John Beavan (swimmer)

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

John E. Beavan (born 1935) is a former Welsh 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 Wales again in the 110y, 220y breaststroke events at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

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.


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