CLUB HISTORY

In 1896 a number of extremely wealthy Old Etonians set up a mission in the East End of London to help the poor boys of East London. This was the start of Eton Mission. The Mission was a great success in keeping a large number of waifs and strays out of trouble with the police.

In 1909 there was the first mention of a swimming section known as the Eton Otters Swimming Club. It was not until June 1928 that the Otters entered a team in the London Water Polo League. Progression was made throughout the 30’s and 40’s and in 1954 Ken Fennell was the first member of the club to be selected for the Great Britain team. It was during one of the International Tournaments that he learnt and perfected the Hungarian push shot which, on his return home, amazed and surprised many opponents.

The 1960’s began as a very good decade for the Otters which started with the junior team winning the Middlesex County Championship for the third time. The Otters had a very strong presence in the County teams both at senior and junior levels and a number of representatives in the Great Britain Junior Team and at this time the Otters dominated the London Federation of Boys Clubs swimming and diving gala each year.

In 1966 there was a great upheaval in the Eton Manor Club (the successor to the Eton Mission). According to the club rules, only males could become members and they could not join as a new member after their 15th birthday. So as to become an "open club", open to male and female members of any age, the Otters left the umbrella of Eton Manor and became Eastern Otters.

By the mid 90’s the swimming club had been taken over by the borough Swim Squad and like many other teams the Polo section was struggling to maintain a team. The answer was to amalgamate with the Ilford Club who had themselves previously amalgamated with GEM (Great Eastern Mechanics). The team played under the Ilford name for the next ten years with a limited amount of success.

In 2002 the club was joined by the Plaistow Team who again had been struggling to find new members. In 2004 the ASA decided that as there was no longer an Ilford Swimming Club (another take over by a borough Swim Squad) the Ilford name could no longer be used by the Water Polo Club. Fortunately a large number of players were still registered (dual registration) as Eastern Otters and therefore the old name was resurrected.

The Club is now going from strength to strength with a number of new players adding greatly to the strength and depth of the team. In the 2009 Summer Season the team won the 3rd division of the London League. The Otters have always had an extremely good social scene. A number of functions for past and present members are now taking place each year. There is also a history of foreign tours: the summer of 2009 to Germany with a return planned for 2010.

Eastern Otters are always ready to welcome new members. If you are a reasonable swimmer come along to one of our training sessions and be assured of a warm and friendly welcome (see the contact us page for more details).