Jack Budd

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameJohn Ernest Claude "Jack"•Budd
Used nameJack•Budd
Born16 March 1899 in Fulham, England (GBR)
Died16 March 1952 in Westminster, England (GBR)
Measurements201 cm
AffiliationsPenguin SC, London (GBR)
NOC Great Britain

Biography

Jack Budd was a fine swimmer and international water polo player. Very tall at 2.01m, he could swim 100 yards in 63 seconds, which was an excellent time for the 1920s. Budd captained the England water polo team five times, and in addition to two Olympic appearances, was also a member of the Great Britain squad at the 1927 European Championships in Bologna. He appeared in every England international played between 1927-34.

Budd was a member of the Penguin Swimming Club, and was also appointed captain of the newly-formed Empire Swimming Club in 1933. Empire were unbeaten in his two seasons with the club and in 1934 they had a memorable victory over the Hungarian national team, who were the reigning world champions and had been unbeaten for six years. However, the game ended in controversy. Empire led 2-1 going into the closing stages when Hungary had a goal disallowed, and one minute from time the Hungarian coach called his players out of the water and refused to allow them to continue the game, which was duly abandoned. Budd announced his retirement from competitive water polo shortly after this game.

Jack Budd was the son of a Paddington publican, Frederick Budd, who was a top-class sprinter in his younger days. A permanent lodger at the Budd household at the turn of the 20th century was Claude Kirby (one of Budd’s given names was also Claude). Kirby was, in 1905, the first chairman of Chelsea Football Club, when they were admitted into the Football League. Budd’s father died when he was just 11-years-of-age and Kirby became his legal guardian. In 1931, through his influences, Budd joined the board of directors at Chelsea and upon Kirby’s death in 1935, was appointed vice-chairman, a post that Budd held until his own death, on his 53rd birthday in 1952, when he was also chairman of The Football Combination. Jack, like his father before him, was also a publican, but in Kingston-upon-Thames.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1924 Summer Olympics Water Polo (Aquatics) GBR Jack Budd
Water Polo, Men (Olympic) Great Britain =10
1928 Summer Olympics Water Polo (Aquatics) GBR Jack Budd
Water Polo, Men (Olympic) Great Britain 4