Warley amateur swimming club was founded with the opening of Rolfe Street Baths on 7th May 1888 and following a public meeting that month, Smethwick Swimming Club was formed and the first general meeting held on June 18th 1888.
Smethwick Swimming Club quickly became an important part of the sporting scene within the area and by 1900 had become part of the Smethwick Recreative and Athletic Association (SR & AA).
The water polo section was formed in 1895 and by the end of the century was winning honours in the newly formed Birmingham and District Water Polo League.
In the early years, Smethwick Swimming Club was strongly connected with Mitchells and Butlers whose own swimming club functioned as a sub-section of Smethwick Swimming Club. Both Mr Mitchell and Mr Butler were active members of the Smethwick Club Committee.
Initially, club membership was open to men only but membership was soon open to ladies as well, although it took until 1911 for the first mixed swimming gala to be held.
An extract from the original rules of Smethwick Swimming Club gives its objective as being “to promote the art of swimming, floating, diving and plunging.” Smethwick Swimming Club always took seriously its responsibility for providing swimming opportunities for its members and a professional instructor, Mr A Sheldon, was first engaged in 1903.
The club has enjoyed much success throughout its’ 135+ year history, from local success through to Olympic success and representation at GB level at water-polo, both junior and senior level. Throughout the 50’s under coach Bert Owen, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, under coaches Andy Wilson and Bernard Charles, Warley WASPS dominated the Midlands top competitions and proved year after year they were one of the premier clubs, not just in the Midlands, but in the country.
The ladies Left to right front row: Pat Hawkins, Pam Wildman Joan Cawfield, Ruby Hall Barbara Persall (Maybe Pierceall?), Bert Owen (swimming coach and gymnast), Barbara Woodfield (?).
The Men: Herbert (Bert) Crowther, Douglas Edmonds* dec, John Pool* dec, Arther Howel*, Barry Smith (Back stroke), John Kenneth, Hodgekin Brown (Half miler), Bernard Hill* (polo capt) dec, Bert Owen dec, Frank Akers (Staffordshire 100 yard Champ circa 1952).
Mr Brian Sadgrove, a former swimmer of the above era recalls:
“I do not recognise the trophy. It could be for swimming or polo as there are not enough members in the photo to make up either squad.”
“JKH Brown was by far the best all round swimmer leaving Frank and myself (Staffordshire 100 yard Champ circa 1953) trailing.”
“All those with an asterisk, including myself were regular Smethwick SC 1st team polo players. Our polo coach and ex captain was the mighty Freddy (scourge of the Nazi’s) Colclough. Prior to Bert Owen the swimming coach was Teddy Owen (no relation) an elderly club member.
The connection with M&B’s came about because some of our parents worked for the brewery. This enabled some of us kids including myself, to join M&B’s Thursday evenings swimming club at Harbourne Baths.”
“Bert Owen was employed by Smethwick Swimming Club and Smethwick Education committee for coaching swimming at the towns schools. Holly Lodge Grammar School was major source for young talent in the late 40’s and 50’s. He regularly gave up his lunch times to give us extra tuition at Rolf St baths. It was an enthusiastic dash from Holly Lodge for the best part of an hours swim chasing a single alternating light that flashed along a row of lamps layed out along the side of the pool. (Health and Safety would not like it today) Followed by a dash back to school for afternoon lessons to avoid detention that could delay our evening training session.”
“Mr Francis (ex England Olympic back Stroke representative) was manager of Thimblemill baths at the time. We were never allowed any facilities other than club nights and had to train without lanes as best we could, jostling around the general public. Then watch his swimming friends train out of hours much to our annoyance as we got changed.”
Unfortunately Brian Sadgrove passed away late in 2019, his name lives on, engraved on our trophies.
Above is Isabella May Campbell, a former swimmer from late 1800’s through to early 1900’s. She was the great grandmother of Della Warr, one of current swimming teachers.
We at Warley WASPS are very proud of our past history and have tried to piece together a list of honours the club and swimmers of the club have achieved. This will be updated as and when new (or old) material is found from the archives. Below are some of the clubs highs and lows:
East Midlands League – One of the Founder Members
1967– Division 1 Champions
1968-1982 Division 1 Champions/Finalists
1983 Relegated to Division 2
1984 Relegated to Division 3
West Midlands League
Joined Pre 1975
1976 Division 2 Runner Up Promoted to Division 1
1977 Division 1
1979 Relegated to Division 2
1982 Division 2 Runners Up Promoted to Division 1
1983 Relegated to Division 2
1984 Relegated to Division 3
1985-2008 Division 3
2013 Division 3 North (Re-Joined league) 22nd
2014 Division 3 West 15th
2015 Division 3 West 2nd Runners Up – Promoted to Division 2
2016 Division 2 17th Place
2017 Division 2 15th Place
2018 Division 2 18th Place
2019 Division 2 21st Place
2020 No Competition – Covid
2021 Division 2 5th Place (Divisional Finalists)
Merger & formation of Sandwell Aquatics (The WASPS, Oldbury & Haden Hill)
2022 Division 2 7th Place (as Sandwell Aqua A)
2022 Division 3 9th Place (Sandwell Aqua B)
Worcester Winter League
1975 1st Champions
1976 1st Champions
1977 1st Champions
1978 1st Champions
1979 1st Champions
1980 1st Champions
1981 1st Champions
1982 1st Champions
2015 Rejoined League 12th Place
2016 9th Place (Gala 2 Trophy Winners)
2017 7th Place (Gala 2 Trophy Winners)
2018 8th Pace (4th Gala 2)
2019 Team Sandwell Formed Sharks, Strikers, Storm
2020 No Competition – Covid
2021 No Competition – Covid
2022 Team Sandwell WW swam as Sandwell Storm 4th Place (Gala 2 A final)
Worcester County Founders Prize
Awarded for outstanding contribution within the Worcestershire region.
