A Tribute To The Brickell Family of Pilots
Photo showing International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer Des Renford on left with International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Pilot Reg Brickell Sr. on right is courtesy of Ned Denison.
Reg Bricknell, Sr. from Great Britain was an escort pilot for 84 English Channel swimmers including solo crossings by Penny Dean, Helge Jensen, Tina Bischoff and Lynne Cox as well as 13 relays including the first two-way relay crossing.
Bricknell was inducted as an Honor Pilot in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in its Class of 2003. He was the pilot for most of Des Renford’s swims [see pair above] and taught his sons Reg Brickell, Jr. and Ray Brickell how to escort swimmers across the English Channel Only six years after his own induction, both Reg Brickell, Jr. and Ray Brickell were also inducted as Honor Pilots in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in its Class of 2009. The induction of the father and his sons is a well-deserved tribute and legacy for the Brickell family and the sport of channel swimming.
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