Barnet Copthall swimmers will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first Channel swim by man from behind the Iron Curtain.

Macedonian Niko Nestor is the father and grandfather of two current Barnet Copthall swimmers: Victoria and Nicol.

To celebrate the anniversary of his epic swim, swimmers at the club will be swimming the equivalent distance of the English Channel during their training sessions next week. Also joining the celebrations will be Kevin Murphy, Barnet Copthall's very own King of the English Channel, having swum the Channel more times than anyone else (34 times).

Mr Nestor said: "It is wonderful to see my daughter and granddaughter following the family tradition in the pool. I am honoured that Barnet Copthall Swimming Club is taking time to remember my Channel swim 50 years ago. I hope some of the children swimming today will be inspired to challenge themselves and achieve something they are proud to remember."

Recalling his Channel swim, Mr Nestor continued: "Crossing the Channel needed superhuman endurance as well as supreme luck. I was a confirmed distance freestyle swimmer in my country, and some of my records stood for almost a decade, but the challenge to conquer the English Channel was a temptation. This was the swimming equivalent of climbing Mount Everest. My dream became a reality."

Barnet Copthall's head coach, Rhys Gormley, added: "I hope the youngsters will be motivated by Niko's achievements to accomplish the most that they can from their swimming."