André Van Beets

Upon moving to England from the Netherlands, Andre Van Beets swam for the Polytechnic Club before turning to water polo. A defender in the Polytechnic team, Beets was also a Middlesex county player, and went on to captain the side. He was also a Netherlands international.

Beets started refereeing and coaching in the 1930s and was elected president of the North-West London Water Polo League. He became president of the London Water Polo League in 1935, and in 1937 was appointed to the same position with the Middlesex county ASA. The following year he was one of the officials at the European Swimming Championships at the Empire Pool, Wembley, and was a goal judge in the Italy v France game at the 1948 London Olympics,

Beets became chairman of the Southern Counties ASA General Purposes Committee in 1953. He was also heavily involved with the Kingsbury Swimming Club, which he helped form before World War II. By profession, Beets was a shipping clerk.