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More about Devonport Royal Swimming Association

Our Mission Statement

Our mission statement above explains our purpose and what we do. We are the premier teaching and development club in the Plymouth Life Centre for swimmers and water polo players of all age groups and abilities. We are the ideal swimming club for those who consider aquatic sports to be a key ingredient to maintaining a balanced lifestyle, as well as for swimmers, water polo players and multi-sports athletes who wish to compete at a high level.

We are a SwimMark accredited club

SwimMark is about creating the best possible swimming experience for all. SwimMark Essential Club is accredited to clubs that have measures in place to achieve good governance, grow membership, develop volunteers and ensure their activity is sustainable and in line with their club objectives. It is accredited every two years.

"SwimMark accreditation is Swim England's quality standard for clubs. It recognises high standards of governance, sustainability and effectiveness."
Source: Swim England

Click here to view our Swim Mark Essential Club certificate.

We are a volunteer-run, family-oriented club

We like to think of ourselves as a friendly, family-oriented swimming club. We are a volunteer-run organisation, many of the volunteers you see on poolside have or have had children in the club. Although our swim programme is led by a professional swim coach, all other coaches, committee members and helpers are volunteers who give their time for free.

We have Rules and Codes of Conduct

Click here to view the DRSA Rules as from November 2022

Appendices / Codes of Conduct

Appendix 1 Code of Conduct for Swimmers

Appendix 2 Code of Conduct for Parents/Carers

Appendix 3 Code of Conduct for Committee Members

Appendix 4 Code of Conduct for Swimming Coaches and Teachers

Please note: In order to read these files, you will need to have a PDF Reader such as Adobe Reader installed on your computer.

We have Employers' Liability Insurance

Click here to view our Certificate of Employers' Liability Insurance.

History of Title

We are one of the oldest swimming clubs in the United Kingdom, having been established in 1863. The full and correct title of the club is the Devonport Royal Swimming Association and Humane Society.

Humane Society

The Humane Society part of the title dates from when members of the club were responsible for retrieving bodies from the Hamoaze and Plymouth Sound. Port of Plymouth Swimming Association was responsible for the Plym, the Barbican area and around to Western Kings. Devonport was responsible from Western Kings up to Saltash. Today, this function is carried out by the Ministry of Defence Police river patrols.

Royal Title

The club was given its "Royal" title by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Albert, the second son of Queen Victoria. He was a career naval officer and served all around the world, eventually becoming Admiral of the Fleet.

His Royal Highness became a patron of the Association after visiting the committee boat when the Association's annual matches were being held off Mount Wise in 1892. He married Maria Alexandrovna, only daughter of Tsar Alexander II of Russia. They had 6 children, some of whom swam with the club when he was Commander-in-Chief at Devonport Naval Base from 1890 to 1893.

Only "Royal" Swimming Club

In fact, we are the only swimming club that is entitled to call itself "Royal". The above article was printed in 1939 and explains the origin of our Royal title.

We have had many great servants

One of whom was the late Brian Ferrand who coached our youngsters over a period of almost 40 years, was a member of the club for 64 years and was also a former President of the British Long Distance Swimming Association. Not long before we lost Brian, he shared his knowledge of the club's history in the attached document and introduced us to some of the club's legends. This is simply a must-read for all friends of DRSA.

Click here to read Brian's DRSA Reminiscences 1951-2014.

Earliest colour photo of DRSA?

We think this photo from 1967 of our men's water polo team with the Devon County Senior Knock-out Cup is the earliest colour photo of DRSA. We would love to be proven wrong. If you have any old DRSA images, black or white, please get in touch.

Another early colour photo is this one of our float taken at the Devonport Carnival in 1971. Can you spot our current life member Richard Thynne?

DRSA History in Pictures

1907 - Bronze Medal awarded to William Henry Powell

1922 - DRSA Chairman Mr. Tozer (centre) and Mr. Bloye (left)

1922 - DRSA Official - Note the Spectators in Boats

1923 - Opening of Mount Wise Baths

1923 - Newly formed Devonport Ladies' Opening Dip

1925 - Cabaret Dance promoted by Devonport Royal Swimming Association

1928 - U18s Greater Plymouth Champions

1928 - Reg Bossom

1928 - York Street School wins Western Counties Schools Race at DRSA Gala

1929 - Chairman Mr. C. Ernest Tozer presents the Sheriff's Shield

1930 - DRSA Water Polo Team, Reg Bossom, front row 2nd left, George Ayres with ball, both future DRSA chairmen

