Recognition where it’s due!
After fifty years, Wednesday 3 December saw our Annual General Meeting begin with inducting our very first Hall of Famers. After 50 years it seemed an appropriate time to reflect and think about our history and heritage and to recognise some of those people who have contributed to making our Club what it is today. There have obviously been many significant achievements and contributions over the years and we couldn’t possibly recognise them all at once so we thought it appropriate to start at the beginning.
Harry Forrest, BEM
Harry was a founding member and our first Chair. He went on to be President until shortly before his death in 2016. Harry steered us through our early years and forged links with local clubs as well as representing us at governing body meetings. As the local Police Sergeant he used his links to drum up support from many local businesses as we established our Club Championships. Harry was also key in enlisting the support of local billionaire businessman, the late Trevor Hemmings.
His daughter Lynne joined us to receive his certificate on behalf of the family.
Trevor Hemmings CVO
Trevor was our first President and helped to steer the club through our formative years, using his business influence and local knowledge wherever he could to help. He was a key figure in helping us organise a fundraising ‘Swimalong with David Wilkie’ in 1979. Though his business interests took him away from the Club he still maintained an interest from afar and was often on hand to provide help and support over the years.
Bryan Hunter
Bryan was also a founding member and served the Club in a variety of roles over many years. He was passionate about inclusivity and helped to establish the concept of a House Gala which we still run to this day. He also supported the entry of two teams in every league competition so that as many young swimmers could have the opportunity to represent their club. Bryan was also one of the pioneering members in the region who helped to establish Micro League swimming and would have been immensely proud of how much our Club continues to achieve in this competition.
Pia Murray
Pia is our Club’s most successful age group and youth athlete to date. Making her mark at a young age she excelled regionally and regularly reached national age group finals. She had an independent maturity from a young age and forged her own path, securing a place on swim rostas at Ellesmere College, Shropshire; Florida State Seminoles and the University of South Carolina. Pia represented Team GB on several occasions but never forgot her roots and is about to work with our coaches to help inspire the next generation of Barracudas.
Pam Lane
Pam was never athletic in her youth and having suffered double kidney failure, spent many years on dialysis waiting for a donor match. When a match was eventually found it transformed her life and she vowed to keep fit and healthy after being given such a precious second chance at life. She joined Barracudas in 2016 on a mission to get fit enough to participate in the British Transplant Games. She came home with medals and selection as part of Team GB & Northern Ireland for the European Transplant Championships. From there she went on to represent her country at the World Transplant Games. On each occasion making the rostrum and bringing home the medals. Pam continues to compete and is looking forward to the next opportunity to represent her country.
Matthew Burrows
A talented all-round athlete in his youth Matt was diagnosed with kidney disease in his late teens and his swimming journey was stalled whilst he waited for a donor. Once a match had been found he too was determined to make the most of his new opportunity. He returned to the pool in 2016, at which time, we were the only mainstream club in the region to have two transplant athletes on programme. After winning national transplant titles he gained selection for Team GB and Northern Ireland at the European and World Transplant Games. In 2017 at the World games he set 7 new transplant world record, won 7 Gold medals and was noted ‘Outstanding Male Athlete of the Games. He returned to the world stage in 2019 where he brought home a further 6 medals and 3 new World records. Matt is looking forward to the next World Games.
I think you will agree these are inspiring stories and we are delighted to acknowledge these significant contributions and achievements as we induct them into our Hall of Fame.