Local Press Article
Tenby's crazy Boxing Day bathers stampede into the sea off
the town's North Beach on Monday.
Nearly 600 crazy Boxing Day bathers have splashed their
way into the record books in Tenby. A crowd of around 3,500
people packed every vantage point around the resort's North
Beach on Monday to enjoy the colourful sight of 572 men,
women, and children - many in fancy dress - charging for
the water at the crack of a coastguard maroon. The swim
was, however, particularly poignant for three survivors
of last year's Boxing Day tsunami.
Solicitor Paul Cowper, his step-daughter Jo Brindley and
Will Hammond had a miraculous escape from the tidal wave
which struck Tangalle, the resort where they were staying
in Sri Lankan. In memory of those who had lost their lives
in the tragedy, they placed orchids on the water. And it
was fitting that START, the Sri Lankan Trust to Aid and
Rebuild Tangalle charity, founded by Paul, his wife Jane,
Jo and Will, was chosen to be one of the main beneficiaries
by swim organisers, the Tenby Sea Swimming Association.
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The Wales Air Ambulance, the Jubilee Sailing
Trust, Portfield School, Haverfordwest, and Tenby Playgroup
are among the others set to benefit from the 35th annual dip,
sponsored this year by Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire.
The town's Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter, and her deputy,
Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, were not only on hand to give a civic
salute, but also joined in the fancy dress theme of 'Legends',
donning spectacular costumes as 'The Tenby two in tribute
to the Jackson Five'. Others included a host of Elvis Presleys,
The Supremes, Ancient Greeks, Knights of the Round Table and
the Pied Piper of Hamlin.
One swimmer who braved the briny in just a pair of swimming
trunks was Shane Baird from New Zealand, who is in Pembrokeshire
for Christmas visiting family in Pembroke Dock. While some
dippers were out of the chilly water - said by coastguards
to be around 10 degrees - and back to claim their new-style
commemorative medal and t-shirt in a moment, other hardy souls
frolicked in the water, with some even swimming out to the
lifeboat, the RFA Sir Galahad, which was anchored just off
the shoreline and made the final Boxing Day launch of her
career.
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