An international outcome for the 2025 Peter Pan cup.
American Dave Bill romped home, followed by Canadian James Norton, Irishman John Tierney and Australian Nick Hungerford. And from Nueva Caledonia, President Laure Latham delivered her speech outlining the history of the race and the Peter Pan connection.
Dave Bill, this year's Peter Pan
Sixty-four club members made it onto the board to compete for the Peter Pan cup.
Shoreline busy (photo: Mike Harris)
A surface view - Mike Harris was too busy snapping away to compete for the cup
(photo: Mike Harris)
Time to get out
(photo: Vivienne Berryman)
Fashionista Liz modelled the new design club swimwear (photo: Vivienne Berryman)
Race over, mulled wine and other warm drinks consumed, President Laure welcomed all club members and visitors, speaking about the origins of the race and the link with Sir James Barrie and Peter Pan.
David Greenbury (centre) spoke on behalf of the many members of the Greenbury family who join us each year.
The crowd all ears (photo: Norman Jones)
The Serpentine Swimming Club's Christmas morning handicap is swum over a 100 yard course for the Peter Pan Cup. The club's Christmas Day swim has been held every year since 1864. In the early years it was customary for the winner to be presented with a gold medal. Author J M Barrie became associated with the Christmas Day race in 1903 when he presented he medal to the winner. The following year Barrie presented the Peter Pan cup, which coincided with the play Peter Pan's debut on the London stage.
Barrie's connection with the club is not clear, but it is believed one of our members was a theatre impresario who was an associate of the author. We do know that Barrie lived close by and had an affection for walking in Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. Sir James Barrie (he was appointed a baronett in 1913 by King George V) continued to present a cup for the winner each year up to 1932. The honour then fell to Albert Greenbury, a dedicated member since 1908 who served as club president from 1935 to 1955. To this day the Greenbury family continue the tradition.
Sir James Barrie continued to sponsor the race up to 1932
Albert Greenbury presented the Peter Pan cup after Sir James Barrie stepped down in 1932
Peter Pan cup race, 1913. X marks a young Albert amongst the finishers. Albert and his two brothers joined the club in 1908.
Albert Greebury was club president from 1935 to 1955. His granddaughter Lucy Harris is a club member and races all-the-year-round.
For further background on the Serpentine Swimming Club's Christmas Day race, please follow this link to the 2020 "race we missed" report -
https://serpentineswimmingclub.com/news/51076/the-spirit-of-christmas-past
Prize winners
Dave Bill (1st), Nick Hungerford (4th), John Tierney (3rd), James Norton (2nd) (photo: Norman Jones)
Gag in search of a punchline ...
an Australian, an Irishman and a Canadian followed an American into a lake......
Post event cuppa (photo: A Luckhurst - but which one?)
(Report compiled by Brian Thomas. Images provided by Brian and the club's archives, unless credited to individuals)