History

Buxton Swimming club has been established for around 30 years. It was started by Roy Davies to encourage the children of the town to participate in a sport and to give the
children something to do. Roy is still actively involved in the club as president and as a coach on a Friday evening for the non-swimmers/beginners group.
Over the years the Swimming Club has increased in numbers and has had a variety of teachers/coaches. The Club has produced a number of successful swimmers who participated at District, National and International event and have been selected for Centres of Excellence, English Youth Development Squad, Olympic Development Squad, National and Olympic Teams. Our most successful swimmer being Alan Rapley who became Captain of the Olympic Swimming Team and swam in the Atlanta Games of 1996.

 

Dear Swimmer

In 1973 shortly after the Pavilion Gardens Swimming Pool was officially opened, a group of enthusiastic parent (with the consent of Buxton Town Council) formed the Buxton and District Swimming Club.

During the initial period the swimming pool staff supervised the club’s weekly swimming session and taught basic water skills. We introduced teaching classes for non swimming children and adult classes for mixed abilities. We progressed to teaching survival swimming, distance swimming and life saving method.

The club quickly developed into a more competitive club and started to compete in local swimming galas. The lack of competition skills were more than compensated by the enthusiasm of competing children and supportive parents and coaches. Once the club became well established we needed more water time and the aid of qualifiedA.S.A. coaches and teachers to develop the swimming abilities of the club members, to enable them to compete at various levels. We competed in league competitions, Champions of the Peak and Plains, Crusader and Diddy League. We have produced some fine swimmers who have competed in Derbyshire, Midlands, National and International levels, even Olympic and Special Olympic swimmers.

We have even achieved “best turned out float” at Buxton Carnival and way back in time produced the pantomine Robinson Crusoe which was enjoyed by cast and audience!The aim of the club has been not only to teach swimming at all levels, but develop confidence and social skills and of course to have fun.

Roy Davies

President and Founder Member