Brian Barnes

The son of a Preston pawnbroker’s shop manager, Brian Barnes finished third in the 1951 ASA 200 yards breaststroke final and the following year was the only British representative in the 200 metres at the Helsinki Olympics. Unfortunately, he failed to qualify for the semi-finals. Barnes was just 18 at the time and, upon his return from the Games, finished second to Peter Jervis in the ASA 200 at Hove.

The following year Barnes, a Lancashire county swimmer, won his only senior ASA title when he captured the 220 yards butterfly title at Blackpool, beating the vastly experienced Jack Hale. Barnes was in the Royal Air Force (RAF) at the time, doing his two years National Service. After his demobilisation from the RAF he joined the Preston Borough Police.