2012 PRE - SEASON PARTY - HERE COMES THE SEASON - by Lorraine Rate

April 21 2012 saw our AGM and pre-season open water party under way.  After the formalities of the AGM, it was time to mingle amongst all the new faces that have signed up for another season of open water swimming and to get to know all the newbies.

I personally would like to say a huge thankyou for the many raffle tickets and cakes that were purchased on the night, enabling a mahoosive donation to go to the RNLI and Essex Search and Rescue.  Total money raised on the night was £337.57.

This of course, was only possible because of the fabulous prizes that were up for grabs.  Gifts donated by Gill and Dawn of Tri'n'Swim well, Havens Hospice, Stubbers and H20 magazine meant that ticket sales soared.  Thankyou to everyone else that also kindly donated bottles of plonk, chocolates and bottles of perfume as it is this kind generosity that helps us raise funds for our chosen charities.

So lets tell  you a little about our chosen charities.

Our first being the RNLI.
Completely non-government funded, the RNLI need £17,000 by August 2012 and £75,000 by the end of 2012 to help with the build of a new boathouse and slipway adjacent to Southend Pier and which will speed up their response time for swimmers in difficulty.  So right on our home ground, this charity holds a soft spot in all our hearts.

Next one up is Essex Search & Rescue.
Another non-government funded charity that relies totally on its donations to ensure that all the volunteers are equipped and trained professionally in the tough job they are frequently faced with.  If your child did not return home from school one day, you would want to know that the team out there searching for your loved one is equipped with the best resources for the task ahead.  So again, a very worthwhile charity.

So, a big thank you from me for enabling us to send both some money.

But, lets not forget what the evening was really about.  A chance to meet your fellow Redcaps with their clothes on for a change!  My goodness, didn't we look different.  Gone were the shivering, blue, goose bumped bodies that we are all used to seeing and hey presto, we don't arf scrub up well dont we?

Here's Ben, our Club Captain filling everyone in on the challenge that six of our members will be attempting this summer.  I hope he sobers up before the day tho.  So, over and out for now, and looking forward to the first Crowstone Crawl next Sunday.  Bring on the Sunshine.  See you all next week.

From Left to right, (in the shadows) Helen Wildin, our Social Secretary, Derrick Griffiths, Lorraine Rate, our Ladies Captain, Mike Grout, our challenge T'shirt designer and Ben Jacques, our Club Captain.