Founder of Kenilworth swimming club honoured

Harry Langley was one of a group of swimmers who took advantage of the newly opened Abbey Fields pool to set up a new club back in 1986.

Joined by friends Terry Nevill, Ruth Taylor and Geoff Cain, who were all travelling to Coventry for a daily dip, he put out a call for members to come along and make the most of the new town facilities.

With many eager new faces, the Kenilworth Over 40 Swimming Club was born, even managing to persuade Warwick District Council to open the pool early on a Sunday for them to dive in.

Nearly 30 years on, the club is still going strong and has this month honoured Harry Langley who worked for nearly the entire three decades to make the venture a success.

Harry said that still swimming at the same time every Sunday, members have seen only one change.

“The ladies were not keen to admit to being over 40 so we changed the name to Over 30 Swimming Club - that did the trick,” said 85-year-old Harry as he was presented with an honorary thank you from members.

The former British Gas engineer served on the club’s committee until 2002 when he retired and took up the role of club president. Last year he stepped back from the running of the club for good after being unable to swim due to ill health.

But it did not let that stop him getting involved and he still draws up training schedules for swimmers to practise for the annual swimathon, giving motivation to many first time entrants.

To mark his retirement, the committee presented Harry with a cup at a ceremony in his Fishponds Road home.

Harry will continue to help new swimmers with this year’s Myton Hospices Swimathon on April 19.

For details on the event, contact secretary Simon Morton on 01926 856780.