1966 Malcolm Staight
This week I spoke on the phone to George Baines for the first time in over 40 years. I would like to thank John Frankland, the son of the best sports teacher at Mayfield the great Stan Frankland, now sadly missed. John gave me George’s phone number and I had over an hour on the phone with him. We agreed to meet up in May as I’m off to Australia for a month to see my brother Paul. For those who knew George at Mayfield in the early 1960s you’ll be pleased to hear that he is well and still works, selling at the East London markets. He lives in North Romford not far from Chadwell Heath where he grew up just six doors away from me.
Please wish George Baines well for me. I am pleased to hear he is still working the markets. As a butterfly swimmer his sister, Pat, was always a hero for me and training with George made me swim better. I am ex- Ilford County High for girls and my lifelong love of Cornwall has seen me teaching geography there and partaking of many sea swimming sessions.
Hi Sue
I remember watching you swim when I watched my brother Paul swim for Ilford SC. If you want to email me at – mjstaight@hotmail.co.uk – I am sure George wouldn’t mind me giving you his phone number.
Great to read this. I lived in Brian Road , Chadwell Heath and new both George Baines and your brother Paul very well. We were all strong swimmers together with Ilford SC ( I transferred there from Sans Egal sc) I was back stroke champion at the time Paul was butterfly champion. I remember being set against George’s sister Pat in an ‘unoficial’ back stroke race in a gala in London, but can’t recall the name of the venue. The race result was declared a tie. Best regards to you all
Trevor Lewis
Hi Trevor
If you swam at Sans Egal you may remember Ian Newell a Loxford School Boy and I am sorry to say he past away a couple of months ago.
Ian Was Head Coach at Shiverers Swimming club for over 20 years and a good friend and rival swimming coach. He produced a number of GB international swimmers. Most notable was Karen Pickering who Ian coached in her teenage years before she moved to Ipswich and went on to win the 200 freestyle at Commonwealth Games.
My brother Paul had a good career as a Coach, Coaching Peter Morris to 4th Place on the 200 Butterfly at the 1980 Olympics before moving to coach in Saudi Arabia, Australia and New Zealad.
Does anyone remember the name of the coach at Ilford Swimming baths?
Hi Ron
In charge of schools swimming at Ilford baths and Head coach at Ilford swimming club in the 1950s and early 1960s was Cyril Laxton. He then moved to what by the late 1960s became the North East London Poly in Longbridge Road in charge of swimming there. Derek Spratt shortly afterwards became Head Coach of the club but i am not sure who became Head schools teacher. I do know a Mrs Jefferies shortly afterwards was teaching the schools.
Seven Kings SC was Coached by Harold Fox and Sans Egal i think was a Mr Alvaries. Sorry if spelt wrong.
Cyril himself was a good diver and i believe he coached an Anne Long onto the Olympic diving team. He most certainly Coached Peter Head on to the 1952 Olympic team and Elizabeth Long on to the 1964 Olympic Team. He was also for some time Pat Baines coach who was also an international and sister of George Baines who is mentioned a fair bit on this site.
I hope that helps
Thank you, Malcolm.
Hi Malcolm, I have just come across your posts on this site after about 16 years. Glad to hear that you are still doing well and still a little involved in coaching.
I don’t know if you are aware but the sad news is George Baines passed away last year from cancer, which he had been fighting for some time. He worked the markets until the end helped by his son John who still lives in the house in Bedfords Park.
All the best
Dave Macaulay.
Hi Dave
No I hadn’t heard. I am so sorry to hear this sad news. My whole childhood was growing up with George and playing sport of any kind we fancied, in the road or the runway behind our houses, with a few other good mates. I recently found a picture taken in my back garden with George, John Barham and my brother Paul, I didn’t know I had it, must have been taken about 1959/60.
One of my fondest memories of George involved you. It was at Chadwell Junior school and was the trial to get into the football team in the playground. Despite being a year younger you were already the school goalkeeper, and any other year young wannabes were allowed to take 3 penalties at you. Mr Alton would decide if you were good enough. After I mucked up my first shot George shouted to me to just hit it as hard as I could and it duly hit the wall behind you and I scored.
Thanks to George, Mr Alton gave me the thumbs up. That year you and me were the only two year young members of the team and normally to go to matches i went with George and Phil Askew who lived close by. George was a really talented sportsman and friend. Dave, if you want to contact me any time my email is, mjstaight@hotmail.co.uk. It would be good to catch up with what you have been doing.
Lastly. Whilst I am a retired swim coach I am Chairman at Bracknell Swimming Club these days. Also had a lot of interest in the GB Olympic swim team as one of my ex swimmers, who went on to be my assistant coach for 5 years, was a GB coach in Tokyo and had 5 swimmers on the team. Also Tom Dean who won the 200 free is someone I have worked with a fair bit while covering for his Maidenhead Coach Paul Lloyd for about a 4 year period. Tom sent me some nice pictures of him and his medals and I have had a nice chat to him since he got home. Anyway would love to hear from you