1960 Swimming Team
From the Mayfield Magazine
Swimming – Mr. Frankland and Mr. Larcombe
For the 7th year in succession we were Ilford Secondary School Champions. Final placings (first 4 positions); Mayfield – 57 points, County High – 46 points, Loxford – 351/2 points, Beal – 42 points.
For the 5th year in succession we were the team champions of Essex with a time of 2min 44.8 secs, and qualified to swim in the Schoolboys’ Team Championship of England – a team of four, each to swim 66 2/3 yards. Mr. Frankland, with five boys, travelled to Huddersfield on Thursday, 27th October, with the Divisional Team. Competition for a place was keen and after Training Sessions it was decided to swim Malcolm Clark, Ian Ramsey, Robert Easton and Bernard Smith. This was the youngest ever team to represent the school. We were determined to do our very best but quite frankly our qualifying time was not impressive. On the night of the race our four boys swam magnificently and gained 2nd position. Our team certainly confounded the critics, who did not give them a chance, by clipping 8 seconds of their previous best time and finished in 2min 38secs. Individual times for the 66 2/3 yards:
Malcom Clark – 37 secs
Ian Ramsey – 38 secs
Robert Easton – 39 secs
Bernard Smith – 44 secs
This augers well for the future as three of the team will be available for selection next year. Final placings:
1. Arnott County Modern School, Liverpool – 2m.32.8
2. Mayfield Secondary Boys’ School, Ilford – 2m.38.0
3. Sutton Grammar School – 2m.38.4
4. Hove Manor Secondary School, Hove – 2m.40.0
5. Beckenham and Penge Grammar School – 2m.47.8 – (See comment by N. McCarthy)
Bob Easton and Bernard Smith continued to swim for the school and for Essex, I believe, until leaving Mayfield in 1964, aged 16. I was in the same class as them and counted them as friends. I continued my friendship with Bob Easton until he married and settled down about 1970, when we sadly lost touch.
Hi Chris
As my brother was part of the English schools winning relay I can add a little re both Bob Easton and Bernard Smith.
When I left school in 1966 I worked, until 1969, in the Ilford county court. Also working there was Mrs Easton, Bobs mum, who I got to know very well.
Bernard was a frequent visiter to my house in Chadwell Heath in the 1960s and early 1970s. He contacted my brother Paul, via Friends Reunited around 2000, and he was traveling a fair bit between GB and Australia where one or more of his children were living. In 2003 he turned up at King Georges hospital and visited my father who was very ill and unfortuanatly died. My dad hadnt seen Bernard for over 30 years and it was a really lovely thing for Bernard to do. A few weeks later Bernard and his wife turned up at my father’s funeral. I had a long chat to him afterwards as did my brother Paul who flew over from Australia for the funeral.
I havent seen or heard from Bernard since but he really hadnt aged much in 30 years, unlike myself.
Malcolm Staight
Hi Malcolm, thanks for that news. I knew Mr & Mrs Easton quite well as Bob and I frequently visited each others houses until about 1969/70. I don’t recall ever seeing Bernard after we left school, although I do recall him being at my house once and trying on my dad’s hats that were in the hall. My dad was watching, unknown to us, over the bannisters and found it quite amusing. If you do ever hear from him again, please give him my regards.
I just came across the Mayfield Memories 1960 Swimming Team article. The placings you have for the inter-schools freestyle relay are incorrect. Beckenham and Penge Grammar School were third, not fifth. I should know. I was there and swam first in that team.