Brighton Swimming Club in 1863

Brighton Swimming Club in 1863

Founded in 1860, Brighton Swimming Club is England's oldest continuously formed Swimming Club. Visit the Floating Memories site for more club history. An article written many years ago by club member Keith Marlton is reproduced below giving an insight into a bygone era.In 2011 the "Floating memories" website was set up with the help of Lottery heritage funding and is administered by club member Paul Farrington. It is a remarkable collection of pictures, documents, videos and other general items detailing a great deal of the day to day history of the club. Note: The above were printed in SWIMMING Times, January 2002 Issue. Picture of 18 members of Brighton SC in the early days, and a quote from The Swimming Times Those who comprised a small band of swimming enthusiasts and bathed from the beach near the Lion Mansions Hotel in 1858 and the following year, could have had no idea that their suggestions for the establishment of a Swimming Club would have resulted in the foundation of one, which, now has the proud distinction of being the oldest in the Kingdom. Energetic though they were, it was not until the 4th May, 1860, that their idea took practical form. On that date, at a meeting held at the Jolly Fisherman’s Inn in Market Street, the Club was inaugurated. The worthy gentlemen present were G. Brown, J. H. Camp, C. Hindley, J. Nyren, W. Patching, R. Ward, and G. Worsley. The last named lived to witness the Club’s Jubilee Gala, but died in the following year. That these gentlemen were modest in their demands must be admitted when it is realised that the entrance fee was fixed at 1s.0d., and the subscription, 2d. weekly. Since the number of members in the first year was 13, and there was no accommodation for undressing, it might have been expected that the Club would have died in its infancy, but the founders were made of too stern a stuff for unlucky numbers or exposure to deter them. Indeed, if Committee meetings form any criterion, their enthusiasm must have been remarkable, for no less than 31 were held during 1860. The first organised entertainment on the beach was held on the 18th July, 1861. It is highly improbable that present members would compete at galas commencing at 6 a.m., and certainly the public would not be eager to attend, but the records show that it was otherwise in 1861 and subsequent years when, notwithstanding the early hour, entries were numerous and the sport, it is said, afforded pleasure to large numbers. The reason for these early hours was that the town’s byelaws only permitted bathing without the use of bathing machines from certain beaches between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. The restriction will be easily understood when it is known that it was customary to bathe in the nude, although it is not, of course, suggested that the Club members appeared naked when performing before an audience. In 1862 the first concession to comfort was made when the Committee purchased a small shed for undressing. This was placed on the beach near the eastern boundary of the present Aquarium. On the 2nd May in that year, F. Cavill (father of the former English champion), a good swimmer, was elected a member. He remained with the Club some years and made several attempts to swim the Channel. Judging from the debates about improving the Club’s premises that go on today, the shed must have figured largely at the Committee meetings in 1863, for in that year, so much had the membership grown, it was enlarged, and still later two railway carriages were added. This is no indication that members were becoming soft for a feature of the races of that time was the long distance, frequently 1,000 yards and over, seldom less than 500, except for juveniles. The prizes generally consisted of small sums of money such as first 3s. 0d., second 2s. 0d., third 1s. 0d., although on occasions due to the generosity of local benefactors a barrel of oysters, a pound of tea, a prime York ham, and even a pair of trousers made the whole thing rather more worth while, although all this would now be contrary to A.S.A. Laws. The officials were paid 2s. 6d. for their services. 1863 also saw the subscription raised to 10s. 6d. for seniors and 5s. 0d. for juniors, remaining so for 23 years, and at the close of that year, the membership had increased to 59. The Club continued to flourish, and the popularity of its entertainments increased until the end of 1870 when, what then seemed like disaster struck, for in consequence of the erection of the Aquarium and the extension of the old road, now Madeira Drive, the bathing sheds had to go. Even the fact that the new Aquarium purchased them from the Club cannot have been much compensation, for, deprived of bathing facilities, members drifted away, and had it not been for stalwarts like L. R, Styer, the whole thing might have come to an end, and it is highly probable that resuscitation would never have taken place but for the energy of Henry Martin, junior (son of a former Mayor of Brighton), who had been elected honorary secretary in 1871. The interest he displayed during his eight years in office was remarkable and it was almost solely due to him that in 1872 the Club was able to move into new quarters in one of the arches below the new promenade to the east of the present Palace Pier. The fact that this arch later became known as the "Hole in The Wall" in no way detracts from his efforts.