Who’s Who: Coaches, Captains, Committee

Senior Coaches and Captains

Danny Bunn

Danny Bunn

Chairman, Squad Coach, Masters Coach, Open Water Coach (2019 London Region Open Water Head Coach)

Danny became Chairman in 2017 but has been involved in the club since he was 9 years old. He was an active competitor from age 10-16, and started swimming for the masters at 23.

He has been coaching at the club since 1993, officially qualifying while his children were squad swimmers. He now holds Teaching, Coaching and Open Water Coaching qualifications.

He still competes with the masters, and is very active in Open Water events. He swam Lake Windermere in 2018 and was appointed London Region Open Water Head Coach by London Swim England for 2019 and 2020.

Duncan MacLaurin

Duncan MacLaurin

Head Coach

Duncan joined HSC back in the mid ’80s when he was 7 years old. He trained with and competed for HSC through all the age-groups, through his university years and beyond.

At 22 he started coaching, gained his qualifications and gradually became more of a coach than a competitor. Now he’s our Head Coach and the current squad hugely benefit from his wealth of experience.

Alison Rothon

Alison Rothon

Head Teacher and Club Championship Secretary

Alison was a competitive swimmer up until the age of 17. Alison now coaches our younger swimmers and is Team Manager for our junior swimmers. Alison trains with the master’s team and enjoys Open Water swimming.

Alison’s daughter also swims for the club.

Max

Max

Club Captain, Level 1 & 2 Swimming Teacher, Lifeguard

Max joined the cllub when he was 9 and progressed through the groups.

He is now a qualified coach and Club Captain

Poppy

Poppy

Club Captain, Level 1 Swimming Teacher

Poppy joined HSC at the age of 8. She actively competes at galas and achieves Essex qualifying times.

She qualified as a level 1 coach when she turned 16 and coaches our junior swimmers on a Friday night.

Friday Coaching Team

Jamie

Jamie

Level 1 Swimming Teacher

Jamie joined the club when she was 8 years old and worked her way up the lanes.

She started coaching on a Friday night when she turned 14. She qualified as a Level 1 Swimming Teacher when she turned 16.  She’s taking her level 2 qualification in March 2026.

Jess

Jess

Vice Captain, Assistant Coach

Jess joined HSC in the Learn to Swim program and now represents the club at galas, she has achieved Essex Qualifying times.

Jess coaches our junior swimmers on a Friday night.

Daniel J

Daniel J

Vice Captain, Assistant Coach

Daniel joined HSC at the age of 8 and coaches our junior swimmers on a Friday night. Daniel represents HSC at galas and has achieved Essex qualifying times.

Darcy

Darcy

Assistant Coach

Darcy joined the club when she was 8 years old and starting qualfying for Essex finals as soon as she was old enough.

She now coaches our younger swimmers on a Friday night.

Here’s a quote from Danny Bunn from Nov 2025, when Darcy was 15:

“Something very special happened at the club today. Darcy Ford swam 1,500m (60 lengths) in 20 mins 5 secs, thereby qualifying for the county champs.

More than that, Darcy has now qualified for ALL 17 events she can swim at county champs.

This is a mind boggling achievement and has NEVER been done by anybody at HSC. Ever.

The demands of the 50 fly compared to the 400IM and the 1500 free are so disparate it makes it really difficult to swim that fast across all three events.

However impressive you think this is, multiply it by at least 10. It really is that big a deal.

Many congratulations Darcy. Talent, dedication and club support got her there. You deserve this moment.”

Noah

Noah

Assistant Coach

Noah joined the club when he was 8 years old and worked his way up the lanes. He represents the club at galas and has achieved Essex qualifying times. 

He now coaches our younger swimmers on a Friday night.

 

Lyra

Lyra

Assistant Coach

Lyra joined the club when he was 10 years old. She swims for fitness on a Friday night – a popular option with club teenagers who no longer want to give up their weekends to galas.  

She coaches our younger swimmers on a Friday night.

 

Daniel H

Daniel H

Level 1 & 2 Swimming Teacher

Daniel has been swimming since 2015, training and competing regularly. He competed in the Essex championship finals in 2020 and 2021.

Daniel started volunteering as assistant coach in 2018 and is now a Level 2 qualified swimming teacher.

He’s finished university, but coaches when he’s able to.

Louise

Louise

Level 1 Swimming Teacher

Louise started swimming with HSC when she was 11 years old. At 14 she started helping out with our younger swimmers on a Friday night. She qualified for the Essex championships in 2022.
When she was 16 she qualified as a Level 1 Swimming Teacher.

She is away at university, but coaches when she is home for the holidays.

 

Committee

James Hall

James Hall

Treasurer

Frequently found manning the welcome desk on a Friday evening at Harrow Lodge pool, James may well be the first member of the HSC team you talk to. 

James became treasurer in 2017 but has been involved in the club since his daughter joined in 2011. His wife has also been a committee member, and his son still trains and swims for us in the Leagues.

James also swims with the masters as part of his triathlon training. He has represented Great Britain in the masters triathlon and travels overseas for the big events.

Frank Gold

Frank Gold

Club Secretary, Competition Secretary

Frank first got involved at HSC in 1987 when his daughter joined the club. His son followed in ’90, his wife joined the committee in ’92 and by 2000 he was on the committee himself. Now he’s responsible for a lot of the behind-the-scenes organisation and documentation and that keeps the club running smoothly.

If you email the club about membership, it will likely be Frank who gets back to you to arrange a trial. When you arrive on your first Friday evening, you’ll look for Frank at our club table.

Frank is club secretary and runs our gala entries. He keeps track of all our swimmers’ times and selects the gala teams.

He’s also secretary of the Essex Mini League.

 

Paul Trayler

Paul Trayler

Welfare Officer

Paul joined the Club in 1970 over 55 years ago!

He had a holiday at Killerwhales from 1976 but became our first returned in 1978 and has been here ever since!

“My role as Welfare Officer is essential in providing a first point of contact for children, parents and adults within the club who have a child or adult safeguarding or welfare concern. I review and Implement Wavepower Swim England’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures and make sure all the Adults DBS are kept up to date.”

If you have any concerns about your child’s welfare, or the welfare of any member of the club, please get in touch with Paul.

In accordance with Swim England regulations, our Welfare Officer is not involved in coaching or any poolside activity. Any conversations will be treated in the strictest confidence. Safeguarding our members is the Welfare Officer’s primary concern.

 

Anna Scott

Anna Scott

Membership Secretary

Anna looks after the day-to-day registration and membership of all club members, ensuring all details are recorded correctly with Swim England.

Anna has 2 sons that swim and compete for the club.

Alison Rothon, Michelle O’Connell, Nicola Ford & Nicola Tomlin

Alison Rothon, Michelle O’Connell, Nicola Ford & Nicola Tomlin

Club Championships Team!

We run Club Championship galas throughout the year. The Club Champs Team put the events together.
If you have any questions, you can find them on the balcony at most of our training sessions – they all have children who swim for the club.

Club History

Hornchurch swimming club was established back in 1956 – and some of our original members are still involved today. 

That’s a recurring theme here – members who stay involved well beyond their youth. We have current parents who swam for HSC as children and most of our coaches have come up through the club.

Associations

The club has close links with Ludwigshafener Schwimmverein 07 (LSV07), a club in our twin town in Germany.

The club is affiliated to Swim EnglandASA London Region, and Essex County ASA.

Club Rules

The current club constitution is defined in the club rules document.

All members are affiliated to the ASA.  Basic details can be checked here.