‘THE FARNHAM Swimming Club article recently submitted by Mary Chandler, nee White, was a breath of fresh air during these troubled times,” writes William Legge of The Baldreys, Farnham.

“All the memories came flooding back for I, too, was a member of the swimming club.

“I shall be 87 in May, so I vividly remember Mary, together with her mother and father (Chalkie). Unfortunately, I missed the story of March 5.

“I remember the honour of getting booted out, for one week, by Mary’s dad for ‘bombing’ off the top board. I turned up at the turnstile on the Friday, because the weather was becoming hot, and persuaded Mrs White to twist her husband’s arm to let me back in.

“Like Mary, I had a season ticket. Cecil Marlow used to give me a lot of encouragement and even with his disability he was a very strong polo player.

“Julian Bentick was club coach, who was supported by Mr and Mrs Stone, who were great supporters of the club.

“Mr Stone was also a director at the Farnham Herald, and this guaranteed we always had great coverage of our galas in the Herald.

“So many names come to mind – Maureen Reagan, Judith Hanson, Jane Asher, Lindsay Hewins and Eileen Birch. The boys – Dudley Hagger, Terry Whatre (indistinct), Peter Kinge and Bill Wallis (actor) and so many more great friends. I must, of course, mention the Merrit family. They were a swimming and diving team in their own right. I was invited to their house one day, in East Street. They had their own sweetshop! 

“They were halcyon days, some of the best of my teenage years. You will not remember me, by my real name, so I will sign off as just... Knocker! I became stuck with it, and was broadcast throughout the swimming fraternity.”