Bob Leivers
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Thomas Hanford Leivers (27 December 1914 – 28 August 1964) was an English
freestyle
swimmer
who competed for Great Britain
in the 1932 Summer Olympics
and in the 1936 Summer Olympics
.
He was born in Nottingham
and died in Chelsea, London
.
In 1932 he finished fifth with the British relay team in the 4×200 metre freestyle relay event
. He also participated in the 400 metre freestyle competition
was eliminated in the first round.
Four years later he was a member of the British relay team which finished sixth in the 4×200 metre freestyle relay contest
. He also finished sixth in the 1500 metre freestyle event
and seventh in the 400 metre freestyle competition
.
At the British Empire Games in 1934 he won a silver medal as part of the English team in the 2×220 yards relay race. In 1938 he won the 1500 yards contest and finished second in the 400 yards event and as member of the English relay team he won his second gold medal.
During his athletic years he was famous for his friendly rivelry with fellow Potteries
swimmer Norman Wainwright
; they both trained at Longton
Swimming Baths, which have now been demolished.
Bob lived in Stoke-on-Trent
, Staffordshire
where he ran the family business, Leivers Butchers with shops in Longton, Staffordshire
and Meir, Staffordshire
. He married Winifred May Leivers (née Degg) and fathered two children; Patricia Ann McLaughlin (née Leivers) and Robert Thomas Hanford Leivers.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
swimmer
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
who competed for Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
and in the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
.
He was born in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and died in Chelsea, London
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
.
In 1932 he finished fifth with the British relay team in the 4×200 metre freestyle relay event
Swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay
The men's 4x200 metre freestyle relay was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics programme. It was the sixth appearance of the event, which was established in 1908...
. He also participated in the 400 metre freestyle competition
Swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metre freestyle
The men's 400 metre freestyle was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics programme. It was the sixth appearance of the event, which was established in 1908...
was eliminated in the first round.
Four years later he was a member of the British relay team which finished sixth in the 4×200 metre freestyle relay contest
Swimming at the 1936 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay
The men's 4x200 metre freestyle relay was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1936 Summer Olympics programme. It was the seventh appearance of the event, which was established in 1908. The competition was held on Monday, August 10, 1936 and on Tuesday, August 11, 1936.The United...
. He also finished sixth in the 1500 metre freestyle event
Swimming at the 1936 Summer Olympics - Men's 1500 metre freestyle
The men's 1500 metre freestyle was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1936 Summer Olympics programme. It was the seventh appearance of the event, which was established in 1908...
and seventh in the 400 metre freestyle competition
Swimming at the 1936 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 metre freestyle
The men's 400 metre freestyle was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1936 Summer Olympics programme. It was the seventh appearance of the event, which was established in 1908...
.
At the British Empire Games in 1934 he won a silver medal as part of the English team in the 2×220 yards relay race. In 1938 he won the 1500 yards contest and finished second in the 400 yards event and as member of the English relay team he won his second gold medal.
During his athletic years he was famous for his friendly rivelry with fellow Potteries
Potteries
Potteries may refer to:* Pottery, or pottery manufacturing* The Stoke-on-Trent area, known as the Staffordshire Potteries after its once-important ceramics industry...
swimmer Norman Wainwright
Norman Wainwright
Norman Wainwright was an English freestyle and backstroke swimmer who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics, in the 1936 Summer Olympics, and in the 1948 Summer Olympics....
; they both trained at Longton
Longton, Staffordshire
Longton is a southern district of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, and is known locally as the "Neck End" of the city. Longton is one of the six towns of "the Potteries" which formed the City of Stoke-on-Trent in 1925.-History:...
Swimming Baths, which have now been demolished.
Bob lived in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
where he ran the family business, Leivers Butchers with shops in Longton, Staffordshire
Longton, Staffordshire
Longton is a southern district of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, and is known locally as the "Neck End" of the city. Longton is one of the six towns of "the Potteries" which formed the City of Stoke-on-Trent in 1925.-History:...
and Meir, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. He married Winifred May Leivers (née Degg) and fathered two children; Patricia Ann McLaughlin (née Leivers) and Robert Thomas Hanford Leivers.