Brenda Fisher of Great Britain, & Baptista Pereira of Portugal - the 1954 Winners

Winners of the Butlin’s International Channel Swim, 1954. Folkestone, Kent. The Mens winner, Baptista Pereira of Portugal and the Ladies winner, Brenda Fisher of Great Britain with their winners trophies at Leas Cliffe Hall.

Brenda Fisher of Great Britain was successful in the 1954 race, and the first Lady home in a time of 14hrs 25mins.

Brenda was a very successful long distance swimmer; in 1948 she won the Morecambe Bay Championship and in 1951 she was the first Lady home in a new record time of 12hrs 42mins – she recieved a trophy from Eva Peron for being the first lady home. In 1954 she was the first lady home, her time was 14hrs 36mins.

In 1956 she swam Lake Ontario in a new record time of 18hrs 51mins. Also in 1956 she was the first lady home in the Nile Swim. In 1957 she swam for 15hrs 25mins in the Billy Butlin Swim.

Baptista Pereira, Portugal, winner of the 1954 Channel Race. Winning in a time of 12hrs 26secs. In the 1959 Butlin swim he was placed 3rd in a time of 13hrs 12mins. He 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 he again set a new record of 4hrs 34mins.

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