Club member Bobby Baxter joined us to present the cup and prizes in memory of his 1889 Christmas Day winning great grandfather, who was an important club member in the late 19th century, serving on the committee from 1890 to 1902.
(photo: Norman Jones)
Bobby Baxter, Arthur's great grandson.
Arthur Hester was Bobby Baxter's great grandfather on his mother's side. He won the Christmas morning race in 1889 at the age of 22. Prior to the involvement of James Barrie and the presentation of a Peter Pan cup in 1903, the winner of the Serpentine SC Christmas Morning Race was presented with a gold medal. Great grandad Arthur was a local lad from Fulham, whose family ran a tobacconist shop in Lille Road. He served on the Serpentine SC committee from 1890 to 1902.
It was in 2007 that Bobby made contact with then club secretary Alan Titmuss and joined us one Saturday morning to show off the family heirloom to members. Bobby became a club member in 2008 and was a regular racer for many years.
In 2009 Bobby celebrated the 120th anniversary of the Christmas morning victory of his great grandfather
He is there somewhere on the board (photo: Jeremy and Ingrid Hunter-Coddington)
Clock running; swimmers stretching, chatting and generally mulling things over.
(photo: Norman Jones)
Fourteen minutes gone and the not so early crowd get underway
(photo: Norman Jones)
(photo: Norman Jones)
No more race photos, but here are some happy finishers.
Cup winner Fiona (red cap) fourth in the queue (photo: Robin Hunter-Coddington)
Arthur's portrait on show
And his Christmas morning medal
In 2009 the then Hon. Secretary Alan Titmuss managed to find a slot in the fixture calendar for an Arthur Hester memorial race, in anticipation of the 120th anniversary of Arthur's Christmas victory. The cup we use for the race is one of the previous Daily Telegraph cups that were bequeathed back to the club. This particular Daily Telegraph cup was competed for over nine races across three seasons, 1940, 1941 and 1942 - three events each year: 110 yards, 220 yards and a 110 yards All Clothes Race.
The cup was introduced for Bobby's race in 2014.
Quite a variety of prizes (photo: Robin Hunter-Coddington)
In addition to the cup, the winner received an engraved pewter tankard
Cup for a year, tankard forever (photo: James Norton)
(photo: James Norton)
Second place for Gary Duffield
Robert Fisher 3rd
A flowering head for fourth place Norman Jones
And finally, a very tasty "Cecil cake" baked and shared by the birthday Cecil sister
Happy birthday, Lizzie. Much appreciated. (photo: Norman Jones)
(Report compiled by Brian Thomas. Images provided by Brian and the club's archives, unless credited to individuals)