1953-1978

Artist's Impression of Gloucester City Swimming Club from the cover of the leaflet.

(Note: this information comes from a recently discovered information leaflet put together to cover the first 25 years of the club, covering 1953 – 1978)

The very first recorded mention that the writer has been able to find regarding Gloucester Swimming is a newspaper article dated 4th May, 1910 by E W Jordan (Hon Secretary, Western Counties Amateur Swimming Association) where it is obvious that Swimming had been a favourite sport within the city for a very long time, and on the 21st April of that year a new Baths Superintendant, Mr Frank Tilton, assisted by his son and daughter and members of the city and the Clarence Swimming clubs, treated members of the public to an exhibition of swimming.

It would appear that during this period some 500 spectators would attends galas, which was more or less a summer sport.

Swimming apparently continued very successfully through the years with ladies and men going separate ways, Until an extraordinary general meeting was called by the Gloucester Swimming Club on Tuesday 5th May 1953 under the chairmanship of Mr R Rowe who welcomed members of the ladies club. An address by the then Baths Superintendent, Mr Lusher, explained that the ladies swimmers of Gloucester sought more competitive swimming and the advantages of the two clubs amalgamating. It was proposed by Mr N Shelley and seconded by Mr Graham, that the Gloucester City Swimming Club and the Ladies Swimming Club be amalgamated, carried unanimously. Thus the club in its present form was created and with John Phelps, a member of the old club since 1953, and Brian Wells, a member since the inception of the newly formed club, 1955, continuity has been preserved.

As the years ticked by it has been a gratifying feature to note that the ‘Citizen’ has given wide and extensive cover to the sport and the club, and on pursuing old press cuttings it is interesting to note the lowering of times recorded by the swimmers, and the re-occurrence of the same names through the generations over the years. Random quotes of interest show the pace the Gloucester swimming has not slacked. The list of County and Western Champions is far too long for inclusion in an article such as this, but members who have become national champions and internationals are recorded on the honours board at the leisure centre numbering a grand total of 18, 8 of whom gained the double distinction.

Mr Leech, who still retains a very keen and active interest in the Club, was appointed Club Coach 20th January 1956 and has served both the Club and local schools continuously since with a remarkable record in the ‘Life Saving’ world. This record and devoted service maybe matched but it is ventured to suggest never surpassed.

Synonymous with Gloucester and swimming must be the name of Henry Meinike, who is first mentioned in the minutes of the Annual General Meeting, 18th January 1957, as being appointed Hon. Instructor. There is no point in recording the work that Henry has put into the Club, or the respect that he has earned, only his swimmers are qualified to discuss the man and the coach. Supporting Henry is Mike Phelps who through some special quality has produced swimmers of quality and stamina that progress through to Henry, no mean feat when considers the quality demanded at the level of swimming found in Gloucester, and the very tender age of some of the athletes. When at any gala where Mike if officiating, it is fascinating to see the younger swimmers following his every move and hanging onto the words of wisdom, praise and sympathy that is his hallmark.

This Silver Jubilee year of Gloucester City Swimming Club was enhanced by representative honours to several swimmers culminating in Heidi Turk representing her Country, in the Commonwealth games in Canada and the World Games, Berlin, Germany.

The success of the club has been due to the many hundreds of swimmers and parents who have supported the dozens of instructors and coaches who have contributed many thousands of hours of voluntary work on the poolside through the years. To mention some and omit others would be grossly unfair but the activity that can be seen at the leisure centre throughout each week of the year from these dedicated persons has been continuous since the formation of the club.

Click here for Historical Linksl

Onwards

In the 80’s Gloucester City continued to enjoy success from County through to International success. Duncan Rolley represented England in the 1986 Commonwealth Games.
The 1988 Olympic Games saw the son of the longest member of the club John Phelps, Richard Phelps compete in the Modern Pentathlon along with Graham Brookhouse both of whom were being coached by Henry in the swimming discipline, together they formed two thirds of the team which won the Bronze medal.

1992 saw Henry Meineke put Jo Deakins on the Great Britain Olympic Team in Barcelona in the 200m Backstroke.

The late 90’s saw the beginning of change at the club. Henry Meineke could not go on coaching forever. He was approaching his 80’s and wanted more time to tend to his garden. This resulted in the appointment for the first time of a paid professional coach Geoff Brodie
Within 12 months of this appointment in1998 the Leisure Centre which had opened in 1966 closed it’s doors for the last time and was raised to the ground to make way for a new Leisure to be built helped with money from the National Lottery.

On paper this appeared to be a wonderful development for the City and the swimming club, unfortunately the build project met several delay for various reasons and the new leisure centre was not reopened until September 2002.

As a result of the swimming club having to use many different pools in the area including those in Cheltenham, the membership which the club had enjoyed of over 300 in the Meineke era dwindled to a all time low of 62, this obviously had a massive on the club. In 2001 the club mutually terminated the contract of the professional coach and looked elsewhere for its coaching services.

September 2001 the club approached Graham Brookhouse to take on the mantle of Head Coach of Gloucester City Swimming Club.

2001 – Present day as seen by the Head Coach Graham Brookhouse.

I was approached in September 2001 to as voiced by the then Committee, save the club and put it back on the road to success, I thought then it was going to be a long and difficult task. When I turned up I was faced with a group of swimmers who just did not seem very happy, no real home, the soul of the club had been ripped out, the oldest male swimmer was 13 years old, the club was in ‘dire straits’.

2002 GL1 opened and we all moved back to Barton Street into the new impressive facility. At the same time Henry Meineke was taken ill, I went to visit Henry in hospital, he was in a semi conscious state, it was at his bedside that I vowed to Henry that I would look after the Club which he had been with for the past 50 years. Henry died two days later.

