A Memorial to Tony Mellett

In memory of a Redcap..... Tony Mellett

 

Redcaps were overcome with grief and sadness recently when instead of the usual Facebook banter of "who's swimming where" and "jeez, that was cold today", we were horrified to open our facebook page to the following message from Club Chairman, Iain Keenan.....

Redcaps raise their arms and slowly enter the water

A moving tribute swim for Tony.

........This is the hardest and saddest news that I have ever had to communicate as Headcap. Our good friend and dedicated REDCAPS member Tony Mellett has tragically and unexpectedly passed away following a heart attack. Our thoughts, feelings and love go out to Sarah and his family at this extremely shocking and difficult time. Tony was a big character in many ways. Those that knew Tony knew him to be a warm, friendly, kind and loving man with a great sense of humour. The fact that ...he was so well known in the club to all members young and old is testament to his warm character. He loved his swimming and was a key member of the REDCAPS. His dedication won him the 2013 Redcaps Swimmer of the year trophy and he was currently in training for his second go at the Channel relay. I am still in shock with the news and can't quite believe it. We will all miss him so much but he leaves us with some amazing memories and a passion for swimming that I hope will endure in all of us. We are a club and a community and I know you will all support Sarah and her family at this time. In the coming weeks and months we will think of special ways in which we can pay our respects but please can I request that at this time we allow Sarah and her family the space to come to terms to their tragic loss. We will also support each other as I know what a huge loss this is to all of us........
 


The saddest Crowstone Crawl ever

Sarah's Story.....

Standing on the shoreline looking out to sea

Wishing that my husband was standing here with me

A part of me is missing now; now that he has gone

Each day for me a struggle as I try to carry on

 

We came together 20 years ago and married 2 years later

Almost 18 years of happiness our love could not be greater

Taken now so suddenly for me a massive loss

Making joint decisions neither one of us was boss

I look out on the ocean I feel your hand in mine

I know that you are with me; I know you’re doing fine

Onward I must travel now but I can feel you near

My grieving heart is shattered but today I feel no fear

 

Once you were a soldier many years ago

A protector of this land of ours, and the seeds we sow

Fighting for this country your flag the union jack

All of this a memory now, no time for looking back

 

Standing on the shoreline looking out to sea

I smile as I remember as you swam away from me

Family and friends will miss you; tears will now be shed

All we have are memories now stored inside our head

Every family member from the smallest to the tall

The children and their offspring here we name them all

Paul and Chris and Toni, (she was a daddy’s girl)

Tom and Sam and Sally each one a special pearl

 

 

Grandchildren made the number up adding to the fun

It really made no difference be it granddaughter or grandson

Emily, Rhiain, Isobelle, Riley, and James as well

You adored them all you see, and everyone could tell

Blue & Ace and Poppy we were due to see them soon

And there was always the new arrival due, yet another boon 

But Tony was the biggest kid high fiving with the best

Playing games and boggie swapping, along with all the rest

 

Further back in time we go, still more there is to tell

Parents Jim and Bridget, I bet you gave them hell

Brother Allan and twin sisters, Debbie and Tricia too

Every single one of them will miss you like I do

 

You were a special person touching all those that you met

A caring, considerate and loveable guy never any regret

Funny and so witty when amongst your friends

But still private when it mattered I adored you to the end

 

Your passion for the open water it would never wane

Every opportunity would find us here again

Sometimes I would wonder did you love it more than me

This love affair, this passion with the wonder of the sea

 

Standing on the shore line lost but not alone

Watching the waves rolling in, white and topped with foam

Remembering your smile that captured my own heart

Tony I may miss you but we will never really be apart.

 

 

Champion of Champions

Fellow Redcaps, Jane Bell and Lesley Cook swam in the Champion of Champions event in Memory of Tony Mellett.  H2o magazine published the longest day which you can read here followed by a moving tribute to a true champion.  Rest in Peace Tony. x.

Champion of Champions - In Memory of Tony Mellett 

 

 

Champion of Champions

 

Redcaps 15K Challenge 2012

Code Name : CPCPCPC

Date : 21 July 2012

Time : 12noon

Challenge : 3 laps, Crowstone to Pier and back. (15kilometers)

Time available : 6 hours max

Contenders : Ben Jaques, Lorraine Rate, Derrick Griffiths, Stuart Watson, Kirsty Fehily,

Support Crew : Iain Keenan, Jane Bell, Paul Docker, Michael Tongie
Support swimmers, Helen Wildin, Michael Tong, Iain Keenan, Julie Dempsey, Mike Grout, Ollie Southgate, and several more.

