Channel Swimmers Barry Watson and Kendal Mellor with Geoff Oddy

Barry Watson shaking hands with Kendall Mellor. Geoff Oddy was Barry Watsons coach.

Barry completed France to England swim in 9h 35m on August 16th 1964, a new record.

He also had three more successful swims, England to France, all two way attempts; September 14th 1968 16hrs 19mins, he swam for 7hrs 20mins on return; August 6th 1969 13hrs 56mins, he swam 7hrs 27mins on return; August 13th 1970 15 hrs 14 mins, he swam 3hrs 17mins on return.  

He was also the British Long Distance Swimming Association champion of Lake Windermere in 1963 & 1964, the 1967 Loch Lomond Champion and 2 way Lake Windermere champion in 1966, 1967 & 1968. He was BLDSA Champion, Fleetwood to Morecambe in 1963, 1965, 1966 & 1967. He swam Lancaster to Morecambe 1965 in 7hrs 2 mins. In 1970 he swam Windermere, Ullswater and Conniston in one day. He swam Lake Windermere 39 times.

Kendal Mellor swam France to England 1963, time 16 hrs 53 minutes.