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Celebrating more than three decades of International Swimming

Kelly College is based in Tavistock, Devon and was founded in 1877 by Admiral Benedictus Marwood Kelly as a boarding school "for the sons of Naval Officers and other gentlemen". Since that time, the school has responded readily to modern thinking, whilst retaining its own special atmosphere and the best features of its traditional background.

Kelly College has evolved into a co-educational school which is highly regarded for its pastoral care and wide range of curricular and extra curricular activities. Pupils are prepared, not only for academic success, but also for the diversity of social, technological and educational skills required to succeed in today’s demanding world.

With only 360 pupils at the school, personal attention in the classroom is a key attribute of the school and the Kelly Swim Squad is well integrated into everyday life. The day-to-day training demands on our swimmers are very well understood and supported by the school, the teachers and support staff, who are all very proud of our achievements and history.

1978 – 1980

The Original Kelly Swim Squad 1978

The Kelly College Swim Squad was formed in 1978 in conjunction with the opening of the new 4-lane 25m pool. The then Headmaster, Mr Dennis Ball, and the Head of PE, Mr Bob Govier, invited local girl, 16-year-old Sharron Davies and her father/coach, Terry Davies, to benefit from the school's facilities in preparation for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.

Sharron was, at the time, the new rising star in world swimming and had already competed, at the age of 13, in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. In order to assist Sharron’s quest for Olympic medals, a plan to develop a Junior International Swim Squad based at the school was put into place. The concept was to provide swimmers with a "one-stop-shop" - an excellent education, specialist training and boarding with the highest standard of pastoral care.

The concept, opportunity and benefits on offer at Kelly College were second to none and the recruitment of 16 high calibre swimmers into the sixth form shortly followed. The combination of education and boarding and the elimination of excessive travel and time loss for parents, to and from training, was a considerable draw.

Kelly College was one of the first schools of its kind in the UK to provide specific coaching and training opportunities for high calibre swimmers, who could train side by side in preparation for International representation. In addition, Sharron’s status within the world of swimming meant there was an abundance of media interest which catapulted Kelly College into the sporting spotlight. Lucrative sponsorship was quick to follow, which added to the profile and financial strength of the newly formed Swim Squad. Terry Davies continued to coach the squad for the two years leading up to the Moscow Olympics, where Sharron Davies went on to win two silver medals.

1980 – 1999

Archie Brew

Archie Brew was appointed as Director of Swimming in 1980. Under Archie’s guidance, the Swim Squad went on to achieve some quite remarkable results. During his time at Kelly College, Archie produced more than 40 International Swimmers and 12 Olympians, which included his two sons, Robin and Paul. Robin captained the British Team at the Los Angeles Olympics, setting a new Olympic Record in the heats of the 200m Individual Medley and finishing 4th in the Olympic final. Paul competed at the Seoul Olympics four years later, setting a new British record in the 400m Individual Medley.

Kelly swimmers such as Andrew Jameson, who went on to win an Olympic Bronze medal at the Los Angeles Olympics, and also an incredible three Gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, helped to establish Kelly College as one of the strongest swimming squads in the country.

The small, select squad could compete with many big city clubs and win. Archie Brew’s successes gained him a coaching position on the 1986 and 1990 Commonwealth Games Teams. He also coached at the European Championships and many World Schools events. After two decades of international representation, Archie retired from Kelly College in December 1999, handing the reins to his son, Robin, as the newly appointed Kelly College Director of Swimming.

2000-Current day

Robin Brew

Robin joined Kelly from the British Swimming National High Performance Centre at the University of Bath, where he worked on the World Class Performance Programme, coaching some of the country’s most talented senior swimmers alongside Olympic Head Coach, Ian Turner.

Robin placed a new emphasis on the long-term development of the swim squad and has since invested a great deal of time in the restructuring of the programme to provide performance pathways from Development swimming through to International representation. Robin has also been responsible for obtaining the extra investment by the college in the appointment of key coaching and support staff, Jenni Henry, Robin Francis and, more recently, Jill Gratton. Archie Brew, after an initial break away from Kelly, is back with the programme applying his knowledge and skill to excellent effect with the Kelly County Squad.

As a result of the professional running of the swimming programme, Kelly College Swim Squad was selected by the ASA to be the first school to pilot the quality assured accredited Swim 21 award. Kelly College attained the prestigious "Performance Club" and also UK Sports "Club Mark" awards, which draw together the many strands involved in the management of the coaching process at a performance level. Since receiving the awards in 2004, Kelly has also successfully achieved the "Competitive Development" and "Skill Development" awards.

Under Robin’s tutelage, Kelly Swimming has, once again, contributed to International representation. Since 2000, more than 15 squad members have represented their country at a variety of competitions, including the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the 2004 Paralympics, the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the 2008 Olympics and Paralympics, where Kelly squad members returned home with one Olympic medal and five Paralympic medals. In addition, Kelly swimmers have been selected for Scottish and Welsh senior teams as well as GB European Junior Championship teams.

These are exciting times for the swimmers at Kelly College. With the historic and successful legacy of the last 32 years, both Kelly College and the coaching staff are as committed as ever to ensure the long term success of our swimmers and to build on an already proven outstanding track record, which is that "Kelly produces Olympians."

Heather Fell - Olympic Silver Medallist

Olympic Representation from current and former Kelly Swimmers

Girls

Boys

Olympic Medals / Records

Paralympic Games

Girls

Boys

Paralympic Medals

Commonwealth Games

Girls

Boys

Commonwealth Medals

World Championships

Girls

Eutropean Junior Championships - EJC

Girls

Boys

IPC World Championships

Girls

Boys

International Representation

Girls

Boys

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