1933 - King Street Senior School triumps with DRSA members

1934 - Water Polo Team with Trophy

1936 - Annual Gala

1937 - Annual Meeting

1939 - Good Progress - Devon County Junior Water Polo Champions

1946 - Plymouth District - Devon County Water Polo Champions

1948 - Devonport man breaks record

1948 - Ed Dean (centre) lining up before a race at Mount Wise

1950s - Start of the Breakwater Race

1951 - Starters in Club Gala

1951 - Sutton Regatta

1951 - Breakwater Swim

1951 - Crowds on The Hoe for the Breakwater Swim

1951 - Maurice Mills wins the Breakwater Swim

1951 - 4,000 attend Floodlit Gala

1952 - Prizegiving

1953 - Coronation Gala

1953 - Annual Gala

1953 - Ed Dean, Maurice Mills and Roy Horsham selected to represent Civil Service

1953 - Cremyll to Mount Wise Swim - Start of the Ladies' Race

1953 - Cremyll to Mount Wise Swim - Medal Winners

1953 - Marguerite Hill and Sheila Hopkins starting the Saltash-Laira Bridge Swim

1953 - Mount Wise Trophy Winners

1954 - 1,2,3 in 50-yard scratch race

1954 - Winners of Evening Herald Shield

1954 - Clarinde Genge and Brian Fuzzard - Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year

1954 - Winners of the RAFA Shield

1955 - 1st and 2nd for K Stanley and A Rugg against HMS Fisgard

1955 - More gala action against HMS Fisgard at Mount Wise

1956 - Mr. W. McGuiness retires after nearly 30 years

1956 - Winners of the Spackman Trophy

1956 - D Pond scores in 9-0 win against Port of Plymouth

1956 - Ed Dean (in goal) and Reg Bossom (no. 4) in action against Exmouth

1956 - Ed Dean making an excellent save against Exmouth

1956 - Ladies preparing to compete in the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1956 - Men preparing to compete in the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1956 - Prize Winners Margaret Ley and Marguerite Hill

1956 - Prizegiving

1956 - Great Cup Final Win for Devonport

1957 - Annual Gala

1957 - Brian Ferrand (left), Plymouth Secondary School Senior Champion

1957 - Competitors line up for Breakwater Race

1957 - Christmas Dinner and Dip

1958 - Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1958 - Cremyll to Mount Wise Race - Fernley Budge

1958 - Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1958 - David Crowther beats Devon County 200 Yards Breaststroke Record

1958 - Prizegiving

1959 - Cremyll to Mount Wise Swim - Medal Winners

1959 - Opening Dip at Mount Wise Baths

1959 - Annual Gala

1959 - L Birdman and R Ferris - Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year

1959 - Glenda Johns wins the 100 Yards

1959 - Devonport - Devon County League Champions

1959 - Ed Dean with the Devon County League Shield and Robin Ferris with the Junior KO Shield

1959 - Closing Dip

1960 - Prize Winners A.J. Hooper and Ron Smith

1960 - R Ferris, A Hooper and T Burrows 1st, 2nd and 3rd in Freestyle

1960 - Devonport Runners-Up in Devon Junior Shield

1960 - Opening Dip at Mount Wise Baths

1960 - Comic Gala

1960 - Closing Dip

1960 - Christmas Dip Feast

1961 - Opening Dip at Mount Wise Baths

1961 - Gillian Holtham First Lady in Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1961 - David Hobbs and Gillian Holtham - Winners of the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1961 - First 2 Girls in Cremyll to Mount Wise Swim Race - Carol Middleton and Pauline Lyons

1961 - Men's Water Polo Team

1961 - Closing Dip

1961 - Diane Pearce receives Cup at Prizegiving

1962 - Opening Dip

1962 - One Yard separated Finalists in DC 50 Yards Breaststroke at DRSA Gala

1962 - D Sargent - Winner of the Walter McGinnes Trophy

1962 - P Lyons winning the Fredman Cup

1962 - Devon County ASA President Reg Bossom congratulates young DRSA Swimmers

1962 - Devonport Team which defeated Torquay Leander

1962 - Men's Over 35 Water Polo Team

1962 - Under 18 Water Polo Team

1962 - Reg Bossom - President of Devon County ASA

1962 - Prizegiving

1963 - Centenary Opening Dip

1963 - Centenary Gala

1963 - Centenary Gala - Devon County Championships Junior Ladies' 100 Yards Butterfly

1963 - Centenary Gala - Devon County Championships - Men's 100 Yards

1963 - Centenary Gala

1963 - Pauline Lyons and Malcolm Cooper - Winners at the Centenary Gala

1963 - Closing Dip

1963 - Tramps Supper

1963 - Centenary Barbecue

1963 - Centenary River Trip

1963 - Centenary Dinner and Dance

1963 - Members who did well at the Devon County ASA Age Group Championships

1963 - Centenary Year's Swimming Awards

1963 - Central Park Under Construction

1964 - Opening Dip

1964 - 4 Young Members enjoying the Opening Dip

1964 - Group Photo - 1st May

1964 - Annual Gala - Girls' Team Race for the Weakfield Shield

1964 - Annual Gala - Devon County Championships - Men's 100 Yards Freestyle

1964 - Annual Gala - Devon County Championships - Men's 200 Yards Breaststroke

1964 - Annual Gala - Individual Medley

1964 - Annual Gala - Devon County Championships - Ladies' 100 Yards

1964 - Presentation of Bronze Medal to Dave Butler

1964 - Annual Gala

1964 - Candle Race

1964 - Close Finish in Junior Cremyll Race

1964 - Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1964 - New Record in Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1964 - Prizegiving

1965 - Linda Evans and Susan Metcalfe presenting Gifts at Party for DRSA Youngsters

1965 - Opening of Central Park

1965 - Youngsters eager to try out the new Central Park

1965 - Winners of DRSA Diving Championships

1965 - Men's Water Polo Team which beat Exmouth

1965 - Christopher O'Connell and Jacqueline Gillard receive prizes from Chairman George Ayres

1965 - Opening Dip in the Pouring Rain

1965 - Prizegiving

1966 - New Year's Party

1966 - Opening Dip

1966 - Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1966 - Prizegiving

1966 - Christmas

1967 - Opening Dip

1967 - Jenny Russel 3rd in Devon County Butterfly

1967 - Butterfly swimmer Jenny Russell represents DRSA at the National Age Group Championships

1967 - Katrina Critten - Water Baby

1967 - Water Polo Trials

1967 - Maurice Mills (3) and Reg Bossom (5)

1967 - Ruby Wedding Presentation to Mr. and Mrs. Roseman

1967 - DRSA Prizegiving

1967 - DRSA Prizegiving - Christopher O'Connell (left) and James Curtain

1967 - Maurice Mills scores as Devonport beat Barnstaple 4-0 to reach Cup Final

1967 - Devonport win Devon County Senior Knock-out Cup for first time since 1957

1967 - Devonport Team with the Devon County Senior Knock-out Cup

1967 - Christmas Day

1967 - Christmas

1968 - Jenny Russell wins Devon County 110 yards Freestyle and Butterfly

1968 - Devonport win Devon County Junior Water Polo League

1968 - Winners of the DRSA Diving Championships

1968 - Devon County Goalkeeper Dave Gregory and son Philip

1969 - Club General Secretary hands over a brick and youngsters celebrate ASA centenary

1969 - Men's Water Polo Team

1969 - Ed Dean - Sporting Personality

1969 - Ed Dean - Devon County President

1969 - Prizegiving

1970 - Closing Dip

1970 - Prizegiving

1971 - Winners of Diving Competitions

1971 - U14 Water Polo Team

1971 - U14 Water Polo Team - Devon County Champions

1971 - U14 Water Polo Team - Devon County Cup Winners

1971 - Float at the Devonport Carnival - Neptune swims, so can you!

1972 - Men's Water Polo Team - Plymouth Champions

1972 - ASA Water Polo Bronze Awards

1972 - Opening Dip

1972 - Youngsters at DRSA Gala

1972 - Denise Cragg - City of Plymouth Diving Champion

1972 - Blanche Sullivan, 68, swims from Cremyll to Mount Wise

1972 - Prizegiving

1973 - Terry Windeatt scores for Devonport in 3-3 draw against Chelmsford

1973 - Senior Water Polo team

1973 - Dave Gregory pulls off a save at Central Park

1973 - Opening Dip

1973 - Cremyll to Mount Wise winners - Christine Sifleet (left), Kevin Yeo and Delyse Cragg

1973 - Winners of the Diving Championships

1973 - Richard happiest in the water

1973 - Last Dip

1973 - Prizegiving

1973 - 11-year-old Elizabeth Harrison with an Armful of Trophies

1973 - 7-year-old Andrew Sackey receiving a Prize

1974 - Devon County U18 Water Polo Champions

1974 - 5 wins for Elizabeth

1976 - Competitors line up for Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1976 - Dead Heat in Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1976 - Opening Dip

1976 - Successful Novices at DRSA Gala

1976 - Prizegiving

1976 - Sponsored Swim for Cardiac Machine

1976 - DRSA Water Polo Team - Winners of International Tournament

1977 - 3 graduates of DRSA: Claire Maxwell (left), Katherine Clarke and Sharron Davies

1977 - Winners of the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1977 - Christine Sifleet swims from the Eddystone Lighthouse to Plymouth Hoe

1977 - Prizegiving

1978 - Civic Reception for Christine Sifleet (right)

