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The Keele Swans, Swanmasters, Swanmistresses - and a Cygnet!
Swans were an important part of the scenery at Keele from the beginning and the Swan Master and Swanmistress had an honorary and practical role in the Students' Union.
How the Swans came to Keele – and the Swanmaster came too
From the Introduction to the Swanmaster's Debate 1955 by President of the Students' Union Bill Hanna for the Inauguration of Keith Clement as Swanmaster:
"I feel that before the new Swanmaster is invested with the insignia of his office, I should very briefly trace the story that lies behind this ceremony. The office of Swanmaster is a non elective one; it lies in the gift of the President of the Union, and it is conferred for meritorious service. There is no reason why the office should not, if appropriate, be filled by a Swanmistress. I'm sure Mr. Clement will be glad to know that no sex bar attaches to his office.
In Coronation Year, Mr. Brian Dunning, who was then a member of this Union, originated the idea that the Union give a pair of swans to the College. He wrote to the Lord Chamberlain, who replied that Her Majesty was graciously pleased to give two swans to Keele. Mr. Dunning then got in touch with a Mr. Turk who held the post of Chief Swan Upper. Before Mr. Turk could be induced to part with two of his charges, he required an undertaking signed by a responsible person to the effect that the waters would be adequate for the accommodation of the birds:
Professor Gemmell gave the necessary guarantee, and at the end of the summer term two crated swans were delivered to Keele. At the beginning of the next term Mr. Dunning was made Swanmaster. His two bits of fluff settled down, and were apparently a very happy and loving pair, a circumstance which seemed to bode well for the future.
But unhappily in the spring term the female left. Appeals in the press produced more than eighty replies, letters, telegrams and phone calls from observers who had seen our swan. About half of them showed some idea of the direction taken, and these directions were plotted on a chart.
Eventually a swan was reported on a pool of dirty water near a slag heap in Stoke. The RSPCA were contracted and an inspector tried to capture the bird. After some trouble, Mr Dunning spotted an old man picking coal off the slag heap. He went over to him, explained the situation, and asked if the old man had, by any chance, a net on him. The old man replied, naturally enough, that he had, he took off his muffler, shook it out, and it was in fact a net. With this the swan was easily captured. On returning the net, Mr. Dunning asked the old man's name and was astonished to hear the reply, 'My name is Sneyd'. Everyone thought that this was a most happy coincidence. And so at first it was.
Though there was no positive proof of identity, the cob accepted his new mate, and the Swanmaster settled down to listen for the patter of tiny flippers. But no offspring appeared, no fluffy cygnets, not even on the higher purchase - you know - a little down. This was the state of affairs when Mr. Parry took office as Swanmaster. The following spring the good lady again departed. With the assistance of Mr. Derek Ellis and his Austin Seven, the Swanmaster recovered a female swan from a waterworks fourteen miles off. This swan was brought back to Keele and put on ice - the lake was frozen- but in addition to this fundamentally chilly aspect of her return, she encountered too, the dislike of the old cob, and was driven to a lower lake. The Swanmaster's constant attentions could not entice her to stay, and after two days she flew away. Mr. Parry and the Union were most upset, the Swanmaster contemplating suicide and the Union thinking of parricide. This is the background of the ceremony: older members can vouch for the truth of the story.
The Swans have captured the imagination of Keele; the swans have become a symbol and an emblem. It is most fitting therefore that the occasion of the inauguration of the Swanmaster is a solemn ceremony.
Assured by Bill Hanna (1957) and Pauline Hanna (Jones) (1959): "probably better heard than read"
More on Swanmasters
The first person to hold the high office of Swanmaster was Tom Parry in 1954. A year later I took over and in 1956 I handed over to Peter Young. The investiture was carried out with unbelievable pomp and jargon and involved insignia and gowns and solemn undertakings. In those early days we never lost an opportunity to invent tradition. After the ceremony there was a debate. Debates in the fifties were very popular and I believe the standard was high although memory may be deceiving me. The duties of the swanmaster merely involved keeping an eye on them - there were two on the top lake. If the water froze, attempts were made to break it up so they could swim. Bread was occasionally thrown. They were bad tempered creatures so I largely kept my distance. But in my year of office there was a moment of high drama. One of the swans was found dead several fields away. There was no explanation. I had to remove the corpse and bury it. We then decided to apply for a replacement. This meant a letter to the Lord Chamberlain since, of course, swans belong to the Queen. After protracted negotiations, a new swan in a wooden crate arrived at Stoke Station. I got it up to Lakeside and introduced it to its new environment. The solitary incumbent was not friendly towards the newcomer for a long time but I think they eventually lived together in harmony. We never did find out the sex of either of them which was probably the problem. Keith Clement (1956).
