Baptista Pereira, Portugal. Winner of 1954 race.

Butlin’s International Channel Swim, 1954. Folkestone, Kent. Baptista Pereira, winner of the 1954 Butlin’s race, sitting by the side of the winners trophy (the Butlin Challenge Trophy) at the Leas Cliffe Halll, Folkestone.

Baptista Pereira won the Billy Butlin 1954 Cross Channel Swimming Race, winning in a time of 12hrs 26secs.

In the 1959 Butlin swim he was placed 3rd in a time of 13hrs 12mins. He also entered the 1955, 1956 and 1957 swims but was unable to start.

He set a new record for the Strait of Gibraltar in 5hrs 4mins in 1956 and he again set a new record of 4hrs 34mins.

From the Sam Rockett collection. A Black and White Photograph.