Jack Burvill (Burwill) and Philip Mickman in Albion Pub

Jack Burvill (Burwill) and Philip Mickman in Jack’s pub the Albion, Dover. They are sitting studying charts. Philip has his arm round Jack’s shoulders. Philips time was 23hrs. and 48 minutes.

Philip Mickman first attempted to swim the channel in 1948 at the age of 17. This attempt was unsuccessful due to poor conditions (after 12 hours in the water). He tried again in the July of 1949, but again conditions were against him. He found himself swimming into a strong wind, and gave up after 13 hours at sea.

His third attempt in August of 1949 was, at last, successful, making him the youngest to have completed the swim at that time. Conditions were not perfect and it took him 23 hours,48min, landing at Kingsdown at 5.33am.

After a spell in the RAF he returned to Dover to complete his ambition, to complete the return journey, swimming from England to France. In September 1952, he achieved this, becoming the youngest man to swim the Channel both ways. Age 21.