Mrs Willing being entertained mid channel, with Jack Weidman

George Peckham, Hilda’s father, playing tunes on his Banjo. Also in the boat is the pilot Jack Weidman.

Mrs Hilda Willing. Swam from Shakespeare Beach on the 3rd September 1920 but did not get to France, finishing 6-8 miles from France after 10 hours 35 minutes (reported as 7h 44m in the Across the Straits Booklet).

Hilda was a war widow. Her husband was killed in 1916 at the Battle of Jutland, on Board the H.M.S. Indefatigable. She taught over 2000 ladies to swim.