Sam Rockett with his coach Ted Temme.

Sam Rockett and Ted Temme prior to a 14hrs all night training swim at Hampstead Baths. Sam Rockett training for his attempt at the English Channel, he has entered the “Daily Mail International cross Channel Race of 1950”

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 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”

Ted Temme: First person to swim the Channel in both directions, swimming France to England in 1927, time 14hrs 29mins, and England to France in 1934, time 15hrs 34mins, a new record.

In 1927 Dover Town Council raised money by public donation to purchase a gold cup to present to the next English person to swim the channel from England to France; Ted Temme was the winner of the gold cup.

Ted Temme also had four failed attempts in the Channel, all England to France; 1928, 8hrs 07mins. 1929, 5hrs 40mins. 1932 11hrs 50mins. 1933 11hrs 45mins.

He was the Supervisor for the first Daily Mail Cross Channel race in 1950.

Ted Temme played Water Polo for Plaistow and England. He represented Great Britain in the 1928 and 1936 Olympic Games.

From the Sam Rockett collection.