SEnine
FEATURE
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Youngest Channel Swim in History
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contact is allowed but food whisked off to immigration control with the right encouragement 07
can be passed down by pole, at Folkestone before heading into and eff ort.”
and Thomas consumed 10 a media scrum at Dover harbour His successful education led
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tins of tomato soup during which was to make him national to further endurances of a yet
his 11 hours and 54 minutes news that night. more challenging type. An army
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at sea. Round after round of media career involved offi cer training
“Yes, I was very appearances are compiled on at Sandhurst, then six years with
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apprehensive when I stood a DvD which Thomas’ parents, the 1st Bn The Royal Anglian
on the shore in France. It was Nick and Mary, hold as one of Regiment, which took in tours
dark and I was smothered in their dearest possessions and of Northern Ireland, Afghanistan
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sheep’s wool fat to add an memories of the day. and Iraq led to Thomas, a Captain,
extra layer of protection. These include sitting on the leading platoons of up to 60 men,
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“But I had complete trust TVam sofa alongside Selina Scott the training and discipline of his
in my coach, his experience and becoming the envy of every early life his backbone.
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and his expertise. If he didn’t child in the country – and a He even brought back a
think I was ready to do it, he good many of its men-folk – by squad of his army battalion to the 21
wouldn’t have suggested it.” having a gold Blue Peter badge Channel to attempt its own relay
Thomas’ cold weather gently attached to his chest crossing, bringing back memories
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training was the key and by the vivacious presenter and of his swim of 1988.
for months previously, he daughter of Gloria Hunniford, Now, using his economics
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had slept with his windows Caron Keating, herself to die at 41 degree from Birmingham and
open to acclimatise his of breast cancer. masters in Global Economics, he
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body to lower temperatures. “Everything came together at works for Goldman Sachs.
The tragedy of the Brazilian the right time to make that swim In civvy street, living in
woman, one of three to die in and my record a possibility. The Godalming with wife and young
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the Channel, was the result of club, its coach, the weather and daughter, at 31, and working at a
training that had mainly been the tides.” merchant bank, Thomas Gregory
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in warmer climes. It was a moment which will last has more conventional challenges
Thomas remembers there forever in Thomas’ mind but the to confront. But the impossible is 33
being four phases to the elements which made it happen already behind him.
swim; the fi rst being real fear had soon fragmented.
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and apprehension, then a pleas- John Bullett’s stroke the
ant phase of progress, replaced following year and subsequent
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gradually by depression, despair death meant the club, which still
and agony as body temperatures meets, went into decline. The
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and sugar levels decline; fi nally death of the Brazilian woman,
near hallucinations, imaginings and the attempts by others to
and automatic pilot of a body op- encourage yet younger people to
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erating by instinct alone. beat Thomas’ record, led to a ban
The 20 mile crossing is being placed on swims by anyone
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lengthened to over 30 by the under 16, ensuring that it is a
actions of two tides, to form an ‘S’- record that will never be bettered.
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shaped journey. “Colfe’s is a great school for
The unaccompanied three developing all round talent 47
footsteps on dry land required by both in the classroom and out
the record-keepers to complete and I hugely enjoyed my time
a successful swim were taken at there”, he said.
Shakespeare Point, just below the “I hope my story serves as an
cliff s of Dover. inspiration and shows what can
Bizarrely, he was required to be be achieved by young people
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