A record total of over 300 people including some of our Inner Wheel members, including President Melanie Coulbert,( whos husband, Richie, our President, was there to cheer her on), dived in to the Solent for the 28th annual Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Services (GAFIRS) swim. Several thousand people thronged the shoreline to watch the swimmers, some of whom wore fancy dress, immerse themselves in the cold waters at Stokes Bay, and our Rotarians helped in fancy dress to collect contributions. The mayor and mayoress of Gosport signalled the start of the swim, which followed an exercise by the local lifeboat and a Coastguard helicopter demonstrating their life-saving skills. Organisers said many of those who took part were raising money for charities, with more than 20 good causes set to benefit from the event. Rotarian Colin Davey, the treasurer of the GAFIRS, said: It was a bit breezy but I think everyone enjoyed it. There were 351 people who took part. With the large number of people who turned out to watch, I dont think there is a bigger New Years Day swim in the country. Some people wore fancy dress, including a Spider-Man and a Beatnik. And there were three or four people who barely had anything on. Divers, lifeboats and lifeguards in canoes are always placed in the waters as a precaution but the swim passed successfully without incident, officials from GAFIRS said.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 23:10:49 +0000
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