Little do the current day swimmers know that many of the training sets, are from Henry’s diary.

For me the day when I felt we had turned the corner and put Gloucester City back on the map was at the County relays 2006. The Men’s Freestyle and Medley teams won both championships and set very impressive new Championship records. This was the first time for 13 years that the Club had won these Championships and bringing the team home was Ben Hawkes, the swimmer who 4 years earlier was the oldest male in the Club and had stuck it all out from the bad times!

In 2008 Hayley Palmer who I had coached since she was 9 and been a member since 2002 returning to her native New Zealand in 2007 swam in the Beijing Olympic Games.

We now enjoy many swimmers whose parents swam for the club in the 70’and 80’s. It is thriving again and with over 125 members there is a real buzz about the place.

I believe we now have in place a fantastic program for the swimmers of Gloucester City.

Things can only become simply better!

Historical Links

In looking back over 25 years it is impossible to record even a fraction of the highlights that have made Gloucester a ‘Swimming’ City, so at random a few quotes tracing the years are given from press cuttings, where possible with dates.

“Two Golds for Susan (Richardson) One for Pip (Jones)”

Susan Richardson 14 years. 220 yards. Ind. Med. 2.42.0
110 yards. Freestyle 67.0

Pip Jones 12 yrs. 110 yards. Breaststroke 85.4

“Barrett – Top Freestyler” Clive Barrett – 22 yards. Freestyle 2.14.2

“Pip sets new National time for 110 yards. Breaststroke”

“Janice (Machin) 13 yrs. In for England”

“Janice wins for England” 100 m Butterfly 70.6

“Morgan Record as Wales Win” Trevor Morgan – 220 yards. Breaststroke 2.43.5
New Welsh record.

Saturday, 19th February 1966, Gloucester Journal. “Honour of swimming the first four lengths in the new pool at Gloucester’s £250,000 Baths opened on Saturday went to Anita Lonsborough”.

1965 Citizen. “Gloucester swimmers finished with satisfactory results”. The 14-year-old 100 yd. Breaststroke winner recorded a time of 8.1 for the boys and the 16-year-old girls time for the same event 81.7

1966 Citizen. 10th May. “Encouraging form by City swimmers”.

1966 Citizen. “City club’s first even championships at Barton Pool” – some of the recorded times printed were:

John Preece, the Mens captain, 1st 220 yards Freestyle 2.30.5; Trevor Morgan, 1st 220 yards. Breastroke 2.58.4; Janet Organ, Ladies 110 yards. Breastroke 89.0; Jane Pitman, ladies 220 yards. Freestyle, new club record 2.44.8; Ian Phelps, junior captain, 110 yards.

Freestyle 1st 81.0.

“Gloucester Youth Stakes Olympic Claim”

Geoff Baxter set new English senior record for the 200 yards Backstroke in a time of 217.2.

It was after this swim that Henry Meinike stated “you are not at your best when you are only 17”, a fact true in 1978.

“Carina (Bodle) set Gloucester swim record” 220 yards. Freestyle 2.22.2.

“Nigel Swims to a record” Nigel Phelps 400m Freestyle 4.33.3.

February 1969 “…another vital factor in a swimmers success is the relationship between the swimmer and his parents and fortunately at Gloucester these relationships are triangles in which ever side knows its job. Encouragement by a parent is of immense importance, but it is vital that the parent does not attempt to coach for now swimmer can possibly respond to coaches”, an excerpt from a report printed in the local “Pink-Un” from coach Henry Meinike’s annual report for the year 1968.

“Determination earns Susan top honours” (Susan Richardson)

1976. Youngsters night at Barton Pool

June 1977 Citizen. City swimmers won 38 out of 50 races.

July 1977 Citizen. City swimmers finished first in 39 races.

1977. “With the powerful team of K. Weaver, S.Trenfield, A Trower, I. Phelps, and
P. Smith a comfortable win in 3.50.2 retained the “Bristol Mercury Shield” for Gloucester.

October 1977. Four out of four for Gloucestershire. Western Counties.

15th December 1977. “One point robbed them of the title”. This refers to the memorable night in December 1977 when the swimming league (Western) title went to Cardiff by the one illusive point.

March 1978 Citizen. “Tremendous swimming by Heidi”.

“Weaver makes a big splash”. Kevin Weaver winning two county championships 1978.

1978 Western Daily Press. “Guy and Heidi smash swim records”.

April 1978. “Three more records go”.

May 1978 Citizen. “Three West records puts Simon (Cooper) in top rating”.

May 1978 Citizen. “Anglo German Gala in Gloucester”.

“Andy’s triple swim success” (Andy Trower, Western Counties 1978.

May 1978 Citizen. “Off to swim for England” (Julie Whitehouse).

July 1978 Citizen. “Olympic swim ambitions as Julie trains hard”.

“Swim Clubs Jubilee Celebrations” gala versus Gloucester Canada, August 1978.

Members currently with the club will now that contemporary swimmers are adding to the honours achieved and building onto the foundations laid during the last 25 years. Perhaps the measure of the success achieved in the swimming world was exemplified in the organisation, running the representation at the Silver Jubilee Gala held at the Leisure Centre this year on the even of the departure of the club for their continental tour.

This very briefly is the club after 25 years. Apologies are extended to all persons not mentioned who have worked so hard to gain the title “The Best in the West”, and with the knowledge that present day athletes are bread in the same mould as their predecessors, and that a local officer of a large national company are offering a welcome sponsorship, it is certain that list “Golden Names” on the Honours Board will be at least twice as long on our Golden Birthday 2003.

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