Jane Fletcher, [Jennie] (1890–1968), swimmer and Olympic title holder

Abstract

Fletcher, Jane [Jennie] (1890–1968), swimmer, was born at 46 Checkett's Road, Belgrave, Leicester, on 19 March 1890, the fourth daughter of John Frederick Fletcher, shoe riveter and later fishmonger, and his wife, Emily, née Wilkinson. Known as Jennie, she was one of eleven children, of whom nine survived into adulthood. They helped out at their father's stall in Leicester's fishmarket before going to school or work. She learned to swim and won her first medal aged eleven while a pupil at Mellor Street school, Leicester; the school's girls' team won the Leicester Schools Swimming Association championship in 1903. At the Stockholm Olympic Games of 1912 Fletcher won an individual bronze medal in the 100 metres freestyle event, and thus Britain's first individual Olympic female swimming medal. On 15 July 1912 Fletcher was a member of the Great Britain gold-medal winning team in the ladies 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay, whose other members were Isabella [Bella, Belle] Moore, Annie Speirs, and Irene Steer