Water Polo Mike

  A diving exhibition by Paul Radmilovic at the River Taff. Paulo Radmilovic is not just Wales' most successful Olympian. For 80 years he was also Britain's most successful until rower  Sir Steve Redgrave won a fifth gold medal  at the 2000 Games in Sydney. Born in Cardiff, Radmilovic was an excellent swimmer over all distances but it was as a water polo player that he reached full fame. Radmilovic appeared in five Olympics between 1908 and 1928, winning four gold medals including the first claimed by a Welshman. That came at the 1908 London Games when as part of the British water polo team, 'Raddy' scored two goals in the final in a 9-2 victory over Belgium. Radmilovic was then drafted into the 4x200 metres swimming relay team after another athlete withdrew through illness. The British four set a world record in the semi-finals before winning a thrilling final over Hungary, the United States and an Australasia team. The victorious 1908 Great Britain Team with George W ...

  Tributes paid to ‘inspiration’ Molly Reed A WESTON woman, who won the chance to represent Great Britain in the Olympic Games, has died at the age of 84. Members of Weston Swimming Club who had trials for the 1948 London Olympics, including Molly Reed, nee Tancock. Molly Reed, who was born and bred in the town, was the eldest daughter of James and Flora Tancock and together with her sister Jean and brother Jim, she was a key member of the famed Tancock swimming family. Despite showing great talent in classical dancing and singing from an early age Molly was a fine sportswoman and was captain of the netball and swimming teams at Weston Grammar School. She became a member of the Weston Swimming Club just before World War Two. Brother Jim, who described Molly as his ‘inspiration,’ said: “She became a star member of the club and it was no surprise that she went on to represent England and Great Britain because her technique was near to perfection.” Molly attended the European Games at...

Knightstone Island in 1806 Plan of Weston-super-Mare showing Knightstone Island in 1806 from The First Guide to Weston-super-Mare 1822, edited by Ernest Baker and reprinted in 1901. Knightstone Island was acquired by the Pigott family in 1696 (they later became the Smyth-Pigotts) and they owned it until the early 19th century. It was purchased in 1820 by Mr John Howe from Bristol. He constructed the first medicinal baths there, which were rented in 1822 by Benjamin Atwell. There were hot and cold saltwater baths, a lodging house, public refreshment rooms and a reading room. At that time the island was connected to the mainland by a natural pebble ridge, which was covered at high tide. Reverend Thomas Pruen bought Knightstone in 1824. He commissioned the construction of a causeway to the island, which was built above the high tide level, and a low pier, which was used by pleasure boats. He also built an open-air tidal swimming pool on the shore, which was replenished by seawater at...