Blog – West London Penguin

Toast to the Club

18 April 2022
Penguin 100 Centenary

In this post, Mark Bullerwell, our Club Captain shares the toast that he intended to present at the Centenary Dinner on Saturday 2 April 2022. Due to circumstances on the night, Mark was not able to deliver the toast as planned. But we feel it is too important not to share…

Well, here we all are. Finally!!

Over 18 months of planning, 220 tickets sold in just under 48 hours, a Club record I believe, a few last minute Covid casualties, but we did it.

It has been a huge honour for me to put this event on for you all tonight and the Club trusting me to do it, whilst being 3,500 miles away.

100 years old, well technically 101 years, is a huge achievement. From 1921 we co existed but then finally merging with the ladies club in 1976, and West London Penguin would be very different today if that hadn’t happened for sure.

The last time I had the privilege to stand up and speak to this many Penguins in the same venue was my very good friend and fellow Penguin team mate, Wayne Davis’s wedding in Italy – mmm, Bullers has a microphone again.
What’s he going to say now?

This Club has given me so much joy over the years and I have my other good friend (I only have two) and fellow school mate, Tom Perry to thank for that. Going all the way back to 1989, picking me up from my father’s home in Bedford and driving me down the A1 for my first Penguin training session where I met Steve Baker, Miguel Ortiz, Paul Whatley, Alan Wollaston, Ian Spooner and Jerome Read, just to name a few.

So many stories to tell and re-tell, which I am sure we will be sharing later on over a few drinks.

One of my proudest moments, apart from tonight of course was 2007-08 when I was appointed Club Captain and was the first time in the Club’s history that we had both the men’s and women’s first teams playing in the British Championships at the Manchester Aquatic Centre. Sadly we did not win the golds, but we certainly won the after party. Morgen-Rae Graham challenging anybody and everybody to a dance off was one of the many highlights for sure.

The last few years have been a tough time, not just for the Club, but for all of us in so so many ways.

But the way in which Penguin has stayed resilient and bounced back stronger is testament to all of us in this room and others that could not be present. The stewardship from Sarah Wren, the handover of the Presidency from Louis to Fiona, Grimbo and his Covid protocols for returning to swim, the Masters swimmers headed up by Johnny and last but not least the water polo teams led by Claudio, Albie and Rachel, the fact that we are celebrating a Club and its centenary at all, is just phenomenal.

The current vibe in the Club as we close one chapter and start the next is the highest I think its been for a very long time. Thriving junior sections with international representation thanks to the hard work from Claudio. The Masters swimmers who often get forgotten about and we have a huge amount of them here this evening are just going from strength to strength and have supported tonight’s event massively for which I personally thank all of you for.

Then we have the senior mens and womens water polo teams. Claudio guiding the men, aided by Grimbo and Martin Waller and the ladies, coached by Rumen, who boldly stepped into the huge shoes left behind by our Shakey. Both reaching promotion this season, which again in our centenary year was just the cherry on top in my opinion.

Now as well as losing our beloved Shakey, which left a huge hole in this great Club, we have sadly lost some other Club members that due to the global pandemic, probably went under the radar.

Ken Rogers, affectionately known to his mates as tumble turn Ken. He was Club Captain in 1960 and also a life member.

Derek Roberts, Club Captain in 1972, Club President from 1993 to 1996 and a life member.

And lastly our goal keeper for many second team matches and a small half a bitter in the cricket club bar afterwards, Nilo Falcini. He was Club Captain in 1984, Club Treasurer for a number of years and a life member.

All three were Penguin to the core and will be remembered fondly.

I think as a Club such as ours, it is important to stay true to our values and remember our history but in the same breath we must evolve and move with the times. The menu cards on the tables were put together with this in mind and I very much hope that this was achieved.

Now before I sign off, I have a couple of messages to read out. I did receive a lot of video messages and emails from many Penguins around the world which truly just show the size and also the love this Club gets from so many. It is not possible to read all of these out or show the video messages on the screens. But hopefully what I am about to read out will leave you feeling the same love for this Club that I have.

On the occasion of the Penguin Swimming and Water Polo Club 100 year celebration, from Bryan and Sheila Randall, Melbourne, Australia.

Sheila and l were hoping to be with you on this memorable occasion to celebrate the Club’s 100-year anniversary. Unfortunately due to the pandemic we are not able, but are with you in spirit.

We send our congratulations and best wishes to this great Club and all its members and associates. We raise our glasses to take wine, wishing that the future will be as successful as the past.

The happy times l personally recall during my time with Penguin will remain for ever. A local W6 lad, born and bred in Hammersmith, my family have been associated with Hammersmith Ladies and Penguin since pre-World War Two.

