Blue-green algae is still keeping swimmers out of the water. Here is a reflection on the background to the Maurice Ferris cup, now sponsored by Stu, Deb and Ben Bowman.
Also news of last Sunday's very special anniversary English Channel relay crossing by seven Serpies. ‘The Serpentine Webb One Fifty’.
Today's cup, but not today's race
In 2023 Stu Bowman received the Maurice Ferris cup from the then sponsors Sally and Mike Olizar.
For many years the Ferris cup was presented by past president Mike Olizar and wife Sally for a spring race over 400m (440 yards). After the 2023 race Mike decided to stand down and allow someone else the opportunity to sponsor a race. Long standing member Stuart agreed to take over. In 2024, after a bit of calendar juggling Stu, Debs and son Ben presented the Maurice Ferris cup for a late summer 800m race.
As it happened, Stu had won the Olizar's 2023 race. He thus proudly presented the cup he had held since April 2023 to August 2024 winner Sam Spiers. Her first Serpentine silverware.
Sam Spiers, 2024 victor.
For more about smiling happy people enjoying their Saturday morning swim please follow this link to last year's write-up.
https://serpentineswimmingclub.com/news/51296/2024-maurice-ferris-cup
Richard Maurice Ferris joined the club in 1926. He won the 1938 Christmas Day race and the 1966 Bridge to Bridge. Maurice was club President 1968-71.
He was always affectionately known as being part of the "Harrow Mob", along with Alan Titmuss, Teddy Bennion, Arthur Goffrey, and Jack Baker (Alan Titmuss’s uncle).
In the 1960s Maurice worked at the Heinz factory in Harlesden and provided a plentiful supply of "unwanted" dented tins of food to Alan Titmuss. Alan always joked that though this was greatly appreciated, the tins did not have any labels. He and Paulette would never know whether they were opening baked beans, pilchards, peaches or treacle pudding!
Maurice became a member in 1926. In the 20s and 30s he was recognised as one of the fastest in the club.
1931, Ferris first left.
1939 Maurice Ferris, second swimmer on the left.
Mike Olizar recalls that Maurice would get a lift down to the Serps with Alan Titmuss. He would lean on Alan as he walked down from the car park due a long term shoulder problem. However, once in the water the shoulder worked perfectly.
Fellow member of "the class of '67", Peter Larrad, tells of Maurice's final morning at the Serpentine prior to his retirement move to Clacton in the mid 1970s. At the race presentation Maurice shook the hand of every single member present, thanking them for their company as he bade them farewell.
‘The Serpentine Webb One Fifty’ relay team. A 12 hour 49 minute celebration that commenced exactly 150 years to the minute after Captain Matthew Webb entered the water to seek greatness.
Luka Melon, Stu Bowman, Craig Kerr, Mia Ryan, Dave Bill, Clare Kentish, Philip van der Kloot Meijburg. "Nothing great is easy"
Pretty in pink?
Stu had the honour of pushing off the Serpentine Channel Relay team - ‘The Serpentine Webb One Fifty’ - from Samphire Hoe at 12.56pm on Sunday 24 August 2025, exactly 150 years (to the minute) after Captain Matthew Webb commenced the first successful Channel crossing.
The team swam the standard hourly rotations with Clare Kentish in second, then Dave Bill, Mia Ryan next, Craig Kerr in fifth followed by Philip van der Kloot Meijburg and finally Luka Melon. Everyone, with the exception of Luka, did a second swim as the team headed into the night. 12 hours and 49 minutes later, in the early hours of 25 August, Philip landed in the dark to a small French welcome party at Wissant.
Stu awaiting his second swim
Something of the night?
Digital proof
(Report compiled by Brian Thomas. Images provided by Brian and the club's archives, unless credited to individuals. Channel relay photos courtesy of Stu Bowman and team)