The Ient Family: Family History

School & Swimming

My school teacher, in charge of sports, indicated to me that it would be a good idea for me to apply for my life saving medallion, which I did. I took this course on life saving, which took place at the baths at High Street in those days. I eventually finished up and got a bronze medallion. The medal was presented to me at school on one Monday morning at prayers, and this bronze medal was the first medal ever being given to the school. The next morning I was called to the headmaster’s study and he indicated that the medal should not have been presented to me because I was too young. I was 14 at the time and the earliest you can receive a bronze medallion for life saving is 15 years of age, but in the circumstances I was allowed to keep the medal, and because I’d attained this for the school the reward for that was a free pass to the swimming pool for a complete year. I was in the pool three times a day; before breakfast, after lunch and at teatime for 365 days of the year!


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