My sister Olive was a champion swimmer with Hammersmith Ladies and my wife was a member there in the 1950s.

My brother Pat (Buda) was also a Penguin in the 1950s and 1960s. He was also a journalist with the West London Gazette and had a weekly column reporting all the Club’s news and results.

During that decade we were one of the strongest water polo sides in Great Britain, winning the national club title many times. We also had great swimmers, including John Martin-Dye, Tan Hawkins-Kovar, Linheart, Jackson and many others.

I was and still am so very proud of playing in our men’s water polo first team for over 10 years, with icons of their time such as Ron Turner, Stan Hawkins, Les Baldwin, Terry Miller, John Martin-Dye, plus other great players such Lew Bloomfield, John Lake, Gerry Jarrett and Bobby Wollaston.

We would also like to raise a glass or two to all our mates in the Pearl Club who we know are special stalwarts of Penguin.

Keep up the good work.

And news just in…

Our good friend, Pearl Club member and Penguin stalwart, Malcolm Cromer has just sent me this to read out and I have to say I am extremely impressed:

His brother Frank, who is now resident in Norway, but like Malcolm is still very active in the pool has just completed a clean sweep of gold medals in the Norwegian Masters National Championships. Not only did he take the gold medal, but he set new National records in backstroke for the 50, 100 and 200 metre distances in the over 75 age group. That is just fantastic. Malcolm, on behalf of the Club, please pass on our congratulations to Frank, a truly remarkable achievement.

Now, all there is left for me to say is please can we all charge our glasses and be up standing.

MANIBUS PEDIBUSQUE, WITH HANDS AND FEET

PENGUIN

#Penguin100

#ProudPastBrightFuture

Thank you to our Centenary Supporters

18 April 2022
Penguin 100 Centenary

We’d like to give a big Penguin THANK YOU to all those that have supported our Centenary celebrations:

Plus:

Katie Messenger Illustration (@katie_messenger_illustration)

My Penguin Story: Graham and John Martin-Dye

18 March 202219 March 2022
History, Olympics, Penguin 100 Centenary, Penguin members, Water Polo

In this post Graham Martin-Dye tells his own Penguin story and that of his father, John…

John and Graham Martin-Dye in their dress suits at a Penguin Dinner — Graham with his Dad, John, at a Penguin Dinner

Born on 3rd January 1978 in Watford General Hospital to John and Delia Martin-Dye, I started swimming at Watford Swimming Club aged five, and I got into water polo aged seven or eight, watching my dad and older brother Steven.

I played for Watford seniors when I was about 12 and was soon scoring goals due to my fast swimming speed. I broke numerous club records and swam at county and southern county level.

When I was 15 I went with Watford to Malta for an annual tournament with teams from countries all over Europe. Penguin were there too and, because my Dad was a Penguin, the Penguin team treated me like one of their own, especially coach John “Shakey Lakey’!

A few year later, as my coach, Shakey would give me my first opportunity to play National League. He and Dad coached together and were great mates.

Graham Martin Dye with the Penguin Junior water polo team with his father and Shakey Lake as their coaches — Me in the Penguin junior water polo team in the 1990s, with my Dad (right) and Shakey Lake (left) as our coaches

At the Malta tournament, I watched a player from Yugoslavia called Igor Milanovic. He was one of the best centre forwards in the world and he inspired me to get better and gave me the desire to play international polo. He was an amazing player and scored some amazing goals.

I joined Penguin in 1994 and played my first National League game away against Cheltenham. Ian Spooner played. He was absolutely amazing and a real hero of mine growing up.

I loved playing for Penguin and we went on a pre-season tour to Konstanz Germany, where I played with the likes of Paul Skerm, Jerome Read, Paul Whatley and Graham Forbes.

Water polo team — 2002 British Champions
Back row: Steve Baker (Coach) Aram Eidipour, Bruce Elder, Andy Holt, Sinan Naipoglu (GK), Chris Evans, Igor Zagaruiko and Ian ‘Grimbo’ Grimwood.
Middle row: Steve Cooter, Graham Martin-Dye, Tom Perry (c), Danny Davis, Wayne Davis and Paul Whatley.
Front row: Paul Skerm, Roger McPherson (GK), Jerome Read and Nick Beard.

At 16 I was selected to play for Great Britain in the European Junior Water Polo Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia. It was a fantastic experience and taught me so much about international water polo and the level you had to be at in order to compete with the best.

I made the England senior team at 18 and played in the home nations in Scotland, where our goal keeper David Bush got red flagged in the first quarter of the final against Scotland. Luckily, we went on to win!

