Tom Blower

{{Short description|British swimmer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Use British English|date=July 2012}} {{Infobox swimmer | name = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | full_name = | nickname = | nationality = | national_team = | birth_date = {{Birth date text|1914}} | birth_place = Hyson Green, Nottingham, England, UK | death_date = {{Death date and age|1955|1914}} | death_place = Nottingham, England, UK | height =  | weight =  | spouse = | website = | strokes = | classification = | club = | collegeteam = | coach = | medaltemplates = }} '''Tom Blower''' (1914–1955; nicknamed "Torpedo"<ref name=BBC /><ref name=NP />) was a British man who on 27–28 July 1947 became the first to successfully swim the North Channel between Ireland and Scotland, completing the feat in 15 hours and 26 minutes.<ref name=SI>{{cite magazine | date = 21 October 1963 | title = The jolly giant of the sea | first = John | last = Lovesey | magazine = Sports Illustrated | url = https://vault.si.com/vault/1963/10/21/the-jolly-giant-of-the-sea | accessdate = 2009-02-03}}</ref> In spite of multiple attempts by others, the North Channel would not be successfully crossed by a swimmer again until 12 September 1970, when it was accomplished by Kevin Murphy.<ref>{{cite news | title = Irish Channel conquered | publisher = The Washington Post and Times-Herald | date = 12 September 1970 | page = E3 | url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/145306042.html?dids=145306042:145306042&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=SEP+12%2C+1970&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Irish+Channel+Conquered&pqatl=google | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121019083033/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/145306042.html?dids=145306042:145306042&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=SEP+12%2C+1970&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Irish+Channel+Conquered&pqatl=google | url-status = dead | archive-date = 19 October 2012 | accessdate = 2009-02-03 | quote = Kevin Murphy 21-year-old Londoner, swam the Irish Sea from Ireland to Scotland today, a feat accomplished only once before.}}</ref> Blower also swam the English Channel several times, with a personal best speed of 13 hours and 29 minutes in 1937 that set a new record, shaving the previous best by 23 minutes.<ref name=SI/><ref name=BBC>{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/articles/2008/04/11/tom_blower_feature.shtml | title = Torpedo Tom Blower | date = 2008-11-04 | accessdate = 2009-02-03 | publisher = BBC}}</ref>

Born in Hyson Green in 1914, Blower was a resident of Nottingham until shortly before his death of a heart attack in 1955, when he resided in Dartmouth.<ref name=BBC/> A long-distance endurance swimmer, Blower practiced in the River Trent near The Meadows.<ref name=BBC/> The son of a miner, Blower was a decorated World War II hero who gained celebrity status for his swimming prowess.<ref name=SI/><ref name=BBC/><ref name=NP>{{cite news |url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/history/day-nottingham-swimming-legend-torpedo-6601946 |title=The day Nottingham swimming legend Torpedo Tom Blower made world history |first=Paul |last=Speed |newspaper=Nottingham Post |date=5 March 2022 |access-date=25 December 2022}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blower, Tom}} Category:1914 births Category:1955 deaths Category:British male long-distance swimmers Category:English male swimmers Category:Swimmers from Nottingham Category:Royal Navy personnel of World War II Category:Royal Navy sailors Category:Military personnel from Nottingham Category:English Channel swimmers Category:20th-century English sportsmen