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About Us
HISTORY
My
father, Victor Levitt, died in November 2009. In July of that year his
biography was published and this information is quoted from that book - Vicki Kitson
In 1949 I had the idea of
starting a swimming club and I formed Edmonton
Swimming Club which became very successful over the years. I built up the
swimming club, turning it into a social organisation as well. We were able to
use the facilities of Croyland School which had been closed as a school but
which the council kept in good shape, and I persuaded them to let me use it as
a club room for the swimming club. It was a complete, broad, social club. It
was run by a committee and I was the chief coach and the president of the club,
but of course, I couldn’t spend all my time in every activity and I only went
there occasionally.
Every time somebody’s
child got picked for some event, or had publicity, this made about ten other
parents envious and jealous, especially if they thought their child was as good
or better. Some people were trying to remove me from being the chief coach
because of all this kind of envy and jealousy. The club became a hotbed for
intrigue and I was very naďve really. There was a move to call a special
general meeting and I was warned about it and ultimately it came to a showdown.
In the end representatives
from the Southern Counties of the ASA came down to arbitrate and a special
meeting was called. They conducted an enquiry and made a report, which said
very favourable things about me, and not very favourable things about the
others. At the special meeting four people made the difference between my not
winning the vote of confidence and the others winning. One of the most moving
experiences I have ever had was the mass exodus as people walked out with me at
the end of the vote. When we got outside they had a quick meeting and decided
straight away to form the Edmonton Phoenix Swimming Club and
all the swimmers came with me. The strength of feeling and emotion from my
supporters was terrific.
Edmonton, of course, inherited
everything – all the equipment that I’d got, cameras, everything belonged to
them. They put up the fellow that I had trained to be my assistant coach to be
the new chief coach to replace me. He was a very good friend and I think he was
embarrassed that they moved that he be the chief coach at the meeting. I went
home and wasn’t any longer honoured as the founder of Edmonton Swimming Club or its chief coach.
Instead we had the newly formed Edmonton Phoenix – the name tells
you what it is, doesn’t it, ‘arising from the ashes’, and all the swimmers came
with me. We had no facilities for club nights but the Council immediately came
to our aid. We became the rival swimming club in the same pool – Edmonton Swimming Pool.
We won all sorts of events in the next season or two. They did me a favour
really – after my twenty years of teaching swimming – it gave me a broader
outlook.
MISSION STATEMENT
Edmonton Phoenix Swimming Club aims to be recognised in London as a progressive club aiming to achieve individual and team excellence in swimming and sporting fairness within a competitive and supportive environment. To reach this aim we will ensure all athletes have personal goals within a structured programme, led by qualified teachers and coaches.
We are dedicated to a teaching program which is within the guidelines of the National Teaching Plan in order to develop swimmers and non-swimmers from any age to improve general fitness, good health, sociability and competitiveness.
We will strive to provide the best environment available for our members for teaching, training and competition by establishing and maintaining links and partnerships with other clubs, all facility providers and local authorities.
The Club is committed to treat everyone equally within the context of their activity, regardless of, sex, ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation or political persuasion.
The club will ensure that equity in the club rules is incorporated in all aspects of its activities and also recognised and adopts the Sport England Definition of Sports Equity:
Sports Equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society.
The club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of discrimination, intimidation, harassment and abuse.
All club members have a responsibility to challenge discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.
The club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour, according to the club disciplinary procedures.
Edmonton Phoenix Swimming Club is affiliated to the Amateur Swimming Association. and as such is bound by its regulations, code of conduct and ethics.