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and their use for the past 6 years has resulted in a marked improvement
in style as well as speed. Tribute must also be paid to the
excellent work of the Association in organising the competitive
work of school swimming, and the following extracts from the
Hon. Secretary's Annual report gives some indication of the scope
of this valuable and efficient work: —
Swimming Certificates awarded in 1952.—(1951 figures in
brackets).
Primary 905 (890) Intermediate 20 (16)
Elementary 312 (192) Advanced 3 (4)
Speed Tests.—1st Class 6 (18), 2nd Class 19 (12), 3rd Class
15 (17).
Special Training Classes for promising swimmers.—In addition
to the usual Summer Term special classes at the local baths,
some of the most promising swimmers were selected to attend a
special course at the S.E. Essex Technical College, Barking, under
the able direction of Mr. C. Laxton. Excellent progress was made.
Walthamstow Schools' Swimming Galas.—Once again the
annual highlight of the work of the Walthamstow Schools' Swimming
Association proved a great success. The amended regulations
resulted in closer contests for aggregate points, and helped to
"spread" the distribution of individual trophies. We were very
grateful to Councillor S. Chaplin, our President, for supplying an
additional trophy. Keen enthusiasm was well sustained for the
three consecutive evenings occupied by these Galas early in July.
The W. E. Taylor Shield for the highest percentage of children
able to swim, provoked tremendous enthusiasm throughout the
year. Joseph Barrett Boys' School won this trophy for the Secondary
Schools by achieving the splendid standard of 58.4% of
scholars "on roll" able to swim at least 25 yards, and Mission
Grove Primary School retained the trophy for Junior Schools for
the second year, with 27% of the members of 3rd and 4th year
scholars able to swim.
I liter-District T earn Races at neighbouring galas were regularly
supported by our boys' and girls' teams who consistently
gained "runners-up" places except at West Ham, when the boys'
team won.
Schoolboys and Schoolgirls Team Championships in Essex.—
It is gratifying to note that five teams from individual Walthamstow
Schools competed and that two Boys' and two Girls' teams
reached the finals.
The Essex County Schools' Championship at Leyton in
July provided a very keen contest for our best swimmers, who
competing in all events, succeeded in 'winning' through to most
finals, but secured only one County Championship, viz., the Breast