Wall of Honour

Our online Wall of Honour celebrates and remembers all of our current and past Presidents, as well as the holders of some of our most prestigious awards.

STA is proud of its history and traditions that date back over 90 years; this includes a long line of Presidents and Member Awards, which all have a historical connection with the original founders of the STA in 1932. Our online Wall of Honour celebrates and remembers all of our current and past Presidents, as well as the holders of some of our most prestigious awards.


STA President

The STA President is responsible for leading the board; ensuring the smooth running of board meetings; promoting good governing among fellow charity trustees; providing support to the CEO and acting as a figurehead or spokesperson when required. The President also acts as Chairperson of the board, ensuring that matters being considered are of a strategic nature rather than an operational nature. They need to be aware of the longer-term plans of the charity and to ensure they align with the charity objectives.

Current President: Ali Beckman

On Aliโ€™s appointment in October 2021, Dave Candler, STAโ€™s CEO, said: โ€œAli has been a fantastic STA Trustee for three years now, and over the years she has supported STA in so many different ways โ€“ and what she doesnโ€™t know about baby swimming, as a Director at Puddle Ducks, is not worth writing about! She is fully deserving of this new position and Iโ€™m really looking forward to working with Ali as our new STA President.โ€

  • See Past Presidents โžค

    1932โ€“45: F A UNWIN ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1946: R EAGLE ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1947โ€“49: W H DOWNING ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1950: R A LAXTON ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1951: R H BRICKETT ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1952: A H OWEN ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1953: H G BROOK ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1954: G A LAXTON ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1955: T BANNISTER ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1956: D M M HOUSE ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1957: H G BROOK ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1958: G RACKHAM ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1959: R GARDNER ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1960: R H BRICKETT ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1961: T R POCKLINGTON ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1962: A S SMITH ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1963: H MUSTOW ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1964: R H BRICKETT ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1965: R CLEMENTS ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1966: K LYONS ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1967: G RACKHAM ( ๐Ÿ“ท )

    1968-69: M COYNE ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1970: H CARTER ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1971: G RACKHAM ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1972: C B HASTE ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1973: R GARDNER ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1974: H K BATES ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1975: D L BRAILSFORD ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1976: E WHITEHOUSE ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1977: G PANCOTT ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1978: P DAWE ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1979: J WATSON ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1980: J T WILLCOCK ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1981: F J STARKEY ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1982: C B HASTE ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1983: J STEVENS-KING ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1984: B C LITHERLAND ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1985: P DAWE ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1986: P R STEVENS-KING ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1987: E H ELTON ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1988: J LESTRANGE ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1989: M C L ROBINSON ( ๐Ÿ“ท )

    1990: B C LITERLAND ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1991: C BANNERMAN ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1992: A W HARVEY ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1993: V B A LAWRENCE ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1994: E J GROUNDS ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1995: J LESTRANGE ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1996: M C L ROBINSON ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1997: W ROBINSON ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1998: R STAPLEFORD ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1999: J RANDOLPH ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2000: P HUNT ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2001: D PATTERSON ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2002: I JOYCE ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2003-04: H HALL ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2005: R AYTON ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2006: D GLADDEN ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2007-15: D CANDLER ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2016-17: R TIMMS ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2018-20: D LEWIS ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2021-PRESENT: A BECKMAN ( ๐Ÿ“ท )

IFSTA President

The President is responsible for leading the IFSTA board and upholding good governance with the associationโ€™s member countries. The role also involves providing support to the CEO and acting as a figurehead or spokesperson when required. The President also acts as Chairperson of the board, ensuring that matters being considered align with the charityโ€™s objectives.

Current President: Lesley Donovan

Leslie Donavan is President and CEO of the Starfish Aquatics Institute based in the USA. Leslie received a degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin/Madison and her law degree from Northwestern University School of Law. She practiced corporate and commercial law for many years.

Drowning prevention is her passion and Leslie has taken the SAI mission of ‘Saving Lives, One at a Time’ around the world over the past decade. In addition to helping create the pilot project for USA Swimming’s Make a Splash initiative, SAI has worked to create water safety programs that are accessible to everyone under Leslie’s leadership. Leslie’s efforts were recognized by Aquatics International in 2018 when she was named as a Power Award winner.

  • See Past Presidents โžค

    1977 โ€“ 1983: H K BATES F.S.T.A
    1983 โ€“ 1989: JAN D STEVENS-KING F.S.T.A
    1989 โ€“ 1996: M MOREAU F.N.M.N.S
    1996 โ€“ 2010: LEE ROBINSON F.S.T.A

    2010 โ€“ 2012: P CHAN
    2012 โ€“ 2014: J LAWLOR
    2014 โ€“ 2016: P HOLMEN
    2016 โ€“ 2017: D SPEECHLEY

    2017 โ€“ 2021: B WARD ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2021 – PRESENT: L DONAVAN ( ๐Ÿ“ท )

Henry Pike Award

This is named in honour of Sir Henry Pike who played a crucial role in the early days of the STA as Honorary Secretary, and is awarded to someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the STA over the last 12 months.

