Research and History of my Collection - Charles Brett

I started collecting some 40 years ago, because a friend sold me a Caption Webb Medal and I did not know anything about it.

First I wrote to the Long Distance Swimming Association, they sent me a 1975 copy of the Log of Captain Webb's Swim, and that got me started on researching all my swimming medals.


This site is the history of Swimming Medals and Proficiency in the art of Lifesaving. There are no medals for saving life.


Some have been researched some have not yet been researched. I have more photos than research at the moment but as I get the research I will put it with the photo.


If you know anything about any of the medals, the people they were awarded to or have an interest in them, I would love to hear about them and put it with the medals.

Please see the menu in the top left to list all the pages on this site.


My email address is:

charles.brett@lifesaving-and-swimming-medals.co.uk


The Medals are not for sale at the price I bought them for 40 years ago. The prices are an indication of how rare they are and why I bought them for the price. Like most antiques over 40 years I would expect prices to go up by 3 or 4 times and with research even more. All medals are banked.


This site is still under construction. Many years ago I started this as a book, and it may take some time to transfer it to a site. I start with the ones that have been researched and will be adding more information and items to the site in the near future.


Remember the winner in the 1840-60 swam for money, before swimming became an Amateur sport.

So the 2nd place was a medal, the 1st place was a cup or Shield.

Many clubs did not have medals like my club The Norwich Swan Swimming Club, but I now have one for 1891 so remember Clubs  and there Swimming Pools, go through good and bad times

Other Clubs like the Serpentine Swimming Club did give medals.


It will be in order of research but then-

Channel Swimming

Long Distance Swimming medals

Early Victorian Swimming Medals

Swimming Club Medals

The Forces Medals

Water Polo Medals

Diving Medals

Royal Life Saving Society Medals

School medals

Groups of swimming medals.

World swimming medals

Olympic Swimming Medals.

Trophy's Spoons. and other Rewards.


The Research will be where I bought it, what I paid for it Why I paid that amount for it. The condition the weight. The engraver and who won it. The guide to prices will be what I paid for it when I paid that and why.

In the early Victorian days 1st Prize would be Money 1837-1860.

1860-1900 1st Prize would be a Silver Medal With  gold center.

1900-1960 1st Prise would be a Silver Medal With a gilt Center

After the 2nd World Very few Silver Medals. No Money.

Most Victorian Silver Swimming Medals are not stamped silver.


The rare and early swimming medals are 1845- 1900 named dated, with timed swims, with well known clubs to well known swimmers. e.g.

Collection of 5 Victorian silver swimming Medals to Joseph Collard. Serpentine S.C. Who was in at the start of the A.S.A. and became Chairmen of the Serpentine S.C.in 1893.In his collection is one of the rarest medals and that is the "Victoria & Albert". A Silver Medal so called because the portraite of Victoria and Albert. This was ended in 1861 after Albert died.


For this group I have a newspaper commentary on Joseph Collard winning the silver medal.

Also much research on him and the history of the Serpintine s.c.


Most people start swimming at school, so will say they are very common- C3

Then they join a swimming club-----------------------------------------------C2

Then they swim for their county---------------------------------------------- C

Then they swim for their country---------------------------------------------- R

The may swim for the Commonwealth Games--------------------------------R2

They might swim in the Olympics----------------------------------------------R3


The other way of telling the rarity of the medal is-

The condition, the detail on the medal and the age.

The other thing that you look for is to research it.


Then you might get a combination, a school swimming medal who went on to swim in the Olympics.

A school medal swimmer who went on to be in the Government.

Or any combination you like to think of.


If you think of them like a military medal, the condition is important but if they went on to win a VC the condition does not matter so much.


So collect what you like  Water Polo, Diving or Plunging. Try to buy nice condition medals that have lots of information on them so that you can research them.


The more you find out about them the more they are worth.