Welcome to Chippenham ASC.

We are one of the oldest clubs, not only in Wiltshire, but also in England. We were founded in 1877 and so I am very proud to be the Chairman. I would like to provide an insight to the club by briefly referring to some of the original founding minutes from that first meeting at the Bear Hotel, which are now held in the Chippenham Museum.

The club was run entirely by a male committee, the women of the day not having the prominence of today's women in society outside the home – so the minutes state that the club was formed by a group of interested gentlemen. Entrance fee to the Club was “not less than one shilling over fifteen years of age, sixpence for those under” – a tidy sum of money in those days.

Other historical events that took place in 1877 were Queen Victoria was crowned Empress of India, The British Prime Minister was Benjamin Disraeli and Winston Churchill was three years old.

I was elected Chairman of Chippenham ASC at the 2003 AGM for the second time. AS the Club chairman and Chairman of the Western Counties SWIM21 committee, I have to say that we need to change. Change the way the club is currently run, and in effect step back to how the club was run some 15 to 20 years ago. Then, we worked for the club and more importantly, the swimmers, who make the club what it is. I am therefore asking you, the parents of the swimmers, to volunteer along with the executive members of the club (who by the way are also volunteers), to help continue the foresight of the past members, into the 21 st Century.

Paul H W Dudley
Chairman, Chippenham ASC.