John Beavan (swimmer)

John Beavan
Personal information
NationalityBritish (Welsh)
Born1935 (age 89–90)
Newport, Wales
Sport
SportSwimming
Event
Breaststroke
ClubSparkhill SC
Maindee SC

John E. Beavan (born 1935) is a Welsh former swimmer who specialised in breaststroke and competed at the Commonwealth Games.

Biography

Beavan born in Newport worked as a draughtsman in Birmingham[1] and while based there swam for the Sparkhill Swimming Club.[2]

However, his main success came as a member of the Maindee Swimming Club of Newport and in March 1958 set a new Welsh record for 220 yards breaststroke after recording a time of 2 minutes 45.2 seconds.[3] He was selected by Great Britain for the match against Germany to celebrate the opening of the Wales Empire Pool.[4] He won the 200 metres breaststroke and was the stand out swimmer at the Wales versus Ireland international swimming gala in May 1958.[5]

He represented the Welsh team[6] at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales, where he reached the final of the 220 yards breaststroke[7] and helped Wales secure a sixth place finish in the final of the men's 110 yards medley relay with John Brockway, Bernard Newman and Richard Evans.[8]

Four years later, he represented the 1962 Welsh team[9] at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia,[10] where he participated in the 110 and 220 yards breaststroke events.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Exciting duel". Western Mail. 19 April 1958. p. 12. Retrieved 12 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ^ "Leamington Boy Breaks Swim Record". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 17 June 1957. p. 12. Retrieved 12 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ "New swim records". Western Mail. 10 March 1958. p. 9. Retrieved 12 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "Diana bids for first record". Daily Express. 28 March 1958. p. 16. Retrieved 12 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Beavan in Top form". Western Mail. 26 May 1958. p. 8. Retrieved 12 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Wales Cardiff 1958". Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Welshmen reach final of breaststroke event". Western Mail. 22 July 1958. p. 13. Retrieved 12 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ "The Welsh Swimming Team". Pontypridd Observer. 19 July 1958. p. 22. Retrieved 12 October 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Welsh team for Empire Games". Liverpool Daily Post (Welsh Edition). 16 August 1962. p. 10. Retrieved 23 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "The Family Affair". Daily Mirror. 16 August 1962. p. 19. Retrieved 23 November 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "Wales Perth 1962". Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
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