Our Mission
To offer children in Lydney and the surrounding area the best opportunity to learn to swim, develop, and achieve their potential in the sport of swimming.
Lydney swimming club (LSC) caters for all levels of swimmer, both competitive and non-competitive.
At LSC we strive to give all members the opportunity to be the best they can be, through encouraging participation regardless of age or competence. We aim to improve performance through participation in the sport at the appropriate level for each individual. We are committed to our swimmers continued progression and development through a safe and structured environment in which swimmers can enjoy developing their skills for competitive and social swimming.
Lydney Swimming Club was formed in 2000 and is based at Freedom Leisure, Lydney. It was formed by a group of parents whose children were being given lessons at the pool – they wanted to become involved as volunteers so they spoke to the centre’s swimming coordinator, Julie Shepherd. It was then suggested that the group should form what is now known as Lydney Swimming Club. The people involved were Julie Shepherd, Pat & Brian Jones, and Jackie Langton.
A committee was formed and Jackie became the first Chair Person with other parents becoming poolside helpers. Natalie Roberts and Helen Brookes were also heavily involved. Tom Johnson became coach in 2001 (he was the youngest coach in the county in 2003) and was Head Coach from 2003-15. Tom has been helped over the years by many other coaches, and all of those have good track records.
In the beginning, rules were set such as good behaviour on poolside together with good attendance. Swimmers should aim towards gaining times to allow them to attend local galas, County Championships, South Western Counties, and National League competitions. A great many of our past swimmers did achieve these goals.
Lydney Swimming Club have also travelled to Weymouth and other venues to partake in open water swimming; one of our swimmers was even invited to take part in the World Championships which was held in the Royal Albert Dock. This swimmer has recently failed in her attempt to swim the English Channel due to injury cause by being hit by a large wave. Some of our swimmers have also played water polo for Gloucestershire, and Tom himself also took part in the European Masters.
For several years the club went to Millfield School to do a weeks Summer training led by ex-Olympic swimmers. We also for many years travelled to Pond Forge in Sheffield to compete in long course meets. In 2006 and 2007 Lydney Swimming Club were invited to take part in a competition in Calais where we swam against clubs from France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Wherever we swim, the swimmers are always made to abide by the Lydney Swimming Club Code of Conduct.
