Tyldesley was the son of a local councillor.[3] His family was famous locally for their swimming exploits as five of his relatives were members of the Tyldesley Swimming and Water Polo Club.[3][4] He placed third in the Southport Salt Water Swimming Championships in July 1896[5] and placed second in the 1896 Whetley Mills Swimming Gala.[6] He came in second at the 1897 Quarter-Mile Fresh Water Swimming Championship.[7] He participated in the Northern Counties' A.S.A. 150 yards championship in 1902.[8] His Tyldesley Swimming and Water Polo Club team won the Northern Counties Team Swimming Championship in 1901 and 1903.[9] He competed in the breast-stroke trials of the King's Cup swimming competition in 1903[10] He competed in the 100 Yards Swimming Championship in 1905.[11] He also registered for the 1903, N.C.A.S.A. 150 Yards Championship[12] He was the first (though not the only) member of his family to compete in the Olympics, where he reached the semi-finals of the men's 100 metre freestyle in 1908.[13] Due to his Olympic accomplishments, he became known for being one of the most famous members of the Tyldesley Swimming and Water Polo Club.[14][4] He won the 1909 Tyldesley Club Gala 100 yards club championship and the Eckersley Cup in September 1909.[15]
Along with his swimming successes, he played water polo for 18 seasons as part of the Manchester and District League.[16][17] He competed in an international swimming event against French representatives in May 1910.[18] He was the 1911 Midland District swimming champion and was scheduled to defend his title at the 1912 championships.[19] He came in second at the 1912 Midland 100 yards championship.[20] Having trained as a clerk at the municipal council of Tyldesley, he was the Rockwell Urban Council's clerk from 1910 onwards,[21] until he retired in 1946.[3] He served with the Northamptonshire Volunteer Regiment during World War I.[3] He later became a local councillor in Leicester in the 1930s.[22]
