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'Proud' swimming club celebrates centenary

Hannah Griffiths
BBC CWR
BBC A man and a woman are standing in front of a blue swimming pool with people swimming in the background. The man has short brown hair with a red and navy swimming club t-shirt on. The woman has blonde hair tied in a ponytail and is wearing a black and red swimming club t-shirt BBC
Head coach Andy Eales said generations had been coming to the club

Keeping anything going for 100 years is no mean feat, which is why staff and members at a Warwickshire swimming club are celebrating hitting the milestone.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Swimming Club's journey began in 1925, with 14 junior and 12 senior members, but now it boasts more than 400.

The club will host its centenary meet on Saturday and Sunday at The Pingles, Nuneaton, which will offer swimmers a chance to qualify for the 2026 county championships.

"I think it's going to keep going from strength to strength, we're a big part of the community," said head coach Andy Eales.

"It's decades and decades of families," he said, "grandparents, parents, now their grandchildren all at the club, so it goes from generation to generation."

The club started at a pool in Upper Abbey Street, which was demolished in 1962.

It then moved to old St Mary's Road pool, and merged with Bedworth's club in the 1990s.

A large swimming pool with several lanes divided by red, white and blue dividers. There is a tiled wall on the left hand side, and metal handlebars on the side of the pool. People are swimming in it
The club has more than 400 members

It now resides at The Pingles, also swimming at Bedworth Leisure Centre and Bramcote Barracks' Pool.

"It's really hard to comprehend, because you can't imagine a time where the club didn't look like it does now, but obviously somebody had a vision at some point," said assistant coach Sarah Hands.

"I hope that in another 100 years' time somebody else is stood here being interviewed being asked the same questions.

"I'm really proud to be part of such a strong developing club."

A young man has wet, curly light brown hair. He is standing near a swimming pool. He is wearing a black and red swimming club t-shirt
Layton, a member of the club, said it was a positive community

"It's not just a singular person, it's everyone who brings the club together, it's just a really positive community," said Layton, vice-captain of performance squad one.

Another member, Effie, added: "It's just nice to think that people were here before you, and they had as much of a great time as you."

The centenary open meet will include events from 50m, 100m and 200m across all strokes, 400m freestyle and individual medleys.

There will be a knockout event for the fastest girls and boys across the weekend, as well as a coaches' relay.

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