BRITON SETS UP CHANNEL SWIM RECORD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18014, 26 November 1926, Page 9

BRITON SETS UP CHANNEL SWIM RECORD.

CROSSED IN 18HRS 55MINS WITHOUT A TUG. (Special to the “ Star.”) LONDON, September IS. Mr Norman Leslie Derham, a resident of Southend and partner in a Woolwich firm of bedding manufacturers, has swum the Channel from Cape Grisnez to St. Margaret’s Bay in 13 hours, 55 minutes. He is the first Englishman to .perform the feat in 15 years. His time in a record for an English swimmer. lie was neither paced nor protected by a tug. but in spite of this he believes he would have set up a world’s record but for fog that greatly impeded his progress. “When the fog came up I was forced to wait,” Mr Derham said last night, “for my pilots could not accurately judge what distance they wero from the land. This delay of nearly two hours prevented me from setting up a new world’s record for good Old England.” Mr Derham’s was a thrilling swim with many exciting incidents. He left Cape Grisnez at 9 p.m. on Thursday, accompanied by a small boat and a fishing smack. He made good progress, but early on the wind freshened, raising heavy waves which once nearly swamped the small boat. Later he was nearly run down by a fishing smack, ■which, however, managed to change course in time. Lost in Fog. On occasions the fog was so thick that he was lost to the accompanying vessels, and could only keep his course by following the spot light carried by one of them. During the night he never lost heart, but kept up a comfortable average of 25 strokes to the minute after the first few miles. Now and then Mr White, who was accompanying Mr Derham, entered the water and swam beside him. It was 8 a.m. before the fog lifted, and St. Margaret’s Bay, Dover, could then be sighted. Just previously Mr Derham had turned on his back and was losing speed. When he was told that the beach was in sight he turned over again, and, seeing the beach himself, became so excited that, as he afterwards said, he nearly collapsed then and there. Women’s Enthusiasm. Tearing off his gogles and his headgear, he shouted, “T am going to get there.” On the beach there was a tense and dramatic period during Mr Derham’s last effort. When only some 500 yards distant it became a question as to who would win, rrian or sea. Mf Derham repeatedly rolled over oc his back, rested awhile, turned over again, and re sumed his struggle with the intricate offset of the tide. Across the slowly but ever-lessening distance between him and the shore came in chorus, as encouragement, from a big waiting crowd, the strains of “Rule, Britannia,” and “Sons of the Sea.”

A number of pretty firls entered the water, swam out. and escorted him for the remainder of the journey. As Mr Derham touched the beach and with upraised hands waded ashore the tumultuous shout of the exuberant crowd, waving Union Jacks which np peared from apparentlv nowhere, and the lusty singing of “For he’s a jolly good fellow.” created such a volume of sound that sea-gulls perched high in the cliffs above, greatly perturbed, flew screeching in flocks overhead. Mr Derham was almost snatched out of the water as he came to rest cn the shingle, and the' crowd went delirious with patriotic joy once more an Englishman had “done it.” They crushed round Mr Derham. standing in the water regardless of getting their clothes wet: women patted him on the back, and big Kentish men lifted him shoulder high and carried him to the Green Man Hotel. On. the way he asked fof a cigarette. A woman handed him one and lit it for him, and from his seat of honour he smoked as he smiled down on the crowd. Not Finished Yet. The present was Mr Derham’s third effort. Mr Derham. by beating the record set up by Miss Ederie, won the £IOOO prize offered by the "News of the World” to the first Briton who swam the Channel in less time than the American woman. “I have not vet finished with the Channel.” he said, yesterday, after his success, “and I am going to have a try to swim from England to France.” Women Give TTp. Miss Marriot, the young undergraduate of Barnstaple, who swims under the name of Jane Darwin, put up a very plucky attempt. She got within four miles of St. Margaret’s Bay after swimming for 13 hours, when a squall came on and forced her to give up. Miss Mercedes Gleitz, the London typist, crossed to Cape Grisnez on Thursday night to make another Channel attempt, but was so affected by the crossing that she had to abandon any idea of starting on the swim. She returned to Folkestone yesterday, but hopes to attempt the swim to-day.