Club History

Welwyn Garden Swimming Club was formed in 1933 by Dr Miall-Smith and his wife, both local General Practitioners, using a pool created at Stanborough by diverting the River Lea and some freshwater springs through gravel filters into a large hole lined with railway sleepers. The 2 GPs made daily inspections of the pool during the short season, testing the water for impurities and checking the temperature. They taught swimming and introduced mile trophy swims thus starting the competitive side of the Club.
The Club was affiliated to the Amateur Swimming Association in the 1930s and regular galas were held. Before the war the club was well known for its water polo team, which continued after the war under the manager, Reg Potter, who was the first British post-war captain of the Olympic water polo team. The Club’s primary aims have always been the teaching of swimming, improvement of stroke work and personal survival.