Willy Van Rysel, Sam Rockett & Margaret Feather promoting Channel Race at Scarborough

(Willie) Willy-Van-Rysel. Sam Rockett. Margaret Feather.

Scarborough Open Air Pool, Scarborough, Yorkshire. From the left Willie (Willy) Van Rijsel, Holland,

Rijsel made 3 attempts  two in 1949, both France to England – the first swim she swam for 14hrs 15mins & the 2nd swim 16hrs 52mins

In the first Daily mail race (1950) she swam for 4hrs 10mins

Later she married  Ted Temme.

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”

Margaret Feather was a competitor for the 1954 Butlins race. She was successful, her time was 16hrs 23mins. She finished in fourth place, second female.

She was unsuccessful in the 1950, 1952 and 1953 races.

She has swum Morecambe Bay and in 1953 she was awarded the best woman for effort in the Nile Swim (only two finishers). She was the first woman to complete the Capri-Naples swim.

From the Sam Rockett collection. A Black and White photgraph.

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