Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue

Select

Reference
Z1257
Title
Records of Bedford Swimming Club
Admin/biog history
Bedford Amateur Swimming Club was founded in 1895 to help promote and encourage the art of swimming. It is testament to the early success that a second club, the Bedford Newnham Swimming Club was deemed necessary as early as 1900. On 28th March 1904, the two clubs amalgamated to form Bedford Swimming Club. All swimming in the town took place in the river (including regular competitions that attracted swimmers from all over the country) until the 1950â€™s when Newnham Swimming Pool was built. The club was originally based at Newnham, then Clarendon Road Pool and Commercial Road Baths until Robinson Pool was opened in 1969. In 2002 the clubs objects were stated asâ€¦ â€˜to promote and encourage the arts of Swimming, Life-Saving, Diving, Synchronised Swimming and the game of Water Polo by holding amateur championships and contests and by encouraging practice and mutual instruction amongst its membersâ€™. In 2003 the decision was made to close the Club, the problem of attracting qualified volunteers to staff lessons being chief amongst reasons. [see Z1257/6/2 for more detailed notes concerning the history of the Club]
Archival history
Gift from Philippa Smith, former Secretary of the club on the 15th August 2006.
Level of description
fonds