Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received
The Editor
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© F.Coakley , 2026
[from A.M Harrision's Descriptive List of Insular Societies]
The seventh annual reunion of the Victoria Swimming Club reported in the Peel City Guardian of 16 March 1895 was a very successful occasion,surpassing 'any previous re-union leld in connection with the club', with a record number of 70 members, including a good number of the young members, at half price, attending the dinner A series of toasts alluded to the past seven years. starting in 1888,with about 160 members the membership had risen to 300 by 1895, and the club was in a very healthy condition financially, with good relations between officers and members, and 'swimming making such great strides in Douglas'. The good support of the tradesmen of the town, both with subscriptions to the club and prizes for their gala was gratefully acknowledged.
Finally S.K. Broadbent,the Editor of the Examiner and a vice-president of the club proposed the toast , 'The Town and Trade of Douglas'.'He thought the number present was a good index of the town and trade of Douglas, and hoped that at the next reunion there would be a still larger number present, and that the officials would be able to increase the membership to 400 by that time. He did not think that at the present time there was any person in the town really suffering from want of food or shelter. There was no doubt that trade had been slack during the winter, but now with the great improvements going on in the new street, and the best part of the winter over, they might look forward to the summer for brighter and better days.'
There appears to be an element of mutual improvement imperatives in the running of the Victoria Swimming Club, and the underlying aim to help young boys in Douglas to get off the harbour streets and the Promenade by developing their natural swimming skills in the new town baths. The philanthropy of the Fossils Club,q.v.,. one of whose commitee, Mr. Louis Kelly might well be also the Mr. Louis Kelly, president of the Victoria Swimming Club, led many prominent men in Douglas to work hard for the improvement of the town and the success of the visiting industry on the Island.
M.N.H.L, Isle of Man newspapers, ut supra et passim
...
The proposal for the Victoria Club was in the Isle of Man Times, Saturday,
12th November 1887;
PROPOSED NEW SWIMMING CLUB IN DOUGLAS.
A meeting was held in the Victoria Coffee Palace on Monday evening, for the purpose of considering the advisability of starting another swimming club in the town. Mr J. Corkill presided, and there were about forty young men present. It was resolved to start a club, to be called the Victoria Swimming Club, and R. Clague was appointed captain, C. Knox sub-captain, and J. Corkill secretary and treasurer. It was considered by those present that there was room for two swimming clubs in the town, and an earnest hope was expressed that the committee which was appointed would be able to make satisfactory arrangements with the proprietors of the Baths, so as to enable the members of the Club to hold their practices and galas. Before the meeting closed, about 30 young men gave in their names as members, and it was hoped that the Club would be a success.
As stated there was already a swimming club - this was the Douglas Swimming Club founded in 1882.
To return to the Victoria Club the Isle of Man Times, Tuesday, 12th February 1895 reporting on the 7th annual meeting ;
The annual meeting of the members of the Victoria Swimming Club was held at Corkill's Coffee Palace last evening. There were present Messrs honis Kelly, who presided, and Messrs J. Barron, T.C., S. K. Broadbent, A. A. Kelly, D. Daugherty (capt,), J. H. Kelly (sub-capt.). R. Thompson . R. W. Quayle, C. Cain,. A. B. Radcllffe, R. J. Clague, H. Hanibleton,. J. C. Quine (assistant sec), H. Quiggin (hon. sec), etc.
The Assistant Secretary read the balance-sheet, from which it appeared that the Club had a balance at the bank and in hand of £16 8s 7½d. This, together with the stock on hand (£3 15s )brings the total balance up to £20 3s 7½d. The balance-sheet also showed that the Club had 290 members. The accounts had been audited by Mr. D. Daugherty. the captain. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr R. J. Clague, the balance-sheet as read was passed.
The CHAIRMAN said that the next business he had to perform was very pleasant, namely to present Mr R. W. Quayle. their late Secretary, with a marble clock as a small token of their esteem. (Loud applause.) He might mention that Mr Quayle and Messrs John Corkill. R. J. Clague, A. B. Radcliffe, A. A. Kelly. J.J. Corteen. and poor Mickey Knox were, the founders of the club. After a few kindly words about the late Mr Knox, the Chairman referred to the long time that Mr Quayle had been secretary, and to the hard manner in which he had worked for the good of the club. The inscription on the clock was "Presented to Mr R. W. Quayle by the members of the Victoria Swimming Club as a token of their esteem. Jan., 1895."- Mr Quayle suitably replied.
Mr BARRON,in proposing the re-election of Mr Louis Kelly as president of the club, referred in high terms of praise to that gentlemen connection with the club.—The election was confirmed amid loud applause. The other officials were elected as follows:- Vice-presidents: Messrs J. Barron. T.C., A. Hough. T.C., S. Webb. T C. Jno. Corkhill. M. P. Evarard, J. A. Brown, J. Burrows, W. J. Brown. D. Corrin, G. Torrance. E. Chadwick, T.C., S. K. Broadbent, R. Knox. G. Woodhead. E. T. Quiggin, R. Forrest, J. Kelly, Herbert Hambleton, Geo. Cannell, and S. K. White.
Mr J. H. Kelly was elected captain in the place of Mr D. Daugherty, who has held that position for four years. Mr H. T. Roberts was elected subcaptain
The secretary, Mr H. Quiggin. was re-elected ; as were also the Assistant secretary (Mr J. C. Quine) and the treasurer (Mr A. B. Radcliffe). The following were appointed on the Committee —Messsrs D. Daugherty. Jno Kneale, R. Thompson, R. J. Clague K. W. Quayle. Chas. Cain, A. A. Kelly, R. Huntley, and Geo. Barron.
The question nf having a reunion for the members was raised by Mr S. K. Broadbent, who pointed out that, at the last annual meeting, a committee was appointed to make arrangements for a supper. The committee had made no report, and the supper had not been held. It having been explained why the supper was not held, it was decided to send a reply post-card to all the members of the Club asking if they would attend a supper, to cost from 1s to 1s 6d per head ; and, if enough favourable replies were received by the Committee, they were instructed to make arrangements. Messrs Broadbent and Hambleton both offered subscriptions towards the supper. This being all the business, votes of thanks were proposed to the Press, the Chairman, and the retiring officials.
The Northern Counties Amateur Swimming Association.
The report and balance-sheet of the above Association for the year 1894 have been issued, in anticipation of the annual meeting to be held at the Reform Club. Preston, on Saturday. February 23rd. From them we learn that during the year 129 clubs have subscribed to the Association, as against 107 in 1893. so that the ordinary revenue shows a considerable increase. The general account started the season of 1891 with a balance of £25 18s 5d in hand, and they start ihe year 1895 with £59 0s 7d. which is a substantial increase. After referring to the proposed withdrawal of the Yorkshire Local Centre, the report goes on to state:—"With an increased capitation fee to the A.S.A., and a revenue decreased by the loss of contributions from the Yorkshire clubs and the other clubs transferred to the M.C.A.S.A , and the capitation fees paid to a Manchester Local Centre, you need not be surprised, at the close of the season 1895. if all ihe revenue is entirely used up, and the splendid edifice brought into life in 1889 tumbles into oblivion in 1895, bled to death by attacks on its life's blood from within as well as without." The report also states that the whole of the A.S.A. championships are held by members of the Northern Counties' clubs.
Proposed Manx Association.
We understand that there is a movement on foot among Insular clubs to form an Isle of Man Amateur Swimming Association, so that the Manx clubs can conduct their own business after the manner of the football Rugby Union and Isle of Man Association.
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Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received
The Editor |
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