Captain Webb

Captain Matthew Webb was the first man to swim the Channel in August 1875.  Two years later, on 25 June 1877, he hosted a ‘Grand Aquatic Fete’ at Rudyard which included a demonstration of his channel swim in front of a big grandstand full of people.  It was estimated over 25,000 people were present and that on a Monday!  Shops and factories in the neighbourhood and Leek were specially closed for the occasion.