Since learning to swim in the canals near his
home in Hollinwood, Henry Taylor went on to become
Britain's most successful swimmer.
Born in 1885 to James and Elizabeth Taylor (his father
was a coalminer) he was orphaned at a very early age. He
had an elder brother William (Bill) and a sister
Catherine. Records then were very sketchy, and it wasn't
until he swam his first race at Oldham Baths at the age
of 7, any notice was taken, it was a two length event for
school boys, which he won.
His elder brother took on the task of training
him for the various events. Altogether he won 35 Trophies
and 300 medals in his swimming lifetime.
The Mile Swim was recognised as the 'prestige' swim
and the holder of this record was known to be 'Champion
Swimmer of England'. Henry Taylor won this race in 1906.
1907 and again in 1911.
His first major swimming success was in 1906 when he
won the World Record 880 yards. Also in 1906 he took part
in the Interim Olympic Games, separately organised by the
Greek Government.), and won 1500m, for which he was
awarded the GOLD Medal and was awarded a Silver
Cup, and came Second in the 400m, awarded the
SILVER medal
Below is a rare
photo of Henry with his brother his trainer. A
gathering of his friends and colleagues when he brought
back the Silver Cup he won in Athens in
1906.
When he joined the Navy in the
First World War, he was the Champion Swimmer. In
order to achieve this status he had to swim around the
British Fleet which was at anchorage at Scapa Flow, and
this he did on a number of occasions. This was no mean
feat as our Navy at the time, was the largest in the
world.
Another unusual competition he
entered was what was known as the "Through the London
Thames swim". After he accepted a challenge for the
French Champion of the time for a similar swim through
the Seine, Paris, it became an international challenge,
this went on for a number of years. Henry Taylor never
lost.
Thursday,
28th February, 2002.
51 years to the date of his
death, the Blue Plaque was unveiled to this undervalued
swimmer.
Councillor Jim Greenwood, as
Chairman of the Chadderton Area Committee, welcomed the
Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Christine Wheeler to the
proceedings. He also thanked Mr Bernard Edge for the work
he had put in to bring this event to fruition. Jim
Greenwood also recalled the first question Bernard Edge
put to the newly formed Area Committee, was "Why don't
you recognise the sons of Chadderton. Why don't you
recognise Henry Taylor, our own Olympic Gold Medal
Swimmer?
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Not only was Henry Taylor an Olympic veteran,
but also War hero. He joined the Navy in 1915 as an Able
Seaman and took part in the most famous sea battle of the
first world War, the Battle of Jutland. His ship, HMS St
Vincent was sunk (one of 14 vessels), and he and the crew
were in the water for two hours before being rescued. He
swam around encouraging his fellow sailors to keep afloat
and not despair.
This Battle of Jutland in 1916 was a
stragetic victory for Britain since the German High Seas
Fleet never again attempted to engage the British
Fleet.
He was then transferred to HMS Ramillies and
remained on this vessel until demobbed.
Henry Taylor died in poor
circumstances at 68 Brierley Street ,
Chadderton. Most of his Cups, Medals and
memorabilia having to be
sold
meantime.
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