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Jersey’s States has presented the Churchill Award for Courage to Sally Minty-Gravett in recognition of her two-way non-stop English Channel swim last year.
The award which was set up in 1965 using money left over from a public appeal in the Island to honour the memory of Britain’s war-time prime minister, Winston Churchill, is given to mark “acts of endurance and perseverance”.
Sally is only the seventh recipient of the award in its 50-year history.
A three-person panel of trustees – the Bailiff, Sir William Bailhache, the Greffier of the States, Mark Egan, and the Treasurer of the States, Richard Bell – are responsible for nominating recipients.
Sally’s swim from England to France and then back to England on the 29th and 30th August 2016 – covered more than 42 miles – and took her 36 hours 26 minutes. She is one of only a handful of people in the world to have achieved the feat. Another of those is fellow islander and Churchill Award winner, Wendy Trehiou, who took 39 hours and 9 minutes to accomplish it in August 2013.
The award was presented to Sally by the Bailiff in the presence of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor in an intimate ceremony in the States building.
Commenting on the award the Bailiff, Sir William Bailhache, said: “Sally’s achievement is commendable and demonstrates the true meaning of courage. The Churchill Award acknowledges Sally’s commitment and perseverance not only for completing this formidable challenge, but recognises it is an achievement which follows five decades of Channel swims, a tremendous achievement. This award rightly acknowledges personal efforts and continues to demonstrate that the Island has a number of adventurers, who are prepared to go that extra distance both physically and mentally.”
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