Cyril Parkin

Cyril Parkin was the son of a schoolteacher but chose to be a chartered surveyor as his profession. Hailing from north London, he joined the Willesden Swimming Club as a youngster and spent more than 30 years with them as a swimmer, diver, water polo player, organiser, timekeeper, judge and referee. Parkin was the one-time holder of the Willesden club’s 880 yards record and in 1934 was their plunging champion. He was still competing in veteran’s races in his mid-40s.

Parkin was also a former secretary, treasurer and president of the club. Additionally, he served as president of the Middlesex ASA, Southern Counties ASA, and the national ASA. Parkin turned to refereeing in the 1930s, and at the 1948 London Olympics was a goal judge in Argentina’s group game against Greece. In 1965 he was responsible for organising a European Water Polo competition at Crystal Palace.