PEOPLE’S PUBS

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: february 2010 :: RMTnews 28 A s a merchant seaman Matthew Webb (1848-1883) was to show the same courage that was later revealed in his daredevil swimming stunts. Born in the mining village of Dawley, four miles from Wellington, he joined the merchant navy at the age of 14. When a fellow crew member fell overboard in the middle of the Atlantic, young Matthew did not hesitate in diving in to rescue him. As a result he became the first ever recipient of the Stanhope Gold Medal for Bravery. His reputation of being fearless had been built up from childhood when he learned to swim in the strong currents of the River Severn near his birthplace. It was while he was serving on a steamship in 1873 that he read about a failed attempt to swim the English Channel and became determined to attempt it himself. Violent storms meant he had to abandon the first attempt after seven hours in the water on August 12, 1875. The historic second attempt, making him the first ever person to achieve the feat, took place 12 days later. He set off from Dover and after eight hours' swimming he was stung by a jellyfish. But, fortified by a generous measure of brandy supplied by the boat following him, he pressed on. By dawn the next day he was in sight of the French coast at Cap Gris Nez, but the tides against him were so strong that he had to swim another five hours before being able to reach shore at Calais. He had swum 39 miles in 21 hours 40 minutes. An instant hero he was welcomed by crowds wherever he went and he was able to make a living as a swimming showman. Because swimming the rapids of the Niagara Falls between America and Canada was considered impossible he found it an irresistible challenge - one which was to be his downfall. He jumped in on the United States side on July 23, 1883, but was dragged under by the currents of a whirlpool after just ten minutes. His body was found four days later, and he was buried at the age of 34, in a nearby cemetery. Because the attempt to swim the rapids was considered suicidal he was deemed by his local church at Coalbrookdale to have committed the sin of killing himself. The church decided it could not have a memorial to him as a sinner inside its building, but allowed one outside. CAPTAIN WEBB BAGLEY DRIVE, SHROPSHIRE PEOPLE’S PUBS - Words by Mike Pentelow, Pictures by Peter Arkell The stained-glass window of Capt Webb in the Champion pub (courtesy of artist Ann Sotheran).