In the early 1900s, a group of individuals created a Sports Club called The Stock Exchange.  Soon afterwards a number of separate sporting groups were formed, including Cricket, Darts, Football, Athletics and Swimming. In 1911 The Stock Exchange Swimming Club commenced. The Club was and is to facilitate swimming competitions for people in the City.  For the first three years the Club was well financed and employed swimming, diving and water polo coaches and trainers.

After World War 1 all sporting activity was slow to re-start, with only a few events taking place in 1920; however, within five years the water polo team was London League champions and the Swimming Team whose members swam for Otter SC, were very strong.                                                                                                   

The club found it difficult to find anywhere to swim after World War II, since all the London Pools had sustained damage, but slowly over the years when Pools were finally getting back to their pre-war state, more and more interest in the Club built up and by 1960 the Annual Gala was being spread over three evenings with up to 20 teams in each relay event and 200 competitors for the handicap races. Galas held up to 1980 included a diving competition and water polo match.

 

Further competition held by the Stock Exchange Swimming Club are The Open Water long distance race.  The first of the races were held in the late 1940s, in conjunction with Otter SC at Windsor. After a move to the Serpentine in Regents Park in the mid 1960s, a record 125 competitors swam in the Quarter Mile. At the present time, our open water long distance races which now include a Mile Race, International Relay and the Quarter Mile are held at Tooting Bec Lido. The Tooting Bec Lido is the largest outdoor pool in England.

 

All-in-all there are 5 competitions throughout the year. In the beginning of the year there is a relay with many swimmers in one team, 3 open water long distance races and end the year with a final Gala.

 

The club is very proud of its cups, some being presented over the last 20 years and some that date from 1928. Individual events during the year also win pennants and the points won go towards the cumulative total at the end of the year. All race finishers are held on a spreadsheet kept by the committee, points are awarded throughout the year and the rather impressive silverware is distributed at the Gala.

 

We hope the information above is beneficial for anyone who would like to be a part of the Club, we welcome any team and hope in future years that the Club again expands to the large membership that we have enjoyed in the past.

 

Over the years and due to Banks either closing or merging plus substantial redundancies in many sectors, the Club has lost several valued members.  We are trying to push up numbers of swimmers by finding new contacts by way of  presenting this History to H.R Departments in the hope that this can be included in their information packs for new employees. Also, if there is and existing sports committee, we would appreciate this being forwarded.

 

By competing in competitions, people become part of a prestigious London sports club that has had direct links with the City and its financial institutions for over 100 years. It has always been well supported and popular and offers a unique opportunity for swimming competitions in central London. There is lively and friendly sportsmanship between the competing teams. The races are designed for all swimming abilities and is inclusive.

 

For a relatively small sponsorship of the team you can promote healthy and fun events amongst your employees and also highlight the firm’s name amongst other similar institutions.

 

The aim is for Banks to facilitate our details to their employees with a contact name at the club.  If an employee is interested they will then be able to get in contact with the club and we will take it from there.

 

There is no joining fee for the Club, though every event must be paid for either up front or on the night.  The yearly events consist of  a Relay Race at the beginning of the year, then Open Water Races in the Summer eventually culminating in the Gala at the end of the year.

 

Thank you for reading this and we look forward to hearing from you.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Richard Jackson         

Club Chairman, 2017