Addin Tyldesley

The son of a local councillor, Addin Tyldesley was one of five members of the famous Tyldesley swimming family who were an intimate part of the Tyldesley Swimming and Water Polo Club near Manchester at the turn of the 20th century. Addin played for the water polo team for 18 consecutive seasons, and in 1908 had the distinction of becoming the first Tyldesley member to compete at the Olympic Games. He reached the semi-final of the 100 freestyle, before losing his heat won by the eventual champion, Charlie Daniels of the USA. It would be 68 years before another Tyldesley member competed at the Olympics, when Duncan Cleworth took part at Montréal in 1976.

Addin Tyldesley never won an ASA title, but finished second to Rob Derbyshire in the 100 yards free in 1901. That same year, Derbyshire also beat Tyldesley into second place in the Northern 100. Tyldesley started work at the Tyldesley Council Clerk’s office before moving to Northamptonshire in 1910 where he spent 36 years as Clerk at the Rothwell Urban District Council, until his retirement in 1946. After moving to Northamptonshire, he joined the Leicester Swimming Club and added Midlands titles to his collection of silverware. Tyldesley served with the Northamptonshire Volunteer Regiment during World War I.