Janet Kissack (nee Alexander)

In 1955 Janet, with her friend Rene Huntley, appeared in local Manx papers in August after swimming across Douglas bay:

The Isle of Man Examiner reported:

"Two 16 years' old local girls, Rene Huntley and Janet Alexander swam Douglas Bay on Sunday morning. They completed the swim from Port Jack - where they entered the water a 10:33am - in 56 minutes. Rene's father accompanied then two girls in a rowing boat. Both members of the revived Douglas Swimming Club, Rene and Janet finished fit and smiling. Their only unpleasant experience was stings from a jelly fish. Their route for the swim was from Port Jack to the Peveril steps."

Isle of Man Times:

"On Sunday two 16-year-old Douglas girls swam Douglas Bay, from Port Jack to the Peveril Steps in 57 minutes. Both Rene Huntley, of "Roslyn" 9, Roslyn Terrace, and Janet Alexander, of "Lynton" 12, Crosby Terrace, are members of the Douglas Swimming Club. The girls said the only snags they encountered were jelly-fish stings."

Janet and her sister Diana moved to the Island as their father was travelling with the British Army. He was BQMS Frederick A Alexander and in the late 1950's was serving in Nairobi, Kenya. Because of his travels Janet and Diana stopped with Mr & Mrs J.J Morrison, who lived in 'Lynton', 12 Crosby Terrace, Douglas and Mrs Morrison treated them as 'daughters'.

They spent many years on the Island, benefiting from stable schooling (perhaps not available whilst Dad travelled) and an active life.

Diana married top cyclist Ron Killey and shortly after that Janet travelled to Hong Kong to marry Manxman Roy Kissack (see Marriage in Hong Kong)