Sunny Lowry
Toronto Daily Star, 10 August 1932
Ethel "Sunny" Lowry (1911-2008) did not succeed in her first attempt to cross the English Channel when she attempted to go from England to France. It took her support team 45 minutes to find her in the water, which must have been extremely traumatic.
Ms. Lowry also failed in her second attempt, which was from France to England on July 27 1933. She didn't give up, and succeeded in her third attempt, from France to England, on August 28 1933.
What might have helped her was that she didn't wear the heavy one-piece bathing suit that was in common use at the time. She wore a lighter two-piece suit, and was criticized for it. (The suit can be viewed here.)
She was eventually awarded an MBE, and passed away at the age of 97.
Created July 8, 2025.