Club History - Formation and Early Years

At a public meeting in Crowborough held on 20th September 1976, Beacon Swimming Club was formed by David Reeves, who became the Secretary, Nicholas Levine, the then Headmaster of Beacon School, who became the first President, Charles Hudd who became the first Chairman and Bill Johnston, who was the swimming coach at Beacon school, and became the Club’s first coach.

 

A Committee of fourteen enthusiasts was formed into a Committee and a set of rules for the Club were drafted. It was also proposed to have synchronised swimming, water polo and lifesaving sections in due course.

 

The Club was based at Beacon School, Crowborough and, as the majority of swimmers were pupils at the school, Bill Johnston was able to 'encourage' them to attend early morning training, which started at 6.30a.m. and finished at approximately 8.30 a.m.

 

Beacon attended its first away GaIa in November, 1976 at Burgess Hill and were at home to Tonbridge in December. In 1977 swimmers came from Uckfield and Andrew Holden came with them and later became Club President.  With the training routine and the excellence of Bill Johnston’s coaching success came quickly for the Club and several swimmers represented Sussex in the 1977 lnter-County Championships with the Club’s first Club Championships being held that year. In the late 1970s and early 1980s swimmers from the Club qualified for Beacon School in the English Secondary Schools National finals for several years in a row competing against other top swimming schools in the country such as Millfield - a great achievement.

 

Anna Dadswell, who joined the Club as a ten year old quickly became one of the Club’s leading lights and forty years later still holds several All Time Club records – an amazing achievement. In 1978, Anna not only came first in the County Championships swimming butterfly but Anna also represented England on a number of occasions in the Age Group International Matches and was included in the National Youth Swimming Squad.

 

In the summer of 1978 the Club was responsible for running public swimming sessions throughout the month of August at Beacon School pool. There were three sessions daily on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. They were so successful that they were run for the next three years.  In 1979 Richard Wadmore became a member of the Committee and he and his wife Pat provided their help and advice for many years with Richard later becoming Chairman.

 

In 1980 Anna Dadswell competed in the Olympic Trials and narrowly missed selection for Team GB and the Moscow Olympics.

 

In January 1981, the Club started a teaching programme at Walshes Manor on a Friday night as there were over 300 children waiting to learn to swim. It was welcomed by the Community since there was a lack of swimming pools in the area.

 

In that year, Bill Johnston obtained his National Coaches Certificate and the Club was obviously delighted in having such a prestigious coach. In the same year David Reeves, Club Secretary, was nominated as President of Southern Counties ASA.

 

Several of the Club’s swimmers represented Sussex in the 1981 SCASA Inter County Championships and seven Club swimmers competed for East Sussex Schools in West Germany.

 

January 1983 saw the CIub, together with Crowborough Swimming Club (a non-competitive club), agreeing to support a scheme to raise 20% of the cost (estimated at £600,000) of providing a pool swimming facility in Crowborough. This joint venture would be known as 'Crowswim'. At the AGM in that year, Charles Hudd, the then Chairman announced his retirement due to ill health and David Reeves became the new Chairman.

 

In January 1984, Charles Hudd died and the Club lost one of its most valued members. Charles was also a member of the Sussex Executive and a representative on Wealden District Sports Council and he attended most of the Club’s galas and acted as starter at home events.

 

The new pool was in the process of being constructed at Goldsmiths Leisure Centre and Crowswim had raised the tremendous sum of £175,000 required by the Council. This was an amazing achievement equivalent to over half a million pounds today and in August 1985, the pool was handed over to the town. December, 1986 saw HRH Princess Margaret officially opening Goldsmiths Swimming Pool and Beacon Swimming Club was responsible for organising the swimming display put on by swimmers from local schools.

 

In October, 1985 Richard Wadmore became our Chairman as David Reeves had been appointed Secretary to the ASA which was to take effect immediately. David had been Secretary of the CIub for seven years and Chairman for two years and his knowledge and experience was invaluable.

 

In 1985 Bill Johnston, the Club’s founding coach, also decided to take up a new position with High Wycombe Swimming Club and his experience and judgment with swimmers of all capabilities was so great that his departure was a great loss to the Club and raised a number of challenges. It also meant that within two years the Club had lost three of its founder members who between them held most of our knowledge and expertise.

 

In November, 1987, Richard Wadmore resigned as Chairman because of his many commitments to County and Southern County swimming events but he and Pat would continue to act as referees for the Club.