CSA Annual Dinner 1959. Sam Rockett, Gerry Forsberg, Sunny Lowry, June Gilbert. All successful Channel conquerers.

Folkestone, Kent. Black and White photograph. Channel Swimming Association Annual Dinner, March 1959.

Sam Rockett swam in the 1950 Daily Mail race and was the fourth man  to finish. He was Supervisor for the 1951 Daily Mail Race, an International race held in the “Festival of Britain year” and he was also supervisor for the Billy Butlin races from 1953 to 1959, and the Sir Billy Butlin long distance walk from John O Groats to Lands End.

He played County Water Polo for a number of Counties. He was author of the book “its Cold in the Channel”

Commander Gerald Forsberg was awarded an OBE for sevices in the Royal Navy in 1955. He swam England to France in 1957 in a record time of 13hrs 33mins.

He won the Winderemere Championship in 1957,and 1958. He won the Winderemere Two Way Championship in 1958. Also in 1958 he won the first two way Torbay Championship. He won the 1959 Loch Lomond Championship and same year a solo swim of Loch Neagh in a new record time. Also in 1959 he won the Morecambe Bay two-way Championship. He was elected to the Swimming Hall of Fame, and President of the CSA

Sunny Lowry swam the Channel France to England in 1933, in a time of 15hrs 41mins.She was made Chairman of the “Channel Swimming Association, and received the MBE.

June Gilbert swam the Channel in 1958, her time was 16hrs 53mins. In 1973 she made a two way attempt – she completed one way 20hrs 20mins and swam for 9hrs on the return leg. She made one unsuccessful attempt in 1958, she swam for 13hrs 50mins.

From the Sam Rockett collection.