Pop Burwill and Bill Pickering on Castle Jetty

Black and white photograph of two men sat at the bottom of a cliffe. They are Bill Pickering and Pop (Jack/John) Burvill (Burwill), a prolific angler and a pilot on many escort or support boats for Channel swimmers.

William Pickering 1955. A 34 year old Bloxwich baths manager weighing 15 1/2 stone. He made just one attempt on 27/8/1955 and took Florence Chadwicks fastest time record.

He swam St. Margarets Bay to Cap Blanc Nez in a time of 14 hours 06 minutes, piloted by Jack Burwill. His trainer was Lewis Latham.