Jean GILBERT

Sheffield-born Jean Gilbert moved to the island of Jersey when she was three-years-of-age. Her father was a wholesale fruit merchant and was responsible for bringing down the price of fruit and vegetables across the island through his direct import means. Jean was one of eight children, all of whom were good swimmers or divers. A high-board diver, Jean used to dive with her wrists and arms bandaged to lessen the pain she felt when hitting the water from such a great height.

At the age of 14, in 1934, Gilbert won the Southern Counties Graceful Diving title in her first season of serious diving, and in the next three years won consecutive national titles. In 1935 she won the Amateur Diving Association platform title, and in 1936 and 1937, the ASA high-board title. She also made an appearance at the 1936 Olympics at the age of 16, finishing a creditable seventh in the platform event. Gilbert returned to Sheffield in 1938, and that year represented England in the British Empire Games at Sydney. Whilst on her way to Australia, she met her future husband, Graham Huxtable, a swimmer who was representing Wales. At the Games, Gilbert finished fourth in the platform competition.