This is a link to the: Norwich Swan Swimming Club

   NORWICH CHAMPIONSHIP FOR McLAUCHLAN.

The men's 100 yard freestyle championship of Norwich was won at the Norwich Swan S.C. gala at Lakenham last night by D.McLauchlan, with C.Brett and J.Rayner second and third. All are  Swan members. Following their successes against Suffolk last Saturday B.Ray (men) and B.Johnson (Women) won the club diving trophies. Many juniors showed promise. Results.

                                                         MEN

Diving 1 B.Ray.24.7 pts.  2 C.Brett.16.77 pts:  3 D.Moles. 15pts.  150 yds Breststroke (Handicap) S.Sutton.  2 R.Harmer.  3 J.Swift: 2 min 22.3sec.  25 yds Under 12:  1 J.Cotton, 2 A.Valori, 3 M.Jolly: 15.2 sec.

100 yds.  CHAMPIONSHIP of NORWICH: 1 D.McLauchlan. 2 C.Brett. 3 J.Rayner 66.4sec.  50 yds.Junior  (Handicap): 1 M.Braithwaite. 2 F.Skiggs. 3 A.Hawker: 39.3sec. 30yds Dash (Handicap) 1 C.Giles. 2 P Richmond. 3 P.Skiggs.  100 yds Freestile Open (Handicap) 1 D Poynton. C.Brett. 3 A.Hawker: 87.6 sec. Invitation Medley Relay: 1 Hunstanton. 2 Swan.  Polo: Swan 9 Hunstanton Seagulls 5. 

An Early Norwich Swan Cloth Badge.

Short History of the Norwich Swimming Club. From the Evening News Aug.26th 1994

It was over 114 ago that a bunch of likely lads jumped into the water and turned into swans. Nowadays there are getting on for 900 of them, splashing about all over the place — one big happy family.

Today I want to pay tribute to Norwich Swan Swimming Club as it embarks on yet another new season in the city. Maybe you're a youngster who got a taste for the water this simmer and would like to develop your swimming skills by joining it? 

Well, put your goggles down for a moment and I'll tell you all about the Swans' proud history. Steam provided Norwich with its first indoor heated swimming pool at the Swan Laundry in 1879 and one year later 13 young male swimmers formed themselves into a club.

A pool! What a luxury. Swimming in those days was in the rivers around the city —rather chilly in January! Life saving and water polo were the main activities in those days but mixed bathing was very naughty indeed. A women's section formed in 1914, lasted only a few months because the first world war troops loved a dip. But by 1920 the women were back.

The club flourished and became famous across the land, teaching thousands of youngsters to swim. In the 1930s a group of members broke away to form the powerful Penguins club. The Swan Laundry Pool closed in 1933 and the club moved to private pools at the old Lido and Samson and Hercules (now Ritzy). Then it was at the Eagle and Lakenham baths. It developed into an institution thanks to the likes of bold Billy Basher, a super Swan who become an official at the 1948 Olympics.

He is still remembered for his crusade to get a first public covered swimming pool for the city. He fort hard to get it but sadly died in 1958, three years before St Augustine's was officially opened

at the 1948 Olympics. 

Lakenham Baths 1920-30s.

1952 Lakenham Baths.

The Opening of City Of Norwich Baths. 1961

1986 Norwich Swan Win W.J. Basher Trophy.

.1986 E.D.P. History Of The Norwich Lido.

1986 Norwich Swan Chairman's Badge of Office. W.H.Basher Trophy.  Bill Poynton.

1891 Advert In E.D.P. Aug.19 Page 8 Col.5.Bottom.

1891 SILVER MEDAL NORWICH SWAN SWIMMING CLUB Aug.  20 1891.150 Yds BREAST STROKE HANDICAP WON BY  B.F.MITCHELL.

1891 Complaint about Swan Gala Aug.22 Page 5 Col. 5 4 Down.

B.F.Mitchell won by six yards.