Peter Kendrew

Freestyle swimmer Peter Kendrew was a Great Britain international since 1957 when he made his début against Sweden as a 17-year-old. The following year he represented England in the British Empire and Commonwealth Games at Cardiff. Kendrew won numerous Yorkshire freestyle titles but was also an excellent backstroke swimmer and in 1960 broke the Yorkshire 100 yards back record. That year he was the fastest 100 metres freestyle swimmer in Britain and was destined to go to the Roma Olympics, but a mis-timed turn in the trials cost him his place.

Kendrew was also originally omitted from the 1964 Olympic team, and when it was decided to extend the GB swimming squad to include him for the Tokyo Games Kendrew was on holiday, ironically in Italy at the time. It was only after a fellow holidaymaker saw his picture in a newspaper with an SOS call from the GB swimming team to locate him that he was contacted and returned home to hastily prepare for the Tokyo Games, and subsequently competed with the GB 4x100 freestyle relay squad that finished seventh. Two years earlier in 1962, Kendrew won silver in the 4x100 freestyle relay at the European Championships at Leipzig and followed that with a silver in the 4x110 yards medley, and bronze medals in the 4x110 and 4x220 freestyle relays at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games at Perth, Australia.

Domestically, Kendrew finished either second or third in the 110 yards freestyle ASA final four times between 1959-63, and on his way to the 1960 final broke the English and British records with a 57.7. Despite never winning an individual senior ASA title he was a member of the York club’s 4x110 yards relay team that won the national title eight times between 1958-66. Kendrew was also a fine water polo player and helped York beat Huddersfield in the final to win the 1966 Yorkshire Championship. Kendrew later competed in Masters events and at the 1993 National Masters Championships was a member of the York City Baths Club 4x50 metres freestyle relay squad that broke the British and European records.