Current Holder: Emma Holden

The 2023 recipient of this award is Emma Holden. Emma has been incredibly supportive, positive and a true ambassador for the STA. More recently she also became a Baby Swimming diploma tutor, and is a welcome member of STAโ€™s focus group. She has also committed so much of her time this year to create and deliver a host of free Aquatic Roleplay workshop webinars for STA.

  • See Past Holders โžค

    1957: R A LAXTON
    1958: R SCHOLEY
    1959: L W BARTER
    1960: H G BROOK
    1961: R SCHOLEY
    1962: D M M HOUSE
    1963: R H BRICKETT
    1964: T BANNISTER
    1965: W MORRISON
    1966: R A CLEMENTS
    1967: K C LYONS
    1968: A S SMITH
    1969: M COYNE
    1970: T R POCKLINGTON
    1971: G W RACKHAM
    1972: A H OWEN
    1973: C B HASTE
    1974: E WHITEHOUSE

    1975: M L PALMER
    1976: H K BATES
    1977: S BAKER
    1978: H K BATES
    1979: S BAKER
    1980: W E DUANE
    1981: J D GURNEY
    1982: R A HEATH
    1983: F J STARKEY
    1984: A H PARISH
    1985: J G RANBY
    1986: M GRASSICK
    1987: J STEVENS-KING
    1988: F H WAY
    1989: M KENWORTHY
    1990: G I TOWNSEND
    1992: J LANYON
    1993: J OLIVER

    1995: M SAUNDERS
    1996: I WILLIAMS
    1997: D COSSUM
    1998: G W SEGHERS ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    1999: J HANLEY
    2000: B WILLIAMSON
    2001: S BITMEAD
    2002: H BRADBURY
    2003: D GLADDEN ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2004: N SIDWELL ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2005: S BROWN
    2006: Y KOWAL ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2007: J GREENHILL
    2008: D SPURLE ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2011: T BEX-ELMER
    2013: T GRIFFIN ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2022: S WHITEHEAD
    2023: E HOLDEN ( ๐Ÿ“ท )

Cross of Merit

This is awarded by STAโ€™s Trustees to a member who has provided a long and fulfilled service to STA and to the world of swimming in general.

Current Holder: Dave Bushen (posthumously)

The 2023 award was awarded posthumously to Dave Bushen, and was received by Mel Davies who paid homage to her long-time business partner and friend on behalf of the family.

  • See Past Holders โžค

    1972: G W RACKHAM
    1973: Dr H BAKER
    1973: I O MORGAN
    1974: M COYNE
    1974: P DAWE
    1974: A H PARISH
    1976: D L BRAILSFORD
    1976: K C LYONS
    1976: A S SMITH
    1977: D M M HOUSE
    1978: M BATES
    1978: H FAIRFAX
    1978: R HEATH
    1978: J SOMERFIELD
    1979: A H OWEN
    1982: S BARRIE
    1982: I V OLDMAN
    1983: H K BATES

    1984: G PANCOTT
    1985: M L PALMER
    1987: J LANYON
    1987: F J STARKEY
    1988: W E DUANE
    1988: M GRASSICK
    1989: K M BRAILSFORD
    1989: R L HUTTON
    1990: J D STEVENS-KING
    1990: MA J A WILLCOCK
    1990: J T WILLCOCK
    1991: J RANBY
    1995: B H ELTON
    1996: B LITHERLAND
    1997: C BANNERMAN
    1997: M I McCULLOUGH
    1998: C FORDHAM

    1999: F WAY
    1999: C B HASTE
    2000: R HALL
    2000: V JONES
    2001: W ROBINSON ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2002: J BUNDAY
    2003: S BITMEAD
    2004: J Oโ€™SULLIVAN
    2005: P HUNT
    2006: L JONES
    2007: J RANDOLPH ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2008: M JENKINS ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2011: D BALE ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2012: R GOODMAN ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2014: R PHILLIPS ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2017: P COLEMAN ( ๐Ÿ“ท )
    2023: D BUSHEN (posthumously) ( ๐Ÿ“ท )

Ross Eagle Award

This award was created by STA last year for its 90th anniversary in celebration of Mr Ross Eagle, who is recognised as the actual founder of the Association. The award represents his pioneering vision and his dogged determination to improve swimming at a time when he faced such opposition, and is awarded to an individual who has gone above and beyond for swimming during their career โ€“ someone who has been determined in their efforts and made a real difference to grassroots swimming, be it in their local community or on a larger scale nationally or internationally.

Current Holder: Lisa Bousted

The 2023 recipient is Lisa Bousted, who has been teaching swimming for a quarter of a decade, is an STA tutor and Train the Tutor. Lisa has trained hundreds of teachers over the course of her career and continues to work tirelessly to support other swim schools. Lisa is also an amazing ambassador for STA and has travelled all over the world to make a difference in grassroots swimming โ€“ notably in China where she helped build links between China and the STA.