy was extremely well-liked and very active in the club and in 2004 was elected our 25th President. He always took great care over his well prepared post-race speeches, even when his own health began to fail. A nice, “old world” touch would be exhibited when he led the customary "three cheers". Rather than "hip! hip!” Roy would lead the cry with a quick "pip! pip! pip! before hooray!”.
New Year's Day, 1 January 2000
Roy, with obligatory mug of tea, listening to President Alan Lacy's Millennium race speech.
Nice to be back after a blue green algae induced 10 day absence
The geese had got used to having the "beach" all to themselves.
Colourfully attired wardens ready to welcome us back
Comparison of notes on the 10 day hiatus
Jonathon Tomlinson joined the club in 2005, six years after the then Laura Moffatt had begun brightening our mornings. After a year or so some of us did notice the growing bond between the two, for instance seeing how Laura would be ready with a lakeside cup of coffee for Jon after a winter competition heat. We mere mortals had to trudge back to the changing room to make our own! They married in 2009.
Aside from swimming, GP Jon is a very keen photographer and would often “snap away” with his vintage Leica when lakeside. He is also a very dedicated cyclist, with many bumps, scrapes and bruises to show for it. In fact Rosie George nicknamed him "Tooth" after one in the front went missing following yet another tumble!
As Jon was absent, here he is with Laura after the 2023 race, listening politely to President Rob's speech.
Note the cycling gear
Laura Moffatt joined the club in 1999. She has a lovely speaking voice, as befits a vicar's daughter. In the early 2000s when spending an extended stay in Texas she featured on a local radio station reading out the names in the entire telephone directory of the small west Texas town of Marfa. She was a great hit. Incidentally, though Marfa has a population of 1,981 the reading was, we believe, riveting.
Maybe one Saturday morning we could persuade Laura to complete a similar feat by reading out, if not the club's full roll of members (we would probably still be there at midday) then the full handicap list of the morning's race.
At the turn of new millenium Laura's love for the club was confirmed to us when she arrived for a Saturday morning swim straight from Gatwick airport after an overnight trans-Atlantic flight, large suitcase in tow but swimming costume at the ready.
Family commitments mean Laura and Jon cannot join us every Saturday, but we always look forward to their annual celebration of Roy Wrey, the peresident when the lake drew them together.
Ted Gerald, "father of the club".
Ted is our oldest racing member. He may be in his late 80s, but he can still give a healthy start to many younger names on the handicap list.
Jamal Saad second
Nick Hungerford third
With new kid on the block, Emmie.
Robin issued detailed directions for next week's Bridge to Bridge
Handicap clock starts 7.30am at the Dell Bridge.
Laura put her own spin on proceedings
(Report compiled by Brian Thomas. Images provided by Brian and the club's archives, unless credited to individuals)