Hilda James

Life James was born in 1904 to Gertrude Acton and John James. Her father was a postman and window cleaner. She began training at the Garston Baths in Liverpool.

By the time she was 16, she was the best choice to go to the Olympics, but her speed was no match for the Americans who took most of the medals. There were not many swimming events for women, but the British relay team took silver in the freestyle relay. By 1924, she held every British record from 100 yards to the mile. She should have gone to the 1924 Olympics, but she was yet 21, and her mother demanded that she should be sent too as a chaperone. In the standoff over this, James lost her place. She resigned from this job in 1927 as she was to be the first woman to swim the English Channel. She prepared in France, but no attempt was made that year, Another attempt by James was proposed for 1928 but it never happened. One source says that during this time she was still working for Cunard.

She married (William) Hugh McAllister in 1930 who worked on Cunard's luxury liner Carinthia. They had one child, Donald Hugh McAllister.

Hilda died in 1982 in Birkenhead.

Records She held seven world records and 29 English records and every British record from 150 yards to one mile.