Serpentine Swimming Club

Silverware for James Norton

Lucky dip swim hats for winners

Tony Schiemann missed the group photo, so here he is.

We also had time to recognise Percy, a long term Hyde Park constant who is about to retire.

Today's race is sponsored by Norman and Lorraine Jones, who fondly remember past members Ron Hamill and Andrew and Ron Miller.

Fourty two years with the club

Norman joined the Club in 1983. He won the Bridge to Bridge in both 1989 and 1994, the Christmas Day Peter Pan race in 1991 and has been club champion multiple times. He served on the committee for many years, was Club President 2013-2016, continues to be one of the club's two nominated Welfare Officers (Sakura Adams is the other) and is a vice President. Norman's knowledge and experience is of great value to the current committee.

A many time club champion

Lifeguard, teacher, coach

Norman is a highly qualified swimming teacher, being a Fellow of the Institute of Swimming Teachers, a first aid trainer and RLSS lifeguard trainer and assessor. Norman spent much of his teaching and coaching career at Imperial College where he organised and coached students to compete at the National University Swimming Championships. He also coached school teams to win the National Schools Swimming Championships on six occasions. Norman can still be found teaching poolside at the Charring Cross Hospital Sports Club. Norman has twice been invited to the City of London Guildhall to be honoured by his fellow professional swim teachers and coaches.

Not really a lake swimmer, but ever present lakeside.

Lorraine joined the club along with Norman in 1983. Though not really a Serpentine lake swimmer, Lorraine has played a central role in many club activites, for instance in organising Christmas parties, the Serpentine choir and trips to the seaside. In 2008 Lorraine was part of a Serpentine SC relay team that successfully crossed the English Channel. Lorraine had to swim four times during the 23 hour crossing "suffering from sea sickness the whole time". Most of her training for the swim was undertaken in Lac Annecy under the tutilage of Norman. "As you can imagine it was not always a smooth operation", commented Mr Jones.

Hammersmith Hospital IVF unit

Lorraine spent over 26 years working at Hammersmith Hospital IVF unit. Starting off part-time whilst the children were in school, Lorraine ended up managing the unit full time. She was loved by staff and patients alike in what sometimes could be "a very emotional and challenging environment". She was the one on hand to both placate patients and keep doctors in line.

Ron, Andrew, Ron

Father, son, friend.

Nana Ron

Ex-paratrooper Ron Miller ran a local plumbing and central heating company. He was a daily regular at the club throughout the 1980s, 90s and into the 2000s - tea making and general chit-chat a speciality. During days off work (it was his company) Ron would act as "nanny" to Mary Gilbert's children. This accounts for the nickname of Nana, coined by Mary, with respect to the Newfoundland dog in Peter Pan.

Nothing new under the sun, nor in the Serpentine. 16 June 1990 blue-green algae story in the Evening News.

Ron showed his faith in the Serpentine waters for the photographers.

Methinks thirty five years on The Royal Parks testing regime is somewhat more rigorous.

Woodworker Andrew

Ron's son Andrew was also an early moring regular at the Serpentine, though not always a racer. He was a gifted woodworker who produced many treasured items for his friends. Sadly, Andrew drowned whilst swimming off Brighton beach in 2014. He was in his late-thirties. Loved by all who had the pleasure to know him and to share in his fun and regular merriment.

Ron Hamill, foreman at the Royal Albert Hall

Ron Hamill was a regular daily swimmer and Saturday racer from the late 1960s through to the 1990s. He was a foreman at the Royal Albert Hall and was responsible for overseeing the careful moving of large grand pianos, harps and other delicate but big musical items, plus any other furniture that found itself in the wrong spot. In this role Ron had the privilidge of access to complimentary tickets for some big events. Those for boxing and wrestling matches proved more popular with certain club members than those for more "highbrow" cultural events.

Ron Miller helped revive Ron Hamill one spring morning when he passed out under the lakeside shower. Ron Miller had recently completed a lifesaving and first aid course run through the club by Norman Jones.

Andrew and the Two Ronnies cup, sponsored by Norman and Lorraine Jones

Lucky dip swim hats for the lucky winners.