Brenda Fisher BEM (9 June 1927 – 2 August 2022) was an English long-distance swimmer. In 1951 she broke the women's world record for swimming the English Channel, becoming a celebrity, and was given the British Sportswoman of the Year Award.
Biography Fisher was born and raised in Scartho, North East Lincolnshire,"Amazing life of Grimsby's record-breaking Channel swimmer recorded in new book", Grimsby Telegraph, 8 August 2015, Retrieved 17 March 2016 the daughter of a Grimsby trawler skipper, learned to swim at the age of 9, and initially became a speed swimmer."Brenda Ready To Swim Anything Provided It’s Made Worthwhile"; The Montreal Gazette 15 August 1956. Retrieved 11 June 2012"60 years on, record-breaker Brenda recalls her race to British shores" ; Grimsby Telegraph, 16 August 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2012"Brenda Fisher"; Solo Swims of Ontario Inc. Hall of Fame. Retrieved 11 June 2012
On 17 August 1951 she was the 23rd swimmer of the English Channel from France to England, completing it in a new record women's time of 12 hours 42 minutes. She was fed every hour, keeping up a rate of 25 strokes a minute, rising to 30 as she approached England. She only learned of her time when she landed in England. She broke the previous women's record of 13:20 set by Florence Chadwick a year earlier. A crowd of 60,000 turned out to welcome her back to Grimsby.
Fisher swam the Channel again in 1954, and was the first woman ashore.; Thisisgrimsby.co.uk. Grimsby Telegraph, 14 September 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2012*"Portuguese Wins Channel Swim 1954"; British Pathe. Retrieved 11 June 2012 In 1956, Fisher completed and won the River Nile Swim, then at the fastest time."Brenda Fisher Beats Marilyn Bell Record"; Solo Swims of Ontario Inc. Hall of Fame Globe and Mail 14 August 1956. Retrieved 11 June 2012"Brenda Fisher Wins Nile Swim 1956"; British Pathe. Retrieved 11 June 2012 Fisher was asked to attend the Royal Command Performance and she was given the Sportswoman of the Year Award.
In September 1956, Fisher took part in the Lake Ontario swim from Niagara to Toronto, completing it in 18 hours and 50 minutes, 2 hours and 6 minutes faster than the previous record set by Marilyn Bell. At that point, she was the third person in history to complete the swim. She attempted the Ontario swim again in 1957 but retired after 12 hours 43 minutes,"Brenda Fisher Swims Ontario"; The Palm Beach Post, 14 August 1958. Retrieved 11 June 2012 during a thunder storm which threatened to sink her support boats.
Fisher, with Stanley Baker, was one of the judges in the 1954 Prestatyn "Easy To Love" Bathing Beauty Contest.""Easy To Love" Bathing Beauty Contest 1954"; British Pathe. Retrieved 11 June 2012
She married Paddy Johnson, footballer with Grimsby Town F.C. After retiring, she became a swimming teacher in Grimsby.; Thisisgrimsby.co.uk. Grimsby Telegraph, 9 March 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012
In 2015, her biography was published. Blonde In Deep Water was written by local journalist Lucy Wood."A story of a lady who made our town great!"; Grimsby Telegraph. Retrieved 6 March 2015
In 2016, she appeared on the BBC Television series Flog It!, to sell her Clarice Cliff 'Inspiration' vase at auction and in June 2018 she appeared on Antiques Roadshow with her collection of swimming memorabilia.
Fisher received in 2018 the British Empire Medal, as part of the Queen's New Year Honours list, for her achievements in the sport of swimming. A blue plaque in her honour was erected in Grimsby in 2017.
Fisher died from complications of a stroke in Scartho, on 2 August 2022, at the age of 95. She was cremated at Grimsby Crematorium.Pictures as Grimsby legend Brenda Fisher, 95, is laid to rest in touching ceremony, Grimsby Live, 6 September 2022
References
External links "Mass Attack On Channel 1951"; British Pathe. Retrieved 11 June 2012 "Channel swimmer welcomed home"; ITN, 23 August 1951. Retrieved 11 June 2012