Ralph Clilverd

Ralph Clilverd was a highly rated member of the Cygnus Swimming Club and won many titles. As a member of the London City and Midland Bank (later just Midland Bank, and now HSBC), he won the 1909 London Banks ASA Championships at 100 yards freestyle. After joining the Honorable Artillery Company, he won the 110 yards championship of the London Territorials in 1910 but, sadly, an ear infection prevented him defending his title the following year. Apart from winning many Cygnus club titles, Clilverd also played water polo for them, and also played for Surrey and the Honorable Artillery water polo teams. Prior to the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, he concentrated on developing his running skills in preparation for the modern pentathlon.

Clilverd later served as a captain in the Royal Field Artillery and saw service abroad at Salonika and in 1917 was awarded the Military Cross. After the war he became manager of the Midland Bank in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.