Ernie Scott

Ernie Scott was a versatile sportsman who started swimming with Cardiff Polytechnic and later played for the Cardiff water polo team. He was also a Welsh international and was captain of a side which contained the country’s leading player Paul Radmilovic. Scott was also a fine rugby player and played for Penarth and the Glamorgan Wanderers.

After his job took him to London in the 1930s, Scott started swimming with the London Polytechnic and playing rugby for Finchley. He had become an established water polo referee by then and had officiated at international matches in between the two World Wars. At the 1948 London Olympics, Scott refereed three matches including the 4-4 draw in the final pool between Hungary and the Netherlands, the eventual silver and bronze medallists.

Scott became honorary secretary of the Water Polo Referees Association in 1948 and in 1950 was added to the international panel of referees. He took charge of four matches at the 1952 Stockholm Olympics and in 1957 became secretary of the International Water Polo Board. Scott was awarded the OBE in the 1960 New Year’s Honours list.

During World War I, Scott served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Bedfordshire Regiment and was awarded the Military Cross (MC) in 1918. He joined Bluemels, the famous motor vehicle and bicycle accessories company, in 1929 and was made a director in 1934. Scott eventually became chairman and managing director.