We are very pleased to have received two new trophies donated by Otter Life Member and former Olympian, Tony Milton which will be used for Club Championships events from this year:
The Freddie Milton Cup - for Men’s 50m Freestyle Championship
The Irene Pirie Milton Cup - for Women’s 100m Individual Medley Championship
Otter are very grateful and thank Tony for this contribution. The trophies are named after Tony’s parents and were both exceptional swimmers in their time.
Frederick “Freddie” George Matt Milton (1906-1991) is a former Otter President (1957-60), Vice-President (1948-55), Captain (1938-46), Vice-captain (1935-37), Water Polo Captain (1930, 1934-37, 1947, 1949) and Water Polo Secretary (1947, 1950). He represented Great Britain at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin where he was part of the British water polo team which placed eighth. He also represented England at the 1930 British Emprie Games in Hamilton, Ontario where he won a silver medial in the 4x200 yards freestyle relay and finished fifth in the 400 yards freestyle.
Irene Catherine Pirie-Milton (1914-1998) was a Canadion swimmer and swam at the same 1930 British Empire Games, winning a sliver medal in the 4x100 yards freestyle relay. At the 1934 British Empire Games in London she won a gold in the 4x100 yards freestyle relay, silver in the 100 yards freestyle and bronze in the 440 yards freestyle. She also swam at the 1932 and 1936 Olympics placing fourth in the 4x100 yards freestyle relay both times. In 1975 she was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, ald has another trophy in her name which is awarded by Swim Ontario to the female swimmer of the year.
Hamilton Pierre Matt “Tony” Milton is their son, born in 1938. He has also fulfilled may roles in Otter of Vice-President (1976-77), Vice Caption (1966) and Water Polo Caption (1974-75). He competed at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, finishing fourth in the 4x200m Freestyle relay.
There is much more information about the Milton’s, and the club in the Otter History written to celebrate our club’s 125th anniversary in 1994 (link here), which will be further updated in a new club history to be released next year for our upcoming 150th anniversary.
The Freddie Milton and Irene Pirie Milton Cups
Irene Pirie and Freddie Milton at Marshal Street Baths in 1935 (By Unknown - Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69762879)