Richard Royal
Political Consultant, former Parliamentary Candidate & Three-time World Record holding swimmer
Swimming Achievements
British & World Record Holder: First person to swim from Principality of Sealand to UK mainland
- Knighted by Prince Michael of Sealand in honour of the achievement
- The 12km swim in the North Sea was the subject of a short documentary film 'Escape from Sealand'.
- Over £350 raised for spinal injury charity Aspire
World Record Holder: Fastest person to swim across the River Humber
- Recognised in the Guinness Book of World Records & verified by the World Open Water Swimming Association
- Raised over £1,000 for Humber Rescue
World Record Holder: First person to complete a two-way swim across the River Humber and back
- Recognised in the Guinness Book of World Records & verified by the World Open Water Swimming Association
- Raised over £1,000 for Humber Rescue
Represented Great Britain Masters
- Competed at World Masters Swimming Championships, Budapest 2017
- Competed at European Masters Championships, Slovenia 2018 & London 2016
Captained English Channel Relay Team
- Led a team of six swimmers which swam from Dover to Calais in 14 hours & 42 minutes
- Raised over £12,000 for spinal injury charity Aspire
Swam from Alcatraz
- Braved the cold shark infested waters to swim from Alcatraz island to the San Francisco mainland
- Raised over £1,500 for children & young person's mental health charity Young Minds
Active member & organiser at local swimming clubs
- Captained West London Penguins masters swimming team
- Represented Hull, West London Penguins and Ealing at national level
- Committee Member of Humberside Water Polo Team
- Secured £1,500 sponsorship for Hull Masters 'City of Culture' gala
- Raised over £650 for World Wildlife Fund on World Penguin Day via sponsored swim for West London Penguins
Other interests and achievements
Westminster Russia Forum
- Founder and Chairman 2011-2014
- 300+ membership organisation for those interested in Russian, former Soviet & Eastern European history, politics & culture
- Successfully campaigned for British World War Two veterans to receive an Arctic Convoy medal
- Hosted events on issues such as human & civil rights; the treatment of political dissidents; Syrian intervention; US-Russia relations; Eastern bloc and the EU; WW2 arctic convoys & immigration/visa issues
- Guest speakers included gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell; former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw; Roman Abramovich's PR advisor John Mann; former British Diplomat Sir Jeremy Greenstock; journalist Andrew Pierce; paralympian Claire Harvey; Charles Tannock MEP; former Labour MP Fabian Hamilton; former Culture Secretary John Whittingdale; academics Richard Mole, Stephen White & Richard Sakwa; and authors Mark Hollingworth (author of 'Londongrad') and John Mole (author of Potato Oligarch')
- Raised over £1,000 for charity iOrphan
Charity & community work
- Founding organiser of local residents association & neighbourhood watch
- Former Trustee Director of Mind, Kensington & Chelsea
- Former press & PR officer (voluntary) for Berkshire Autism Society
- Former qualified RLSS lifesaver & swimming teacher