In my years 1955-59 Denis Delay was a Swanmaster - a mature student who was colourful to say the least. He was a dockers’ union man and was well loved by all who knew him Another was Sheila Everard - I think in 1957-61 or 62 and another well-loved character. Dot Bell (Pitman) (1959)
There were four swans on the lakes in 1959. I went out to feed `em every morning. Sundays it may have been afternoon. One of the groundsmen (Alfred) fed them during the vacs. I have a picture of one of the swans and yours truly in spring 1960. He was a big fiery old male. He was a handful and we had to call the RSPCA once or twice because he attacked the others, and in one case broke one of their wings. There is a story that one of the swans was killed as a result of a magic session! A swan was killed during my time as Swan Master, but I can’t remember the details . I also have a photo of me in Swanmaster’s regalia - my Mother who thought I looked quite smart. I think she used it to impress friends with how brainy I was. Ticker Hayhurst (1960)
The traditional investiture of the Swanmaster certainly continued. The Union Constitution which operated in a newly-revised form between 1965 and at least 1968 included a separate section concerning the appointment by the Union President of the Swanmaster or Swanmistress, who was to be "guardian of the Keele swans and all the wild life of the Keele waterways". I have the Union Handbook for 1967-68, in which Sam Nolutshungu advertised the forthcoming Swanmaster's Debate, including the traditional ceremony (handbooks for previous years similarly refer to it). Whether this actually happened in that 
turbulent year, I don't recall amidst all the memories of sit-ins, occupations and strikes. But I would be most surprised if Sam had failed to pull it off. Perhaps 1967-68 was the last gasp, however. In the 1969-70 Handbook the incoming Debates Union President, Len Statham, describes the previous year as "dismal and pathetic"; and while he obviously hopes that the DU will rise "phoenix like ... from the ashes" he displays some uncertainty about whether it will be able to overcome both "apathy" and "the attacks of those who see it as just another inept manifestation of bourgeois irrelevance". Significantly, no further mention is made of the swans or their Master (who would no doubt have all been relegated to the latter category). Whether and for how long the tradition continued is perhaps a matter which should be referred to the adjudication of the wider clientele of the general alumni list! I have a vague recollection that sometime in the mid-1960's the swans disappeared from the campus, to much consternation, and were eventually found practising low-flying and take-off and landing techniques on the freshly laid tarmac of the as-yet unopened M6. But perhaps this is merely a fancy of the memory. Bill Proctor (1968)
More on the Swans
Much sorrow has been expressed about the absence of swans from Keele. They were definitely not eaten, not even during 1950's rationing - although such a rumour was circulated. Nor were they were subjected to any kind of Quatermass-type chemical experiment. There have been no swans at Keele for many, many years. Presumably the ponds have ceased to provide the food and habitat that swans need to sustain their residence and they just took sorrowful flight one day. Others have suggested that the lakes never had enough take-off and landing space for these majestic creatures. According to one report, it was decided around 1980 that the swans should be moved to the Madeley Pool - there are definitely swans there still and living in a most picturesque setting - but I don't whether that was done or even could be done. Dave Emley (Keele staff)
There was a Shakespeare production, The Tempest I think, on the natural apron at the edge of the lake. After many rehearsals, two Keele swans were trained to swim across the lake behind Ceres' barge. They followed her ashore and (not intended in the production) proceeded to copulate. Performance stopped until they stopped. Many of the invited Potteries dignitaries assumed it was a tasteless undergraduate joke about the bounty of Ceres. Geoff Little (1954)
I've got no recollection of how I got volunteered for the job, but in 1976 or 1977 I helped bring back a swan to the lakes, for a short while at least. Along with one of the SU committee (perhaps it was Paul Clark, later an MP), the two of us went to Madeley to collect a swan from the lake in the middle of the village. Not driving at the time, I had the job of holding the bird and keeping it quiet in the back of the Union minibus and then releasing it on to the top lake nearest Keele Hall. I never realised how big and strong swans actually are, but trying to keep one still for a 10-15 minute journey was not easy. I think it was meant to be a partner for the other swan. As far as I remember it was there for over a year before the swans disappeared. Paul Frost (1979)
(Photo: Chris Reiss 1964 with porter Charley Wainwright)
The following three swan photos were provided by John Myatt (1957) and date from1954 and the winter of 1956.
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The Swan Tie
Briefly, the Swanmaster was chosen by the President of the Union and was usually someone who had contributed to the life of the Union. The Swanmaster's tie was originally worn by the Swanmaster, the President of the Union and (we think) the Union Committee. We have retrieved Bill’s tie from the back of the wardrobe, it is navy blue, with small silver swans facing to the right. As Vice President I was given a small broach with a swan on it by Mrs.Blake (wife of Professor John Blake, acting Principal) who felt that women should not be ignored! Bill Hanna (1957) and Pauline Hanna (Jones) (1959)
As for the Swan tie - I think originally only the Swanmaster had the right to wear it. I lost mine long ago. I was last lakeside at the end of May. There was a wedding party on the terrace and a messy barbecue by the lake. No swans and no water really. It is hard not to be grumpy. Keith Clement (1956)
A high-quality silk version of the Swan tie - black with red and gold stripes and a repeated white swan motif - is available for sale from the Alumni Office.
Future Swans?
Much sorrow has been expressed about the absence of swans. There have been no swans at Keele for many years. Gradually the lakes nearest to Keele hall have silted up or drained away and have become overgrown and shallow. Apparently the original means of water catchments and drainage have become ineffective and much of the original water management infrastructure is deteriorating. However, plans are afoot through the Keele Key Fund for a glorious resurrection of the lakes and the surrounding historic features - and maybe even a swan or two? John Easom (1981), Alumni Officer
The four photos below are from 1980 by Paul Frost (1979):
Did you enjoy this? Why not read more stories from the Keele Oral History Project?
