This is a picture of the very first swim back in 1984 and depicts 10 of the 17 that first entered the icy waters. The event was only ever meant as a one off to raise funds for the new sports club changing rooms & equipment for the medical centre, but 30 years later it is one of the premier events in the county calendar. A Swim has been organised at Saundersfoot since 1984 by Saundersfoot Festivities. The very first swim was on Boxing Day in 1984 when just a handful of hardy locals got together and entered the sea for charity.
The following year it was decided to switch the swim to its now infamous New Year’s Day slot and over the years the swim has grown in stature and occasion with over 1000 swimmers regularly taking part with thousands more watching and supporting around the village’s beachfront and harbour. It has become the biggest occasion on the Saundersfoot social calendar and has helped raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for local and national charities. the 2009 swim raised over £46,000, and the 2012 swim attracted a record 1,700 swimmers.
Two individuals , John Joseph and Chris Williams, have taken part in every single new year’s day swim.
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ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF GARETH DAVIES PHOTOGRAPHY
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