A cross-Channel swimming feat brought back memories for retired engineer Phillip Kaye.

The Examiner told how swimming teacher Phil Yorke, of Mirfield, became only the 12th person in history to swim the Channel by breaststroke.

And that story struck a chord with Phillip who also made a splash in the Examiner almost half-a-century ago.

Phillip, now 78, of Fixby, also conquered the Channel by breaststroke on the same day as namesake Phil – but 49 years earlier.

It was on August 17 1966 that Phillip crossed the Channel from Cap Gris Nez in France to Sandgate near Folkestone, the opposite direction to Phil.

But the coincidence wasn’t lost on Phillip who said: “It’s just amazing. It was a real surprise when I found out we did it on the same day, albeit 49 years apart.

“It’s an experience that I have never forgotten and never will.”

Philip Kaye swimming the Channel breaststroke in 1966
Philip Kaye swimming the Channel breaststroke in 1966

The first man to swim the Channel unaided was Capt Matthew Webb in 1875 and Phil became the 12th person to complete the swim by breaststroke and the seventh fastest, landing in 18 hours and two minutes.

Phillip, who has a daughter and two grandchildren, would love to find out where his swim ranks and hopes that records exist to prove his place in history.

Phillip worked for a Halifax firm at the time and his boss gave him £300 and use of the company car, a Vauxhall Victor, to make the trip to the south coast.

He had already had two aborted crossings, one when he was pulled out of the choppy seas just half-a-mile from making it across.

“It was agonising,” said Phillip. “At least I made it third time lucky.”

Phillip was accompanied all the way by Examiner journalist Peter Muff who witnessed the feat from the support boat.

The Channel distance is always measured as 21 miles but Phillip, who lost a stone in weight during the swim, actually clocked up 68 miles as he battled the spring tide.

Philip Kaye who swam the Channel breaststroke in 1966

He made the crossing in 16 hours and 16 minutes.

An yellowing observer’s report from the time shows Phillip fuelled his swim every hour with coffee, honey and Lucozade.

Phillip succeeded despite a painful start when he waded into the sea and cut his stomach on a sharp piece of iron.

“I called for help to the boat and they said to have a feel and if it’s not too bad just get on with it as you’re in saltwater! It cut my trunks, though.”

Phillip, who can only swim breaststroke, also had another shocking experience approaching Folkestone when the Royal Navy picked an inopportune moment to blow up an old wreck as he passed nearby.

“The Daily Mail reported at the time that I was blown from one side of the boat to the other but that was journalistic licence,” he said.

Phillip was a keen open water swimmer who took up the sport as a bet with his dad that he couldn’t swim five miles across a Marsden reservoir.

Solo cross Channel swimmer Phil Yorke who became the 12th person ever to complete the swim by breaststroke.

He conquered the reservoir and then Lake Windermere – doing double the length in 17 hours and 10 minutes – before moving on to the Channel.

“It’s certainly an experience that has stood me in good stead,” he said.

On his return home he was given a civic reception at Huddersfield Town Hall.

* Stroke survivor Dee Llewellyn, 37, of Kirkheaton, had been due to be part of a Channel crossing relay record attempt last weekend but the swim was postponed due to stormy conditions.

Dee, head of maths at Netherhall Learning Campus in Rawthorpe, doubts the swim will go ahead this week and said: “It’s just so stormy down here. It looks like being later in September or October.”