I then had a break from the international game for four years to focus on my swimming career. I was training for Sydney Olympics 2000, but just missed out on selection.

In 2000 I returned to water polo and was selected for the England team that played in the 2002 Commonwealth water polo championships in Manchester, winning the bronze medal. I also played with Penguin in the team that won the British Water Polo Championships at Sheffield the same year.

Water polo team photo — October 2002 and off the back of winning the British Championships title, we played in the LEN Champions Cup, held in Malta. Sadly we returned home to London empty handed
Back row: Graham Martin-Dye, Bruce Elder, Simon Pemberton and Rodger Mcpherson
Middle Row: Chris Evans, Mark Bullerwell, Ed Morris, Nick Hume and Joe Ernst
Front row: Stephen Cooter, Aram Eidipour, Tom Perry, Wayne Davis and Jerome Read

In 2003 I left the UK to play water polo in Australia for the Balmain Tigers in the Australian National League from 2004 to 2010. We won bronze in 2004 and 2005.

All in all I had a great swimming and water polo career and I now live in Australia where I have a wonderful wife and three children. I also still try to enjoy some masters and Australian country water polo from time to time.

******

My father, John Martin-Dye was born on 21 May 1940 in Shepherds Bush where he grew up in Thornfield Road.

He joined Penguin when he was eight.

Young John Martin-Dye with his trophies — Dad with his swimming awards and trophies

Aged 15 he did a back flip off a diving board and was too close, hitting his chin on the board and he lost his two front teeth!

Newspaper cutting — 1961 Penguin Swimming Club Champions
From left to right: PJ Randall, Ian McClelland, John Martin-Dye, Howard Beesely, ‘Spud’ Murphy (Club Coach), Craig Gibson, Keith Young, Ronald Clapp, John Pickering, John Pettican, Keith Clapp, Terry Lines, Jack Nievens

Dad’s list of achievements in swimming is long and impressive:

He swam for Great Britain from 1960-1966.
In the 1960 Rome Olympics he came 4th in the 4x200m Freestyle Relay team which set a new European record.
At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics he was 7th in the 4x100m Freestyle relay.
He swam in the British Empire and Commonwealth Games twice, winning bronze in the 4x200m and 4x100m Freestyle relays at the 1962 games in Perth, and bronze in the 4x100m Freestyle relay at the 1966 games in Kingston, Jamaica.
At the 1961 ASA British National Championships he won the 110yd, 220yd and 440yds Freestyle, winning the 400yds Freestyle again in 1963.

He was also a fine water polo player player with the Penguin National League team from late 50s, I think, to 1968.

During this time, alongside Shakey Lake and other Penguin greats, the team won the British Championships in Walsall in 1965 beating Cheltenham 6-5. Dad scored five goals and Les Baldwin scored the other. Ron Turner was captain of the team.

1965 Winners of the ASA Club Championships
Back row: John Lake, Terry King, Pete Richardson, Bobby Wollaston and Brian Randall
Middle row: Dave Littlechild, Lew Bloomfield, Terry Bushell, Gerry Jarret, Bernard Castle and George Pepper
Front row: Mike Rogers, Bill Waite, Ron Turner, John Martin-Dye and Les Baldwin

This post is part of our Penguin100 series of stories from Penguins past and present, sharing what being a member of the Club means to them as we celebrate our Centenary.

Hillingdon Penguin December Fun Tournament, Christmas Party and Awards for 2021

27 February 202227 February 2022
Water Polo

The Hillingdon Penguin Fun Tournament and Christmas Party in Uxbridge on Saturday 11 December 2021 was very special. Due to Covid we hadn’t had a party for two years and this meant we’d also missed the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our players. It also wound up a successful year and a particularly busy term in which we’d gone from no tournaments to full on competing again.

A big thank you to the coaches

This branch of the Club continues to flourish, many thanks to the dynamic coaching team of Shaun, Adam, Mickey and Will, with occasional refereeing guest appearances from Michael. Each coach has a particular group of players and area of pool space, but they also collaborate to ensure the development of every child.

Fun Tournament

We were delighted to have the irrepressible Anton Restall come and help score, especially as Adam had worked out a complex system of bonus points, to encourage fair play and inclusion of the younger players. Congratulations to the winners, Purple Team, comprising Will M (captain), Bailey, Elena, Zayd, Ibrahim, Aronas, Oliver D and Aaryan. Here they are, proudly holding the Penguin Development Trophy.

Christmas Party

Team Baldwin saved the day by organising the party in a room beside the athletics track, chosen for its extra size and ventilation, but also more challenging to find. We are truly grateful to Ruth, Chris, Zoe and Thomas for all their hard work and to all our parents who brought an amazing spread ranging from noodles and pastries, to cakes and fruit. Sophie made an enormous and very tasty carrot cake which she somehow managed to bring on the bus.

