South Yorkshire Times in October 4, 1947

Swam in Holland

There are painted wooden shoes in a Swinton home in Portland Street – souvenirs of a very pleasant week in Holland. Back with 50 members of Rotherham Amateur Swimming Association of Swinton are mother and daughter Mrs Annie and young Audrey Shipley

They swam with the Association at Amersfoort in competitive events; were narrowly beaten in a very enjoyable meeting, and Mrs Shipley had the pleasure of swimming against Holland’s number 3 back crawl swim. She lost by 2 yards.

Among their visits was that to Nijkirk where the swimming club “pool” is in the Zuider Zee, and in Arnheim

At Nijkirk they were greeted by the Burgomaster (who had a special greeting for Audrey, as the youngest member of the party – she is 13) and were entertained to coffee.

Lasting Impressions

Mrs Shipley has brought back to Swinton many pleasant memories of a Dutch holiday. Lasting impression is a delight of clean, airy, colourful Dutch houses, and the hospitality of their people, the charm of their fishing villages, and the pleasure of a trip by inland waterway.

Members of the Rotherham party stayed with different families in Amersfoort. The Dutch club is to pay a return visit to England next Easter, and Mrs Shipley looks forward to entertaining in Swinton her own newly found Dutch friends.

Both she and Audrey were presented with Nijkirk swimming Club badges – with a blue and gold shield bearing the word “Flevo” and these now adorn their swimming costumes. The painted shoes are souvenirs of Rotterdam.