Wyre Forest Swimming Club

Wyre Forest Swimming Club (WFSC) is a volunteer led Competitive Swimming Club and a Registered Charity (Reg No 1128317) based in the north of the county or Worcestershire. It serves three main centers of population Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley. It formed in 1998 when Stourport and Kidderminster Swimming Clubs merged. Up until recently the entire coaching staff were volunteers, but in the last 5 years, the Head Coach position has been filled by a professional coach. The first incumbent was John Howles, the second Alan Bircher and the current incumbent is Mark Wilmott.

This rural club has a fine history of "punching above its weight" producing no less than two Olympic Swimmers in Amy Smith and Claire Cashmore (Paralympian). The club also has a history of supporting disability swimming most notably in recent years through Steve Boyce (Downs Syndrome European Silver Medalist 100m Freestyle) and Fran O'Connor (S7).

WFSC pride themselves in not only providing a channel for teaching swimming and coaching competitive swimming but also in providing a warm "family environment" where parents, swimmers and coaches mix freely whilst maintaining a professional approach to coaching and training. The Club is Swim 21 accredited and is run on a day to day basis by part-time volunteers who serve on the club committee who meet once a month.

WFSC is currently in a transition phase with regarding swimming pools and swimmers. A new pool is planned for the area and WFSC have had direct influence on the facilities to be available. Whilst Alan Bircher brought a much more structured approach to the training program and a very successful 2011/2012 season, many of the senior swimmers who joined WFSC from neighboring Clubs to be coached by Alan Bircher left on his departure to either go with him to Ellesmere Titans or to other Clubs in the local area.

Nevertheless, a significant group of local swimmers brought through the club ranks by the long serving volunteer coaches remained and have formed the core of a new generation of swimmers in the area. The 2012 Olympics have also boosted the Club's Learn To Swim scheme and as a result the Club is experiencing its largest growth period for many years with over 350 swimmers on its books.

The appointment of Mark Wilmott has created a subtly different environment at the club from that of his predecessor, and one which has returned the club to its grass roots and family ideals. The focus is now very much on Long Term Swimmer Development to enable people to swim at all stages in their life to whatever level they desire, be it fitness swimming or Nationals or Olympics, whilst encouraging participation in activities outside of swimming such as "Wyre In The Wilderness", an adventure training/team building weekend for 11- to 17-year-olds.

You can contact members of the committee of WFSC through their website.