Fred Baxter

Fred Baxter was an internationally renowned water polo referee and firmly upheld the true amateur belief of the sport. The highlight of his career was in taking charge of the 1908 Olympic final in which Great Britain beat Belgium 9-2.

Baxter became one of the greatest administrators in any sport in Britain at the turn of the 20th century. He was first elected onto the Northern Counties ASA executive committee in 1894 and shortly afterwards he served on the National ASA. From attending his first meeting until just two months before his death, Baxter never missed a single ASA council meeting in nearly 30 years. He was also secretary of the Lancashire County ASA for nearly 30 years and served on the executive committee of the Northern Counties ASA.

Baxter was taken ill in 1915 and spent two years away from work and water polo. He retired from the ASA committee in 1920 on health grounds after more than 24 years membership, but returned the following year and was re-elected. Baxter suffered a seizure while in Paris for the 1923 International Swimming Federation meeting. He never fully recovered and died in a private nursing home in Manchester the following May. Baxter worked in the family firm of D. Baxter and Sons, founded by his father in the 19th century. They were Mill Furnishers and Machine Strap Fastener manufacturers.