Gordon Hill, the Oxford City Swimming Club coach, who famously swam the Channel, is seen with team members before a swimming gala in 1968. Left to right are Michael Hoggett, Peter Slay, Julie Apter, Hazel Langthorne, Julie Chowings, Christine Kingdom and Jillian Yeates.

Peter Godfrey, eight, of Comfrey Road, Oxford, became the 1,000th pupil at Blackbird Leys Junior School to receive his 10-yard swimming certificate in 1969. It was presented by Mollie Bateson, the city schools’ swimming instructress, who taught thousands of Oxford schoolchildren to swim.

Angela Dawson, 13, of Lockheart Crescent, Cowley, seen with her mother in the picture below, smashed the record for the annual Morris Motors’ swim from Folly Bridge to Iffley Lock in 1963. She completed the one and a half mile course in 32min 21sec – the record stood at 43min.