Edward Gaul

Water polo referee Edward Gaul was born in the Moston suburb of Manchester. He worked as a clerk in the city’s Town Hall from the age of 17 until his retirement 48 years later. He also had a long association with swimming and water polo in the north-west, Lancashire, and Manchester areas for more than 50 years.

Gaul was a former president of the Lancashire and Manchester Swimming Association and a life vice-president of the Northern Counties Swimming Association. Gaul was a Council member of the ASA for more than 30 years. He was a water polo and swimming referee and judge, and at the 1928 Olympics was a linesman in six water polo matches, including the final which saw Germany beat Hungary 8-2. During World War I Gaul was a sergeant in the 6th Battalion Manchester Territorial Force.