Awards January 2020 to December 2021

We then went on to present awards which spanned the last two years. As always, it had been difficult to pick individual winners as the teams have performed so well and we’ve seen many players improve and exceed expectations.

Development Group – Under 12s

These recipients were chosen and presented by Adam Maidment who coaches them:

Intermediate Group – U14s

Winners nominated and presented by their coach Mickey Tritto:

Coach’s Player Cup: Samuel Scarlett (awarded the next day at the U14s LWPL tournament)

Sporting Performance Award: Matthew O’Neill Cuadros

Advanced Group – U16s & Above

Winners chosen and presented by Shaun Hill who coaches the Advanced Group including the under 16 mixed team, under 16 girls team and under 18 boys team:

Jack Petchey Award – November 2021: Sophie Wilkinson (see separate report).

Coach’s Player: Charlie Richardson (awarded at the U18s LWPL tournament)

U15s Shield ‘Sporting Performance of the Year’: Bailey Sapsed

Best Female Newcomer: Yolanda Ginman and Best Male Newcomer: Ibrahim Khan

Dedicated service/most humble player: Luis Aranda (presented to his brother Alvaro in Luis’s absence)

There were special mentions to Bailey, Hadi, Ibrahim, Riaz, Sam and Sophie who played for Middx U16s in Inter Counties, and Bailey and Hadi who played for London U16s in the Inter Regional Championships, and Lize, Orlaith and Sophie who played for London Girls U16s in Inter regionals and were joined by Robyn to play for Middlesex U16s in Inter Counties where they won silver.

Thank you to all parents for your support.

Mickey made a powerful impromptu speech about how hard Shaun has worked coaching this term and also thanked him for seeing and encouraging his own potential when he was sixteen. We are also hugely indebted to Adrian for all his poolside support, Anton for scoring, Youguang for the photographs and last but not least Kerry should be recognised for all the support she gives in the background.

It’s great to be able to celebrate all the achievements of the Hillingdon Penguin family.

Hillingdon Penguin runs alongside our Latymer water polo section for juniors. Find out more about playing junior water polo with us.

My Penguin Story: Bobby and Alan Wollaston

19 February 2022
Penguin 100 Centenary, Penguin members, Water Polo

My dad, Bobby, joined Penguin in the 1950s as a junior. He started his aquatic career with Amateur SC who were based at the Prince of Wales swimming baths in Kentish Town. Dad soon became a regular with Penguin and his swimming background helped him become a workhorse of the team.

Dad was a loyal person and continued his association with Amateur for many years taking part in their annual relay race with the Northern Lights club which was then based at Hornsey Road baths. This annual race was in the Guinness book of records as the oldest annual swimming event in the world.

At a time when Penguin regularly put out four teams in the local water polo leagues, Dad progressed through the ranks to the first team.

Photo of all Penguin SC members and trophies — Penguin SC probably mid to late 50s,
Back row L-R: Frank Blissett, Bernard Castle, Ted (Curly) Gerald, John Martin-Dye, Dave Stanborough, Peter Richardson, Norman Massey, Terry Bushell, Bill Wait, Les Baldwin, Ron Turner.
Third row L-R: Derek Roberts, Tony Littlechild, Mac McDonald, Bryan (Swaz) Randall, Les (Pickles) Pickering, Brian Crompton, Ken Rogers,Terry Fray, Lewis Bloomfield, Peter Harmon, Nobby Neivens.
Second row L-R: Bill Shepherd, Horace (Horry) Connelly, Dave Littlechild, Harry Fray, Spud Murphy, George Pepper, Joe (Smiler) Barrett, Pop Neivens, Dick Lawrence, Bill Usher.
Front row L-R: ??, Ken Power, Pat (Buddha) Randall, ??, Bobby Wollaston, Jack Dengell, John Wilkinson, ??, ??.

In 1961 Dad married my Mum, Cathy, with Penguin teammate Lew Bloomfield as his best man. Then two years later I arrived.

Bobby shaking hands with is best man Lew — Bobby with Lew Bloomfield as his Best Man

Most people of a certain age can remember where they were when England won the World Cup. In 1966 I was on my very first Penguin tour to Malta at the age of three where I was in safe hands with Shakey helping out on toddler watch!

Family on the beach — With my parents on a water polo tour in Malta

Man with child on his shoulders — Shakey with me on his shoulders

Dad continued to play first team polo and my early memories were as a toddler either sitting in the footbaths of Lime Grove, Nine Elms and places like Ironmonger Row whilst Dad was playing, or swimming behind the goal at the shallow end dodging the wayward shots.

