A rich seam of swimming blood runs through the veins of Serpentine distance and ice swimmer Sami Robertson.
Sami’s grandfather, Bill Lovely, was an England international who was also the Team Manager of the GB Water Polo Squad at the 1948 Olympic Games.
Bill Lovely International swimmer and grandfather of Serpentine member Sami Robertson
Bill Lovely Captain of Plaistow United Water Polo Team
Bill played for and captained Plaistow United, arguably England’s best water polo club of his generation. He was a teammate and friend of Ted Temme, the famous English Channel and Olympic swimmer. Temme was the first swimmer to successfully complete a solo swim of the English Channel both ways, from England, and from France.
Temme was as popular out of the water, as he was in the water.
Take note of the leather ball heavy and hard when wet
Bill Lovely Captain with back row far left Ted Temme English Channel swimmer and double Olympian
Plaistow United vs Berlin Water Polo Lovely as Captain
Plaistow United Southern Counties Champions from 1927 until start of World War II
Bill Lovely also represented England as a player, and after his playing days, he became Chief Coach of the GB team, including coaching them at the 1948 Olympic Games. Earlier in his swimming career, Bill had been one of five to form the inaugural water polo committee for the Amateur Swimming Association
Bill Lovely Team Manager GB Water Polo 1948 Olympic Games London
In the early 1900s, East London enjoyed a sporting dominance not just in water polo, but also in football; as Upton Park FC represented GB to win the Olympic Games gold medal in 1900.
As for water polo at that time, it was a regular occurrence for players to be dragged from the water unconscious. British teams dominated the first two decades of the 20th century, winning gold at the Olympic Games, in 1900, 1908, 1912 and 1920.
Like Sami, Bill - affectionately nicknamed “Bubups' - was also a fine distance swimmer, and was the one mile Port of London champion in 1927. Bill also swam from Kew to Putney Bridge in 73 mins 57 seconds, and also had speed over the shorter distance, and was part of a relay squad that included Temme, who swam 240 yards (220 m) in 2 minutes 19 seconds.
Lovely Half Mile Champion 1922 to 1934 bar once Ditto x 12 !
Lovely Champ
Sami Robertson English Channel solo swimmer
Sami Robertson Straits of Gibraltar solo swimmer
Serps swimmers Mark Faure Walker and Sami Robertson with Sami's Uncle Ricky as crew support for Straits of Gibraltar swim
Sami with Uncle Rick his crew support for Straits of Gibraltar swim. Sami and Serps member Mark Faure Walker swam the Straits at the same time with Rick providing support for both swimmers
Bill Lovely was thoughtful for others and revealed some of his highly respected leadership qualities in his water polo rule book.
"Desire is one thing and Resolve is another." - Bill Lovely
"Whilst it must be conceded that the objective is a good game, there is firmly implanted in every player a desire to be on the winning side. Desire is one thing and Resolve is another. " Bill Lovely
Straight arm sling shot
Alice 'Nanty' Ayres married to Bill Lovely lived to 104 years of age
Bill Lovely died on the Isle of Wight at the young age of 53. His wife Alice ‘Nanty’ who was also a fine swimmer, lived until 2006 and died in Norwich, Norfolk, at the age of 104.
Keep swimming Sami.
Yours swimmingly