Ken Wray of Great Britain, Billy Butlin and Mareeh Hassen Hammad of Egypt.

Butlin’s International Channel Swim 1954. Leas Cliffe Hall, Folkestone, Kent.

From the left: Ken Wray of Great Britain, Sir Billy Butlin and Marei Hassan Hammad of Egypt.

Ken Wray, Great Britain. He swam in 1953, for 12 hrs & 15 mins. 1954 he swam for two hours. 1958 he swam for 4hrs and 7mins. 1959 he swam for 10hrs & 57 mins. These swims were all unsuccessful.

He did complete a successful swim in 1957,  France-England, 16hrs 25mins. He was the only man to finish in the “Billy Butlin” Race and was winner of the cross channel race.

Ken Wray (33) swam Morecambe Bay, Lake Windermere 7hrs 17mins, and St. Napier to Le Baule swim South of France in 1955.

Hamad was an  Egyptian Army Warrant Officer, Winner of the 1951 Channel Swimming Race. Time 12hrs 12mins. He had four successful swims. All France to England; September 18th 1949 15hrs 22mins; August 22nd 1950 Daily Mail swim 3rd in 12hrs 04 sec. August 16th 1951 Daily Mail Swim, First Place in 12hrs 12mins. August 21st 1954 Billy Butlin swim, Second Place in 12hrs 49mins.

He had two unsuccessful swims; 1948 he swam for 7 hours. 1949 for 14hrs.

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