Our President (appointed 2021) Martyn Cook – Son of Lily Cook. Martyn has been associated with Consett Swimming Club for over 55yrs. He originally started swimming with the club in the 1960’s And coaching in the 1970’s. Martyn was a Breaststroker and won medals at County Championships but decided to hang up his trunks when he was 16. After he stopped swimming Martyn had a successful career in the Fire Service but never gave up his ties with the swimming club and he became the backbone of the coaching staff. There were coaches in between but whenever a coach left for whatever reason Martyn stepped in and has been ever present on the poolside for Consett ASC over the years, his dedication and reliability both to the club and the sport has been nothing short of amazing and his counsel is always wise and measured. He never wanted a high profile role he just quietly gets on and delivers his coaching, we think he just gets a buzz out of the camaraderie and improving swimmers (old or young) to the best of their ability. He was awarded a life membership in 2011 for long and outstanding service.
Sadie Walton (former President 1982 – 2019) – Mother of Marjorie, Keith and Helen Walton all of whom swam with Consett ASC. Sadie was the much loved and long serving President of Consett ASC. She had an almost 60 year association with the club and was instrumental in getting the original pool built by lobbying the local council and raising funds. She taught with the club for most of her history with it and there can be few people in Consett who, at sometime, not been taught to swim by “Auntie Sadie.” She raised many thousands of pounds to keep the volunteer club going in her own indomitable way. She was a recipient of Durham County Council’s chairman’s Gold Medal and attended the queen’s Garden party for services to swimming. She attended the Club whenever she could in her latter years, the last time being to receive a grant from Project Genesis. Sadie sadly passed away 4th December 2019 at the age of 92, she was inspirational and loved by many and will be long remembered by the Club for her outstanding contribution.
John Proud – Father of Ian Proud. John was a founding member of Consett swimming club, he was at the original meeting of the people of Consett who were interested in forming a swimming club in Consett even before the town had a pool in 1962. John taught at the club in its infancy and taught many of our swimmers who had success in the Club’s early years. He was also a member of the committee for many years and considered himself to be a great swimmer (but Ian is not so sure about that). John sadly passed away 12th September 2019.
Lilly Cook – Mother of Martyn Cook. A stalwart of Consett Swimming Club “Mrs Cook,” started teaching with the club in 1970’s. She and Sadie Walton worked together teaching beginners in the small pool on Friday club nights for many years. A Health Visitor by profession, she started adult, mother and baby and asthmatic swimming classes. She was a member of the committee for many years and was seen nearly every day at the pool either teaching coaching or swimming herself. As a senior swimmer Mrs Cook achieved a special award from the ASA (now Swim England) for swimming a million meters in a year.
Peggy Herdman – Mother of Judith, David, Michael and Kathryn. Peggy was ever present at Consett Swimming Club and a member of the committee for many years. Peggy was a very enthusiastic and dedicated member of the Club and was always ready to help out in any capacity at any time. She was also a well-liked and respected local swimming official. Peggy both taught at the Club and worked for DCC at the old Consett swimming pool and saunas.
Brian Eeles – He joined Consett Swimming Club in 1966 and had 2 daughters both of whom were active swimmers. Brian joined the committee and became treasurer in 1972 and was granted honorary membership in 1990. He was a past N & D Secretary, Chair and President and ultimately became President of the Amateur Swimming Association in 2002. He was a highly experienced and respected swimming official at National standard. He was ultimately selected by the ASA to officiate at the Olympic Games.
Keith Walton – Son of Sadie Walton. Keith is possibly the best known swimmer from Consett Swimming Club. He represented both England and Great Britain at senior international level and at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand he was a member of the England 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay team, winning a Bronze medal. He has also served on the committee and as a coach to the club.
Joan Reed – Martyn Cook, Ian Proud and Joan trained together and were part of the same era at the club. Joan is a long serving member of the club both as a swimmer and committee member. As a swimmer Joan was a Junior England and Great Britain International and a past N & D swimmer of the year. As a master swimmer she has broken National records. As a committee member Joan has served in many positions for many years. She is also a past coach and teacher at the club. A truly dedicated and gifted all rounder.
Deborah Morgan – Coached by Martyn Cook Deborah was a Junior International and multi national champion. She swam internationally for both the England and Great Britain Junior teams and won medals at many international meets. She was an all round swimmer and won National medals on many different strokes and distances. At one point she won 2 National titles in one day and narrowly missed best performer at these Championships by only 1 point.
Ian Proud – Son of John Proud, father of Stephanie Proud (Olympic swimmer) and David Proud (GB International swimmer). Ian “Mr Swimming” joined the club in 1964 by the time he was 18 or 19 he was winning North Eastern County Championships and setting senior County Records. He swam in both the National Age Group Championships and later in the Senior Nationals and Olympic Trials. He also competed at ‘B’ international meets and won a couple of European Police swimming events (in Holland and Austria), and was N&D Swimmer of the year in 1978. Ian never quite got the hang of retiring so never did retire from training and competed in masters events until he was about 50. Over the last 25 years Ian become pretty well know as a swim meet organiser and operated the results and timing systems at many swimming competitions, from local schools to British Olympic Trials and even international events in the Middle East and he was the North East Regional Championships Manager from 2003 – 2020. Ian is still swimming and a stalwart of Consett Masters.
Graham Walton – Graham is a long serving member of Consett Swimming Club. His area of speciality is long distance swimming. Some of his achievements include swimming the English Channel and around Manhattan Island in the United States. He has also completed many Long Distance Lake swims in the UK and abroad. Graham has also served on the committee of the club for many years and like Ian Proud he is a stalwart of Consett Master Swimmers.
