mr odger the swimming instructor
was born shortly after the war
he didn't quite make the olympics
and wanted to do something more
the baths finally made him an offer
"if you don't mind all the noise":
the use of a hot drinks dispenser
and access to twelve-year-old boys
some of whom met all the standards
of swimming for county and school
promising times on the stopwatch
blond hair and blue eyes and cool
but they could still do even better
if they improved their technique
maybe a few extra classes
a couple of hours each week?
they didn't quite make the olympics
they only made court no.6
it lasted just over a fortnight:
reasonable doubt, but mud sticks
in '78 he went freelance
and got well paid work with a gym
by this point he'd shaved off his moustache
but everyone knew it was him
