William Beattie

William Beattie held many respected posts within the swimming world. A member of the Salford SC, he became president of the Lancashire County Water Polo Association and was the inaugural president of the Northern Water Polo League formed in 1908. At the time of his death in 1913, Beattie was secretary of the Manchester & District Swimming and Water Polo Association.

An international referee, Beattie officiated at most of the leading games in Britain and at the 1908 London Olympics he was in charge of the silver and bronze medal match between Belgium and Sweden. After leaving school at the age of 13, Beattie worked for the Manchester wholesale chemists Wooley, Sons and Company and was still with them at the time of his death 32 years later.