Training sessions usually ended with me being kept quiet with a Coke and a bag of crisps while Dad and his fellow Penguins frequented the famous Shepherds Bush Cricket Club on the way home. Years later Dad would recount how Les Pickles once gave him a lift home from the Cricket Club after a lengthier than usual night. When Dad told Les to go straight ahead at the next roundabout, Les asked, “Which roundabout?”. Dad’s reply: “The one you are on!”. Members such as Les Pickles, Jack Dengel, Ron Turner and Bill Usher were always there in the background helping the Club run smoothly.

Dad would talk about the epic games against Cheltenham or the games in the bleak outdoor pool in Birkenhead, and how local rivalries were cemented against Sutton & Cheam.

Penguin has always been a great family with great relationships with many pool managers. Uxbridge Open Air Pool used to be a regular venue on a Sunday afternoon; once the public left our Penguin players and their other halves would help tidy up, then use the facility until it got dark. This approach was repeated with Pete Kerslake at Clissold Road and Dave Webzell at Potters Bar, allowing us to benefit from a whole host of extra training time.

Photo of water polo team with their trophies — Penguin SC water polo Second Team probably mid to late 50s, with the London Water Polo League Referees Cup, the Middlesex County Water Polo League shield and an unknown trophy.
Back row L-R: Ken Rogers, John Martin-Dye, Ted (Curly) Gerald, Terry Bushell.
Front row L-R: Terry Fray, Lewis Bloomfield, Bobby Wollaston.

Following in Dad’s footsteps I started my aquatics career as a swimmer and, with my sister Jayne and brother Alan also swimming, as a family we spent most of our early lives travelling between pools. Even with the three of us children training seven days a week, Dad still continued to not only play in the local water polo leagues but he also became a grade one referee travelling the country.

Having spent my younger years swimming and diving, I decided to take up water polo at around the age of 14. Dad then got even more involved. He started running the Penguin junior team from which many became regulars in the Penguin first team – Paul and Dave Bryan, Ian Spooner, Peter Falcini and Mark Harmon to name but a few.

Being a lefty put me in good stead for my career. I started in the fourth team playing alongside Dad and a number of other Penguin legends, including Ron Turner and John Lake. I look back on fondly on these memories and the experience I gained was invaluable.

I progressed through the Penguin teams as well as representing Middlesex and the Southern Counties at all age groups and playing for both the England and the GB junior side.

Dad continued his involvement with the Club, stepping in to coach the first team as a when needed as well as serving for many years on the Middlesex Water Polo Committee.

Perhaps one of Dad’s proudest moments was when, as President at a Penguin Dinner, he took wine with the Jayne, Alan and I as we had all represented GB internationally in water polo and synchronised swimming. In fact between the three of us we had national medals in swimming, water-polo, synchro and diving.

Alan and Bobby at a Penguin Dinner — Me with Dad at a Penguin Dinner

There is obviously something in the Wollaston genes which ties us to the water as even now Alan continues to play water polo and Jayne and I coach swimming and synchro respectively.

Dad’s passion for the sport certainly was passed on. I have a whole host of fantastic memories and many that can’t be written down in full – what goes on tour stays on tour – involving trips to Malta, Naples, Belgium, Liverpool, Germany, Holland and Denmark with the likes of Ian Spooner, Robbie Arnold, Graham Forbes, Paul Whatley, Paul Howard, Gary Simonds, Robbie Arnold, Martin Blenkinsop, Paul Whatley Steve Baker, Ian Grimwood, Miguel Ortiz and of course Shakey. I even had my stag do as part of the St Niclaas Water Polo Tournament!

Being part of Penguin is more than being a Club member. In the latter stages of Mum and Dad’s illnesses the support that Paul and Jayne and I received from the Penguins was humbling, borne out by the numbers of Penguins past and present who came to both their funerals.

I am still playing and enjoy doing so. The other week I turned out for Enfield against Penguin and managed to get on the score sheet a few times in a convincing win – Grimbo will vouch for this! It is so good to still be able to catch up with many my former Penguin team mates from over the years when I see them at different games and tournaments.

Penguin is a rare and unique Club; it was Dad’s passion and something that he always held close to his heart. He was the proudest Dad ever while he watching Paul, Jayne and I compete. For me he was, and always will be, my hero who is sorely missed by many but never forgotten.

Alan Wollaston
Manibus Pedibusque

This post is part of our Penguin100 series of stories from Penguins past and present, sharing what being a member of the Club means to them as we celebrate our Centenary.