Past and Present County Presidents
Karen Bowen has been a pillar of dedication, compassion, and excellence within the swimming community for many years. She has been a long-standing volunteer and cherished member of Team Bath AS. She has devoted countless hours to supporting the club’s athletes, coaches, and families. Her support is felt both on and off the poolside.
Karen began volunteering with Team Bath AS in 2013. Despite having no previous experience in swimming, she quickly became an integral part of the club. She took on key roles and oversaw vital operational areas such as pool bookings. She coordinated the club’s young volunteers programme and work experience placements. She facilitated clinics and away camps. She delivered Swim England (SE) initiatives including Talent Lanes and Talent Identification projects. Her leadership was instrumental in Team Bath AS being named SE Club of the Year in 2015.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Karen was named both SE South West (SW) Volunteer of the Year and SE National Volunteer of the Year in 2017. She received the Somerset ASA County Award in 2018. This was specifically for her exceptional work with Team Bath AS. From 2016 to 2019, she also served on the SE SW Region Club Development Committee.
Since 2022, Karen has continued to provide strategic leadership and day-to-day support to Team Bath AS. Notably, she partnered with SE Para-Swimming and secured funding. This funding will launch the Start Para programme in September 2024. It creates new opportunities for young disabled swimmers to access and progress through para-swimming pathways.
Further demonstrating her commitment to inclusion and community impact, Karen also led the development of a new swim programme. It was launched in September 2024 following the expansion of lane space at Dragonfly Leisure in Midsomer Norton. This broadened access for local swimmers.
Now serving as President of Somerset ASA, Karen brings a wealth of experience. She offers strategic insight and tireless passion. Her support benefits swimmers, volunteers, and clubs across the county.
| 1902 J S Walker | 1903 J S Walker | 1904 M Jones | ||
| 1905 J C Richardson | 1906 H H Newport | 1907 F W Wright | ||
| 1908 G Warne | 1909 G H Holway | 1910 J Rowsell | ||
| 1911 Dr L Meade-King | 1912 L W Carder | 1913 W H Weeks | ||
| 1914 A J Clare | 1915 N J Reynolds | 1916 – 1918 No Elections | ||
| 1919 H Collins | 1920 K Pople MC | 1921 F G Warwick | ||
| 1922 P Moffat | 1923 D Perry | 1924 P S Huggins | ||
| 1925 R G Jordan | 1926 T H Thould | 1927 P J Sutton | ||
| 1928 A E Meyer | 1929 H C Foote | 1930 F J Stone | ||
| 1931 F C Banwell | 1932 W E Maynard | 1933 T J Coles | ||
| 1934 Sir C Miles | 1935 Lt Col H C Metcalfe | 1936 L Lott | ||
| 1937 F Care | 1938 C J Young | 1939 G F Luttrell | ||
| 1940 – 1944 No Elections | 1945 C G Burrows | 1946 C G Burrows | ||
| 1947 Miss D Harrison | 1948 F Bennett | 1949 J C Hoyal | ||
| 1950 Ald W E Maynard | 1951 Mrs C M Mitchell | 1952 C Squire | ||
| 1953 G E Allen | 1954 G Newbury | 1955 L Mills | ||
| 1956 E K Williamson MBE | 1957 E D Lewis | 1958 A S Ralph | ||
| 1959 Supt. C S Ford | 1960 Ald W Couch | 1961 H E Hallett | ||
| 1962 Mrs A G Browne | 1963 Mrs E E Cookson | 1964 C/Supt H K James | ||
| 1965 D T O’Brien | 1966 S Bale | 1967 J Derrick | ||
| 1968 Miss J Davis | 1969 Mrs D J Vincent | 1970 T Elsom-Rhymes | ||
| 1971 Mrs P F Salter | 1972 R Bray | 1973 J Hamblett | ||
| 1974 Miss P Densum | 1975 R A E Blackburn | 1976 H H May | ||
| 1977 G Cutting QPM | 1978 M Heath | 1979 Mrs J Findlay | ||
| 1980 D V Toogood | 1981 G K Savory | 1982 A J Lyons | ||
| 1983 Mrs D J Vincent | 1984 G Hoyland | 1985 P Wilson-Chalon | ||
| 1986 B R Bewley | 1987 Mrs J Ford | 1988 R Harrison | ||
| 1989 R V Holman | 1990 J Hamblett | 1991 D White | ||
| 1992 D T O’Brien | 1993 T Jeal | 1994 Dr J M Cooper | ||
| 1995 Mrs A Reynolds | 1996 R Warren | 1997 Mrs G Lyons | ||
| 1998 G Lock | 1999 J Merritt | 2000 P Brake | ||
| 2001 U Ruutel | 2002 R Reed | 2003 Mrs R Johnson | ||
| 2004 Mrs B Cutting | 2005 Mrs S Dors | 2006 B G W Batley | ||
| 2007 Mrs K Savory | 2008 Miss S Pusill | 2009 A Withers | ||
| 2010 P Gonsalves | 2011 J Farrant | 2012 G Cockill | ||
| 2013 Mrs F Bowen | 2014 M G Coles | 2015 L Debenham | ||
| 2016 P Sartain | 2017 Mrs A Bashford | 2018 C Christmas | ||
| 2019 Mrs K Podbury | 2020 Mrs K Podbury | 2021 D Beament | ||
| 2022 N Chambers | 2023 N Purslow | 2024 P Chillingworth | ||
| 2025 Karen Bowen |