1968 Avis Willington
1969 Avis Willington
1970 Avis Willington
1971 Avis Willington
1972 Avis Willington
2003 Alex Parsonage
2009 Graham Harrington
Avis Willington represented Great Britain at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.
Alex Parsonage represented Great Britain at both Junior and Senior level water-polo. Was a member of the 2012 London Olympic squad.
Graham Harrington represented Great Britain at junior level water-polo.
Vicki Hawkins also represented Great Britain for water-polo. Just miss out on selection for 2012 London Olympics
(Both Alex and Graham were involved with their respective GB squads – up to Dec 2011)
Worcester County Express Cup Division 1
1975 Champions
1976 Champions
1977 Champions
1978 Champions
1979 Champions
Worcester Counties & Midland Districts
1977 14 Swimmers achieved a total of 35 Midland District times, the biggest entry in the Midlands
1982 58 Medals won at Worcester Counties, 33 Midland District times recorded and 6 National Times.
2022 Worcester County Championships: 41 Medals won, 52 Finals Reached, 12 Swimmers achieving Regional Qualifying Times, 42 Regional Times achieved (at Counties).
2022 West Midlands Regional Championships: 18 swimmers achieving Regional Qualifying Times, 23 Finals reached, 14 medals won, 1 Gold, 6 Silver, 7 Bronze.
Nottingham 100 Gala – Clubs over 100 years old competing.
2001 Champions
2002 Champions
2003 Champions
Nuneaton and District Junior League
1978 Division 2 Runners Up Promoted to Division 1
1979 – 1985 Division 1
1985 Relegated to Division 2
1986 Relegated to Division 3
1987-1996 Division 3
1997 Relegated to Division 4
1998-1999 Division 4
2000 Runner Up Division 4 Promoted to Division 3
2001 4th Place Division 3 Final Promoted to Division 2
2002 5th Place Promoted to Division 1
2003 Relegated Division 2
2004 Relegated Division 3
2005 Division 3
2006 Division 3 Champions
2007 Division 2
2008 Relegated to Division 3
2009-2010 Division 3
2011 Division 3 Finalists 6th Place.
2012 Division 3 Finalists 5th Place.
2013 Division 3 Finalists 3rd Place. Promoted to Division 2.
2014 Division 2 14th Place.
2015 Division 2 22nd Place. Relegated to Division 3.
2016 Division 3 2nd Promoted to Division 2
2017 Division 2 West 5th
2018 Division 2 11th Place
2019 Division 2 16th Place (Relegated to Division 3)
2020 No Competition (Covid)
2021 Division 3 4th Place (no promotions or relegations – virtually swum)
2022 Division 3 3rd Place Final Promoted to Div 2
Mercian Summer League – Joined 2012
2012 16th Place
2013 22nd Place
2014 17th Place
2015 22nd Place Winners Gala 4 Trophy.
2016 13th Place (3rd in Final Gala 3)
2017 14th Place (4th in Final Gala 3)
2018 15th Place (4th in Final Gala 3)
2019 20th Place (3rd in gala 4)
2020 No Competition (Covid)
2021 No Competition (Covid)
2022 18th Place (only 1 round swum)
PGL Ross League – Joined 2013
2013 12th Place
2014 12th Place
2015 12th Place
2016 4th Place (7th place Final)
2017 6th Place (6th place Final)
2018 12th Place
2019 11th Place
2020 No Competition (Covid)
2021 No Competition (Covid)
2022 8th Place (8th Final)
In August 2018, Ray Evans and Marc Soulsby sat with Ash Rai from Sandwell Leisure Trust to discuss the new proposed 8 lane 50m pool to replace Smethwick and Langley Swimming Centres and the potental merger of Warley WASPS and Oldbury Swimming Club. It was agreed that Haden Hill should also be approached and a Borough wide club formed. Wednesbury Swimming and polo Club were considered to be asked, but they were already in considerable decline. The 2022 Commonwealth Games Hosts were announced on 7th September 2017. Sandwell MBC were approached by City of Birmingham Council to ask if they’d upgrade the proposed centre, to a centre which could host the Commonwealth Games…the rest is history, but it was Warley WASPS, rightly or wrongly, depending upon your view, were instrumental in bringing the three Sandwell clubs together. Mistakes were made…hind sight is always a wonderful thing!
2023 On Saturday 22nd April, a re-branded Millennium WASPS opened its doors for the first time. A merge of Millennium Swimming Club, established in 2000 by Roger Soulsby, along with the workforce of Warley WASPS joined together to continue the names and traditions of both clubs…history will continue to be made. Triathlon are hopefully going to restart mid 2024…this is just a new chapter.
2023 22nd April Re-opens – 56 new members
2024 8th April almost a year from re-opening – 140 members
‘Cura, et studio pares fortuna causam‘
(Commitment, motivation and enthusiasm equals success)
