Mrs Hilda Willing on the shore with Swimmer Mrs Arthur Hamilton

Mrs Arthur Hamilton made a England to France swim and a France to England swim. Both of which are possibly controversial as no records were seen.

1st September 1920 Mrs Arthur Hamilton (Daughter of Sir Charles and Lady Fairlie Cunningham) claimed to have swum for 11hrs 45mins on an England to France swim. Her Pilot Mr Porter sent a letter in 1921 claiming that she only swam for one hour and then got on the boat. He said that as a result of what has happened on her 1921 swim he could no longer remain silent.

21 August 1921, Mrs Hamilton claimed to have swum for 21hrs 45mins, the Pilot Mr Courtesre and the crew confirmed her story but claimed that they put a rope around her to support during feeds.The Light House Keeper at Cap Gris Nez, saw no swimmers.The proprietors of the Cap Gris Nez Hotel saw no swimmers. Mrs Hamilton refused to discuss the swim. No Log book or Chart exists. The swims were never recognised.

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.