Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi,
I am looking for info about the annual swimming race across the Mersey. I had a great uncle who I believe was placed for a few years but never won it. Does anyone know where I can get some info about it? Many thanks.

Hi and welcome to the forum. I haven't found a lot about this event, but googling seems to find entries that refer back to the 1863 Grand Liverpool Olympic Festival where this event first occurred.

A pale memory of reading in the Echo years ago that police took part,but I do not know if that was their own race or an open one.
D

Hi,
The River Mersey was first swam during the 1863 Grand Liverpool Olympic Festival pioneered by a John Hulley, a physical fitness enthusiast. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hulley

I think from the Wikipedia website that the Liverpool Mercury newspaper seemed to have given the swims a fair bit of coverage. The Mercury is in the British Newspaper Archive http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

And after a fair bit of filtering etc I came up with these...
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.u ... %20mercury

Hi,
Thanks for the rapid response. I believe the race was later possibly the 1910/20s. My great uncle was William Gamble b 1888 who owned a butchers shop in High Street, Woolton which is now a funeral parlour. He played water polo at Woolton baths and competed in the Mersey race. We believe he finished 2nd one year but was a bit of a plodder and wasn't fast enough to win but could swim all day long. Perhaps this may jog some more memories.

Ta
Steve

tazgully wrote: Thanks for the rapid response. I believe the race was later possibly the 1910/20s. .............. Perhaps this may jog some more memories.

I'm sorry but even we don't tend to be quite that old

But seriously, I suspect the race has roots even older than you suspect, I think you may need to check some old newspapers, unfortunately at that date not online, but will be accessible at the Liverpool Record Office.

MaryA wrote:

tazgully wrote: Thanks for the rapid response. I believe the race was later possibly the 1910/20s. .............. Perhaps this may jog some more memories.

I'm sorry but even we don't tend to be quite that old

But seriously, I suspect the race has roots even older than you suspect, I think you may need to check some old newspapers, unfortunately at that date not online, but will be accessible at the Liverpool Record Office.

I discovered that the River Mersey was first swam during the 1863 Grand Liverpool Olympic Festival pioneered by a John Hulley, a physical fitness enthusiast. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hulley

I found this Link:
http://www.scottiepress.org/tcooke/tcooke.htm

There is mention of Everton Swimming Club & Mersey Police in the section on Jim Clarke (a great Athlete, Champion Swimmer & Lifesaver).