The Brighton Ladies Water Polo team

Originally known as Brighton Ladies Swimming Club, the Club was founded on December 2nd 1891 by thirteen ladies who met at 25 Old Steine, Brighton.Headquarters for the new Club were established at Brills Baths which was then on the site of the present ABC Cinema in Pool Valley. The first race meeting was at the pool in March 1892. Headquarters for the new Club were established at Brills Baths which was then on the site of the present ABC Cinema in Pool Valley. The first race meeting was at the pool in March 1892. In 1893, a lease at 10/6d. (52p) p.a. was taken on 86 Kings Road Arches, the Club later moved their Headquarters to 124 Kings Road Arches. Before the turn of the century the Club took part in exchange visits with Clubs in Eastbourne, Worthing, Burgess Hill and Tunbridge Wells. In 1902 the first water polo match was played against Swansea Ladies. The junior section was formed in 1906.The Club remained at Kings Road Arches until the out break of World War II when the site was commandeered by the military. Unfortunately none of the Club’s records were recovered. In 1948 Jean Caplin, whose coach was Maudie Ottaway (pictured, far left, twenty years earlier), was selected from the Club to represent Great Britain at the Olympics.During this period the Club’s water polo team were very successful, winning the Grose Cup twice and travelling in 1953 to Gouda, Holland for competition. Until 1953 the Club held joint training evenings with Brighton Swimming Club and later started two evenings a week on their own whilst still combining with B.S.C. to form a strong team for Galas. During the 1960's the Club dominated County swimming winning all team events for four consecutive years. In 1961 four Club swimmers, representing Fitzherbert School, won the Schoolgirls Team Championships of England. Source: www.bdsc.co.uk/clubhistory.htm