Brighton Swimming Club Memory Day
Anna Zehnpfund, 3rd Year English Studies & English Literature
University of Brighton

On Saturday 15th October 2011, a selected group of individuals had the chance to experience what it means to discover memories.

The concept of memory turns out to be of great importance, as those who were part of the Brighton Swimming Club became makers of history by merely remembering their time with the Club. Experiences and collections of thoughts seem to be irrelevant and trivial, but by rediscovering stories from various perspectives connections are made and a collective memory is built, which in itself forms a link to the past and therefore history.

Placed in a perfect scenery, including an armchair and a seemingly endless collection of old books, one member of the Club began to tell his version of the tale. He did not solely focus on his experience with the Brighton Swimming Club; he rather offered an insight into historical and political matters, which went hand in hand with the existence and development of the Club. Individuals of personal importance featured in his collection of stories as well as the well known poet Lord Byron, who according to the story teller enjoyed a good swim as much as anyone else.

The opportunity to examine first hand material such as photographs dating back to 1905, membership documents or competition posters is not only highly valuable for everyone who is interested in documenting the past but also a journey back in time. Being given the chance to not only look closely at these things, but also make sense of them through stories told by people who have actually been there is an experience which cannot be replaced. It is history brought to life. It is much more, it is the chance to relive memories through other people’s experience and maybe even take something home and make it one’s own.

The film material shown exposes the viewer to a seemingly different world and plays with expectations. The beach shots date back to the 1950s and instead of the life back then being rigid, prude and just black and white, the viewer in the here and now is surprised by the ease, composure and tranquillity of the time.

An atmosphere of contentment and happiness draws the viewer into the past and reassures them that there was a space for nonsense and the lightness of being – one is given the chance to revisit the nostalgic freedom of one day on the beach.

The general feeling towards the Brighton Swimming Club seemed to be much more than just the common interest in swimming or swimming in the sea; the membership does not only include the key to a strong community of like minded individuals, which has always been more than happy to welcome new members, but also, the conquering of the sometimes moody sea seems to be giving confidence to those who manage as well as the opportunity to strengthen the bond between the members even further.
The first exposure of the collected material and the conversations with some of the members of the Swimming Club shows that the title of the project – Floating Memories – is much more than a witty word play; memories seem to be floating about and through talking, sometimes digging and often just reminiscing, these drift wood like pieces of memories float up to the surface and shall be collected and preserved like other precious objects found on Brighton beach.