History of the Club

Author - Alec Mcleod-Bain (updated Dec 2004 by Douglas)

The "Heart of Midlothian" was immortalised in a novel by Sir Walter Scott, there is a Scottish Premier League Football Club of that name, and there is US, the Swimming Club that bears the famous name.

Founded in 1885 in the South side of the City, the Club is one of the oldest in the East of Scotland. Most regrettably we have no historical records relating to the Club's early years, but research has shown that at that time the Club was based at the Infirmary Street Baths. Research also shows that in 1925 the Club moved to the North side of the city to Glenogle Baths and this became their "home" for over 70 years, after which it moved to a modern 25 Metre Pool (Drumbrae).

Despite the lack of Minute Books, etc. research and various items of memorabilia give information, e.g. there were both Ladies and Gents Sections with 1 hour sessions each per week. We also learn that the Club closed down during both World Wars but prior to the Second War in 1939 the Club's activities included Graceful Swimming, (the forerunner to Synchronised Swimming), Graceful Diving and Water Polo.

On re-opening in 1947 it took 2-3 years to build up the membership again and, as Mixed training was not permitted, the separate nights for each Section continued. Despite this, by 1950 a great achievement had been accomplished in that Club members held all 4 District Breast Stroke Championships available at that time, i.e. Senior and Junior at both Ladies and Gents Titles.

The Graceful Swimming, Diving and Water Polo sections were no longer part of the Club's programme, Life Saving was taught for a number of years and the relevant members became most proficient and were very successful in both District and Scottish events.

As well as being a "friendly family Club" it was also a forward thinking "Competitive Club" and this was emphasised when it became one of the first Clubs in Scotland to appoint a Professional Coach in 1977. Successive Coaches have ensured that Hearts were always to the fore.

The 1960's saw the first member to be selected for Scotland in the post-war years, and the later introduction of Age Group Championships saw many of the younger members gaining District and Scottish recognition by winning their Group Events.

When Glenogle Baths was Hearts home pool, all Training Sessions took place there, 6 days per week, but with increased Membership, continuing rising standards in training and the need for specialised Coaching, the Club now uses Training facilities at 9 different Pools within Edinburgh, all situated on the North side of the City.

During the 1990's the Club Coach, (a former member of the Club whose parents had enrolled him as a 4 year old and who later received a British Coaches Award,) did a magnificent job which resulted in numerous Scottish Champions, Record Holders, etc., and capped it with the selection of Kirsty Orr, at the age of 15, to become the first ever Club member to represent Great Britain. The event was the 1997 European Youth Olympics, after which Kirsty went on to gain further GB and Scottish honours. Kirsty is now Lead Coach of Group 2 and Group 3.

In the 2002 Commonwealth Games at Manchester, the Club was delighted that two members were selected for the Scottish Team, namely Kirsty Balfour and Gregor Tait. Although both train and compete within the City of Edinburgh Swimming set-up, this again was another "First" as this was the first time Club Members had participated in these prestigious Games.

While Kirsty raced to an excellent 7th. place in the 100 Breast Final, Gregor went even better and collected a Silver Medal for a brilliant swim in the 200 Backstroke. Needless to say the Club was extremely proud of their achievements.

This was surpassed when these same two swimmers went on to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games in Athens, 2004. Gregor Tait swam in two Finals - he swam a time of 1.59.28 in the final of the 200 Back and came 7th in what was a controversial result. Gregor was also part of the TeamGB who made it to the final of the Mens 4 x 100 medley relay and finished 8th.

Kirsty Balfour swam 2.28.92 and was 5th in the semi-final of the 200 Breast - narrowly missing out on a place in the final. Kirsty was also part of the Womens 4 x 100 medley relay team. As a matter of interest, Kirsty joined Hearts when she was 12 years of age and only 6 years later she was competing in one of the world's greatest sporting events - surely a great indication of the standard of Coaching at all levels of this Club.

To bring us bang up to date and to show that Hearts' Coaches continue to be at the top of their profession, Club swimmer Louise Pate was picked as one of the 69 athletes to represent Scotland at the 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games in Bendigo, Australia. Louise won a Bronze Commonwealth Youth Games medal swimming the Fly leg of the Scottish Women's 4 x 100 Medley Relay team as well as coming 5th in each of the finals in her 3 individual Fly events.

There are currently a whole host of youngsters at Hearts pushing to be the next stars of Scottish and British swimming and while not every one can, or will, match the achievements of Kirsty and Gregor, if you wish to join a friendly, progressive, top of the range, competitive swimming Club then 'Hearts" could be an ideal choice for you.

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Committees

Executive Committee

President	Jo Maguire
Vice President	Stephen Osborne
Secretary	Irene Brownlee
Treasurer	Jeanie Thain
Swim Convenor	Susan Waller
Social Convenor	Julia Marshall
Child Protection Rep.	Wilma Spencer
Travel Convenor	Susan Pate
Membership Secretary	Paddy Heskett
Member	Pauline Rankin
Member	Elaine Fraser
Head Coach	Phil Potter

 

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Swim Committee Members

Swim Convenor	Susan Waller
Asst Swim Convener	Vacancy
Head Coach	Phil Potter
Entries & Records	Paddy Heskett
Membership	Paddy Heskett
Travel Organisation	Susan Pate
Learn to Swim Rep.	Jo Maguire
Lifeguards	Susan Waller
Member

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Coaches

Head Coach	Phil Potter
2012 Coach	Cheryl Calder
AGT Coach	Cheryl Calder
Group 3 Coach	Phil Potter
Group 4a Coach	Zoe Gray
Group 4b Coach	Zoe Gray
Group 5 Coach	Robert Rae

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Social Committee

Convenor	Julia Marshall
Member	Janet Blair
Member	Irene Brownlee
Member	Sandra Scotland
Member	Margo Wimberley

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