Stamp of approval

We have given Grantham strongman Ross Edgley our stamp of approval by including congratulatory messages on letters following his Great British Swim.

Ross became the first swimmer to swim around Great Britain after spending 23 weeks at sea.

The 33-year-old crossed the finish line off the coast of Margate, Kent, just before 9am on Sunday, 4 November after swimming an astonishing 1,792 miles in total - the equivalent of swimming the Channel 85 times.

The day after completing his mammoth swim, Ross tweeted: ‘Woke up today to find Royal Mail have put congratulatory Great British Swim messages on everyone’s letters around Great Britain. I’ve literally no words, just a massive sense of pride for our country and gratitude.’

Swimming for up to 12 hours a day, Ross battled against strong tides and storms and endured no less than 37 jellyfish stings. He also ate more than 600 bananas and used three kilograms of Vaseline to prevent chaffing.

Earlier this year, Ross entered the Guinness Book of World Records when he became the first British person to swim the length of Great Britain, completing the 900 mile distance from Lands’ End to John O’Groats in a record time of 62 days.