Magowan Swimming Gala
Article written by Mr Barnett, Teacher of PE
The annual Magowan Gala is always the most keenly anticipated event in the Westholme Prep sporting calendar. It is a swimming gala between Westholme and Stonyhurst, held in the memory of William Magowan who was a pupil of both schools.
William left Westholme at the end of Year 6 (in the days of Westholme seniors being only girls) and joined Stonyhurst in Year 7. Very sadly, William passed away due to an asthma attack in October 2009. Hi big passion was swimming and the sports departments from both schools in 2010 felt that a way to honour his memory would be an annual swimming gala. The current sports departments at both schools are keen to continue to this tradition.
And so it was that we met at the Stonyhurst pool on the 13th March, close to the date of William’s birthday. The gala alternates each year between the two schools. One highlights of the gala is that Willaim’s parents and grandmother attend every year. Before the gala, William’s portrait is displayed for all the children to see and a speech is made about his life and what the Magowan gala means to both the schools so that each year the new generation can appreciate his legacy.
The gala is friendly but competitive. This year Westholme dominated the races to win the coveted trophy, which will now reside in the prep trophy cabinet for another year. However, it is about so much more than winning. The children mixed at the end, gave three very loud cheers for each other and one for William. Mrs Magowan then handed out memorial wristbands to all the children with the whispered promise that they were allowed to wear them in school the next day.
What do we take away from it? Well, new friends were made between the two schools and William’s memory continues to be honoured.
The date for next year’s gala is already in the calendar- Thursday 12th March 2026 in the Westholme pool.
