Kellingley Feeding channel swimmer Lillian Gemma Harrison in the water

Lillian Gemma Harrison of Argentina, age 20 years, with trainer Billy Kellingley. Attempted the English Channel three times.

Lillian Harrison of Argentina, attempted the English Channel four times. All C.G.N. to England.

First Attempt August 11th 1924.  Start time 4.30am.  Finish 7.30am. Total time 3hrs. Covered head to foot in white grease.  Injury to thigh when lowering herself into the water from the Dingy.

Second Attempt, 5 Sept 1924, Start 11.45 am. Swam 4 hrs.

Third attempt,  July 16th 1925. Start 4.25 am. Finish 1.22 pm. Total time 8hrs 57 mins. Swam over half way. (Not recorded in ” Across the Staights” ) 

Fourth Attempt, Aug 10th 1925. Start 2.25am. Finish 7.40pm. Total Time 7hrs 15mins, collapsed. She was a Vegetarian – Helmy, Burgess and Weidham had said “No Vegetarian will ever swim the Channel.”

She was the first person to swim across the River Plate (26 miles) in 1923. In 1925 she won the 26 mile Seine river race that ended in Paris 

William Kellingley was the Brighton one mile Champion, and the winner of the half mile Championship. He trained Millie Corson, Jabez Wolffe, etc. In 1924 he trained Miss  Lillian Harrison, an Argentine Distance Swimmer. Also, the Zittenfield twins, Frank Perks – who swam for ten hours in his France to England attempt, Mrs Myrtil Huddlestone – she swam for 21hrs 13mins England to France, she still had 7 miles to go to Cap-Gris-Nez. He also trained Edouard Bernat – swam for 15hrs from Shakespeare Beach, Captain George Morris, Miss Eva Morrison, and lastly George Brewster, who later swam in the 1950 Mail Race.