| Bill Pickering | |
| 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 British swimmer known for long-distance open water swimming. He attributed his swimming success to a vegetarian way of living.[1] [2]
Pickering was born in Overseal, Derbyshire and moved to Bloxwich in the 1950s to work as a baths manager.[3] [4] In August 1954, Pickering won the Morecambe Cross Bay Championship and was the only competitor to cross the finishing line.[5] He trained on honey, raisins and a black current drink.[5]
In August 1955 he obtained a World Record for the 21-mile England to France crossing in 14 hours and six minutes, beating Florence Chadwick's fastest time record.[4] [6] He was 1 hour 28 minutes faster than any other man.[6] In regard to his record, Pickering commented "I could not have done it if I had not been a vegetarian".[1] Pickering's vegetarian diet consisted of dairy products, fruits, grains, honey and vegetables.[1] [7] [8] 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.[1] In 1958, Pickering stated that during training he eats four to five pounds of honey per week and drinks two pints of milk a day.[8]
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.[9] In 1969, he gained a new swimming record for crossing the Penarth to Weston-super-Mare Bristol Channel in six hours 20 minutes.[10]
In 1958, he swam the Firth of Forth and in 1971 at the age of 50 swam the Bristol Channel.[4]
His trainer was Lewis Latham.[11] He was a vice president of the Channel Swimming Association.[4] [6] Pickering retired in 1986 and moved back to Overseal.[4]
Pickering became a vegetarian at the age of 17 and remained one for the rest of his life.[12] He was a member of the Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club.[13] He was guest of honour at the first annual dinner of Preston Vegetarian and Food Reform Society in 1957.[14] In 1973, he was President of the Birmingham and West Midland Vegetarian Society.[15] In August 2005 he delivered a talk for the Shropshire Vegans and Veggies group.[12]
He married Clarrie in 1941, they had no children.[3] He died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Burton on Trent, aged 93.[4]