School swimmers left opposition in their wake (From Lancashire Telegraph)

School swimmers left opposition in their wake

6:06pm Friday 5th June 2009 in

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THIS quartet of schoolgirls from Blackburn were a talented pool of swimmers.

For 71 years ago they left all the opposition at an inter-schools swimming gala in their wake.

The girls, who swam like fish, are: at the back on the left Dorothy Pickup, on the right Dorothy Ogden.

At the front on the left is Elsie Patefield, and on the right Kathleen Topping.

They were pupils at St Barnabas’ Secondary School, which used to be in Johnson Street, and they swam for their school in the 1938 Blackburn inter-schools swimming competition held at Belper Street baths.

Their main prize was the large shield, presented to the victorious freestyle relay team, and also won three trophies and new watches each.

Thanks to Fred Holmes, of Blackburn, a pupil at the school all those years ago, for sending Looking Back this photograph from his album.

Have you any photographs to share with readers?