1978 - Christine Sifleet receives certificate for swimming the English Channel

1978 - Swimmers at DRSA Gala

1978 - DRSA raised £800 for Heart Defibrilator

1978 - Prizegiving

1978 - Winners of the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1978 - 6-year-old Charlotte completes Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1978 - Reg Bossom receives 'Service to Sport' Award

1979 - Winners of the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1979 - Jack Norsworthy retires as Swim Secretary at Prizegiving after 27 years of service

1979 - Club appoints First Woman

1980 - Martin Burnard receives trophy for outstanding performances at COP Championships

1980 - Starter Reg Britton with competitors before club gala

1980 - Winners of the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1980 - Prizegiving

1980 - Bill Clements presents awards to Martin Burnard and Sarah Dyer at Prizegiving

1981 - Finishers in the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1981 - Trina Critten presents Trophies to Andrea Townson and Chris Jones

1981 - Prizegiving

1981 - Junior squad

1981 - Certificate Winners at COP Championships

1982 - DRSA raises cash for special baby care unit

1982 - Dave Gregory presents Breakwater Swim Certificates

1982 - Prizegiving

1983 - Gala Winners

1983 - Marguerite Pike becomes President of the British Long Distance Swimming Association

1983 - Prizegiving

1984 - 12-year-old Denise Tombs - Junior Winner of the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1984 - Suzanne Parkinson - Winner of the Women's Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1984 - Swimmers after the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1984 - Sharon Heydon and Suzanne Parkinson win City of Plymouth Lifesaving Championships

1984 - Prizegiving

1985 - 4 x1 Medley, l-r: Debbie Dixon, Sara Bossom, Suzanne Parkinson

1985 - 4-year-old Joanne Bray receives 10-metre award

1985 - Cremyll to Mount Wise Race Winners

1985 - Reg Bossom with Youngsters before Club Gala

1985 - Prizegiving

1986 - Devon Division 3 Champions

1986 - Royal first for Helen (or was it?)

1986 - Helen Coleman Progress Report from June 1986 Newsletter

1986 - Leslie Pritchard with an admiring audience of youngsters

1986 - Winners of the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1986 - Dinnaton Gala, left to right, Sara Bossom, Suzanne Parkinson and Penny Stentiford

1986 - Dinnaton Gala

1986 - Prizegiving

1986 - New Recruits to Water Polo

1986 - National Clubs Lifesaving Championships - Finalist

1987 - Sara Cooke and Helen Jewell prepare for the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1987 - Dawn Milton and Leslie Pritchard - Winners of the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1987 - Braving the Water

1987 - Devonport reform Water Polo section and win very first match at U16 level

1987 - Fun Gala

1988 - L Pritchard (left) and J Dare-Williams - Plymouth, Devon and SW Lifesaving Champions

1988 - Cremyll to Mount Wise Race - Swimmers crossing the Tamar

1988 - Joanne Anderson celebrates completing the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1988 - Winners of the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1988 - Gregory Diprose gains ASA Gold and Diamond Awards

1988 - Prizegiving

1988 - Fun Gala

1988 - 7-year-old Lisa Milden in the "Carry the Candle" Relay

1988 - Paul Dixon in the "Dress a Snowman" Race

1988 - Picking the ball out of the net in the Fun Gala

1988 - Leslie and Jon - COP Livesaving Champions for third time in four years

1988 - Reformed Senior Water Polo team win first match for a decade

1988 - Relay team wins Fred May Memorial Trophy

1989 - Helen Jewell warms up after the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1989 - Amy Walsh in the Club Gala

1989 - Winners of the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1989 - Leslie Pritchard wins the Breakwater Individual Race

1989 - Devon County U18 Water Polo Cup Finalists

1989 - U18 Goalkeeper Andrew McTighe selected to represent Devon County

1989 - Men's Water Polo Team

1989 - National Clubs Lifesaving Championships - Finalist

1989 - Prizegiving

1990 - Ed Dean - ASA President

1990 - Senior Water Polo team

1990 - Team photo followed by last-gasp victory

1990 - Junior swim squad

1990 - Junior girls

1990 - 8-year-old Steve Smith gets a hug from dad after crossing the Tamar

1990 - Winners of the Cremyll to Mount Wise Race

1990 - Prizegiving

1991 - Competitors with Trophies won at the Devon County Lifesaving Championships

1992 - Lifesavers with medals

1992 - Committee Members

1992 - Duncan Goodhew meets Devonport and Pisces swimmers

1993 - DRSA swimmers who took part in the Alton Biathlon

1994 - DRSA members raise money for good cause

1994 - DRSA Trophy Winners

1996 - Western Counties Intermediate Cup Finalists

1996 - Prizegiving

1996 - B Ferrand, British Long Distance Swimming Association Chairman

1997 - DRSA hosts Speedo League