Bill Pickering (swimmer)
{{Short description|English swimmer and vegetarian}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Bill Pickering
| image = Bill Pickering Vegetarian Swimmer.png
|birth_date = 19 July 1921
|birth_place = Overseal, Derbyshire
|death_date = 17 August 2014 (aged 93)
|death_place = Burton on Trent
| occupation = Swimmer
| spouse = Clarrie Pickering
}}
Bill Pickering (19 July 1921 – 17 August 2014) was an English swimmer known for long-distance open water swimming. He attributed his swimming success to a vegetarian way of living.{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000769%2F19561121&page=5 |title=A Channel Swimmer Tells How He Did It|newspaper= Coventry Evening Telegraph|date=November 21, 1956 |page=5}} {{subscription required}}{{cite news|last=|first= |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000766%2F19560210&page=7|title=Diet Played Part in Swim Success|newspaper=Walsall Observer |date=February 10, 1956 |page=7}} {{subscription required}}
Biography
Pickering was born in Overseal, Derbyshire and moved to Bloxwich in the 1950s to work as a baths manager.{{Cite web|last=Mike|first=Lockley|date=2014|title=Midland Channel swimming legend Bill Pickering dies aged 93|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/midland-channel-swimming-legend-bill-7646123|website=Birmingham Mail|language=en-GB|archive-date=August 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824114718/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/midland-channel-swimming-legend-bill-7646123|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2014|title=Channel swimming legend Bill Pickering dies at 93|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-news/2014/08/22/channel-swimming-legend-bill-pickering-dies-at-93/|website=Express & Star|language=en-GB|archive-date=November 8, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20221108000724/https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-news/2014/08/22/channel-swimming-legend-bill-pickering-dies-at-93/|url-status=live}} In August 1954, Pickering won the Morecambe Cross Bay Championship and was the only competitor to cross the finishing line.{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0005341%2F19540804&page=11|title=Trains on Honey and Raisins: Channel Contender Wins Cross Bay Swim|newspaper=The Visitor |date=August 4, 1954 |page=11}} {{subscription required}} He trained on honey, raisins and a black current drink.
In August 1955 he obtained a World Record for the 21-mile England to France crossing in 14 hours and 6 minutes, beating Florence Chadwick's fastest time record.{{Cite web|date=2014|title=Bill Pickering 1921-2014|url=https://www.channelswimmingassociation.com/news/78/bill-pickering-1921-2014|website=Channel Swimming Association|language=en-GB|archive-date=June 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240605213248/https://www.channelswimmingassociation.com/news/78/bill-pickering-1921-2014|url-status=live}} He was 1 hour 28 minutes faster than any other man. In regard to his record, Pickering commented "I could not have done it if I had not been a vegetarian". Pickering's vegetarian diet consisted of dairy products, fruits, grains, honey and vegetables.{{cite news |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000669%2F19560827&page=1|title=Channel Swimmer Trains on Honey|newspaper=Birmingham Gazette |date=August 27, 1956 |page=1}} {{subscription required}}{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003294%2F19581101&page=7|title=Channel Swimmer at the Rotary Club|newspaper=The Rugeley Times |date=November 1, 1958|page=7}} {{subscription required}} He stated that he swam the channel on two cheese sandwiches and a glass of milk and it is not necessary to eat meat to maintain health. Pickering stated that during training he eats four to five pounds of honey per week and drinks two pints of milk a day. In 1958, he swam the Firth of Forth.
In 1967, Pickering was the first man to make a direct crossing of the Wash, the 21 mile stretch from Butterwick to Snettisham beach in seven hours and 41 minutes.{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003311%2F19670907&page=9|title=Former Overseal Swimmer Makes First Direct Crossing of the Wash|newspaper=Burton Observer & Chronicle |date=September 7, 1967 |page=9}} {{subscription required}} In 1969, he gained a new swimming record for crossing the Penarth to Weston-super-Mare Bristol Channel in 6 hours 20 minutes.{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003126%2F19690807&page=10|title=At 48 Big Bill Gains A New Record|newspaper=Express and Star |date=August 7, 1969 |page=10}} {{subscription required}} Pickering became the first man to swim the Bristol Channel both ways in 1970.{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0004844%2F19700828&page=44 |title=Pickering Sets Two Way Record|newspaper=Wall Observer |date=August 28, 1970|page=44}} {{subscription required}}
His trainer was Lewis Latham.{{Cite web|date=2022|title=Bill Pickering. Great Britain|url=https://www.channelswimmingdover.org.uk/content/photo/bill-pickering-great-britain|website=Channel Swimming Dover|language=en-GB|archive-date=August 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813121029/https://www.channelswimmingdover.org.uk/content/photo/bill-pickering-great-britain|url-status=live}} He was a vice president of the Channel Swimming Association. Pickering retired in 1986 and moved back to Overseal.
Personal life
Pickering became a vegetarian at the age of 17 and remained one for the rest of his life.{{Cite web|date=2005|title=Vegetarian Champion Swimmer|url=https://www.ibiblio.org/veganviews/vv104.pdf|website=Vegan Views|language=en-GB|archive-date=June 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613231302/https://www.ibiblio.org/veganviews/vv104.pdf|url-status=live}} He was a member of the Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club.{{cite news|last=|first= |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000766%2F19610120&page=12|title=Successful Cyclists Get Their Awards
|newspaper=Walsall Observer |date=January 20, 1961 |page=12}} {{subscription required}} He was guest of honour at the first annual dinner of Preston Vegetarian and Food Reform Society in 1957.{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000712%2F19571214&page=5|title=Vegetarian's Dinner|newspaper=Lancashire Evening Post|date=December 14, 1957|page=5}} {{subscription required}} In 1973, he was President of the Birmingham and West Midland Vegetarian Society.{{cite news|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000727%2F19731005&page=21|title=Swimming Bid that Failed|newspaper=Surrey Advertiser and County Times |date=October 5, 1973 |page=21}} {{subscription required}} In August 2005 he delivered a talk for the Shropshire Vegans and Veggies group.
He married Clarrie in 1941, they had no children. He died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Burton on Trent, aged 93.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.channelswimmingdover.org.uk/content/photo/bill-pickering-channel-swimmer Bill Pickering, Channel Swimmer]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pickering, Bill}}
Category:British male long-distance swimmers
Category:English vegetarianism activists
Category:English Channel swimmers
Category:English male swimmers
Category:Sportspeople from Derbyshire
Category:Sportspeople from the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall