Over a century in the water

1912–1987

The Annual Gala, from the first night to the 75th year

In 1987, the club's 75th anniversary, the Club Championships programme looked back at the history of the Annual Gala, "the most important event in the Club calendar". Here it is, as the club told it then.

1. 1912

   The year 'Erith Swimming Club' was formed. The first gala was held at the old open-air pool on the corner of Stonewood Road on Tuesday 24 September at 6.30 p.m. At 8.50 p.m. one Professor Walter Brickett gave an exhibition of swimming, Gravesend played Erith at water polo, and the highlight was a display of high diving by Mr W. J. Press of Dartford S.C., ending with the Sensational Monte Cristo Sack Dive in Flames!!

2. 1922

   Thursday 31 August. By now the club was known as E.D.S.C. Local school team races and a Gravesend v Dartford water polo match were on the programme.

3. 1938

   Thursday 8 September. Events included a 120 yards Men's Championship (four lengths of the pool), and handicap races, rarely seen today, featured in several events.

4. 1939

   The Gala was cancelled due to poor membership and lack of interest.

5. 1939–48

   Club suspended.

6. 1948

   E.D.S.C. was re-formed, and club sessions moved to Plumstead Pool.

7. 1959

   Saturday 19 September. After 20 years the Annual Gala was revived, at Plumstead Large Pool, then the only indoor pool for miles around. The programme included novelty events for dads!

8. 1968

   The club moved to the new Riverside Baths, but the Annual Gala was held at Plumstead one last time, on Saturday 14 September.

9. 1971

   Saturday 18 September. Butterfly events were introduced to the programme.

10. 1972

    The club celebrated its Diamond Jubilee.

11. 1974

    Saturday 5 October. Individual medley events for under-16s were added.

12. 1983

    The last year with every gala heat and final on the same night: no fewer than 100 races in four and a half hours, such a traumatic experience that the club introduced the system it still used in 1987.

13. 1987

    The 75th anniversary. That October's record sheet, swum in the 33⅓-metre Riverside pool, is among the records of the past.

Source: the introduction to the 1987 Club Championships programme (cover design by Antoni Mroczek, incorporating the '75' logo by John Eastaugh; printed by Alan Phillips Printing), from the club archive. Lightly edited for reading; the original wording is kept in the site's data.

Milestones