Beach Support : Far far too many to mention, (Lesley, Julie, Clare, Tracy etc etc.) and what a great team they were.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. 6 HOURS, 6 SWIMMERS, 1 TIDE IS DONE! 

The first ever Chalkwell Redcap Charity Challenge AND whats more, we are all alive to tell the tale.   And what a journey we had too.  There were highs and lows, and ups and downs along the way especially, when code name SKS had to become code name CPCPCPC, due to the lack of support from the PLA. :(    But not to be deterred, we still did it.  5 swimmers in the end attempted the whole challenge and all 5 succeeded, The sixth swimmer, Alex Edge unfortunately, could not attempt the challenge.   Happily it was because she had just been chosen to swim for Essex in an open water meet the very next day so she needed to conserve energy.  Congratulations to Alex.

Mother Nature only gave us about 5 1/2 hrs of decent swimming before she took our water away, but we forgive her because she gave us fantastic weather and perfect swimming conditions.  The challenge started with Ben Jacques briefing all the swimmers on the best way to head out to find some decent depth of water.   Follow me as I know where the deep water is he said.  Lorraine and Kirsty then went the other way and spent at least 15 minutes in ankle deep water, doing some strange kind of walk along the sharp stones, going the wrong way !!!!  Lesson to oneself - listen to the master!

Dozens and dozens of supporters made it a very memorable event. Here is support swimmer Mike Grout and bucket shaker, Tracy Bliss.   Lots of the support swimmers achieved first time bests for distance covered by swimming some of it with us so well done to them too.

Ben, Stuart and Derrick - Time to go.  Barely enough water to hold a stroke together but time was against us so we set off at the first opportunity.

Die hard Jane Bell who kayaked the whole 6 hours and spent the last two of it with her bottom half submerged in water due to having to keep removing her cover to reach for the drink bottles!  

Various instructions were left for the beach crew so they knew exactly how to look after the swimmers at the end of each leg.

Whilsts some opted for life support, Mr Jacques went for a good old banana

Perhaps Ben should have opted for the life support and Jelly Beans.  Here he is at the  very end looking a little worse for wear and having finally run out of water.  Chris Rate, support swimmer looks on to make sure he can walk!

Kirsty Fehily and Lorraine Rate - Glad its all over

Helen Wildin - Support Swimmer

                                                                                          

And finally, here is Jane Bells summary of the days events.

Queens Jubilee Charity Swim Challenge - June 5 2012 - By Lorraine Rate

We doing Skins or suit today?

5 June 2012, in order to boost funds for our Chalkwell Redcap 2012 Charity Challenge, I organised a Queens Jubilee Charity Swim in the River Crouch at South Woodham Ferrers.




27 swimmers took to the water, all agreeing to donate £5 towards our chosen charities.

I think we are swimming that way !





Brrrrr ! defo suit for this one



Hurry Up Lorraine - We are freezing - Can't we just Swim

I see Mrs Tyrant is'nt swimming, but she makes damn sure we have to.

Im going half suit, half skin !

Weather looking gloomy, but it was actually OK

Distances of 1/2, 1 or 2 miles were set for the challengers and flags were set along the coastline to mark the various distances.

Swimmers were invited from The Chalkwell Redcaps Open Water Swimming Club, Blackwater Triathlon Club, Chelmsford
Swimming Club, and a few of my other long term swimming mates from days past.

  



Must pay attention to Mrs Tyrant's Rules !



The Charities are RNLI and Essex Search & Rescue.




The majority of the swimmers took to the water in a wetsuit with a few die-hards going without.

Boats all ready, and they're off

On the day, we collected nearly £400, and added to the on-line donations, the event raised approximately £500 for charity.

Bye Mrs Tyrant - Nice knowin ya

 I was relieved that the day  went without a hitch. 

And they came out smiling.

Well almost.  Un-be-known to everyone, I got there very early with the intention of lining the coast with Red, White and Blue balloons.  On opening my boot, they all flew out in the wind and all popped on the bramble bushes! - great start !. 

Lovely picture

Fighting back the tears, coz clearly my whole day was now ruined because of my lost balloons - on my own, I then had to chase a rolling black sack full of balloons up the road to try to prevent loosing the remaining few.  Hilarious! and so glad no one witnessed it!  Do I laugh or do I cry?

More smiles

Thank God Derrick arrived early to assist in putting up the flags as Chris had had a last minute calling to the golf club!!!!! say no more !!!!! so I had no 'set-up' assistance.

And even more, so glad you enjoyed it

I guess the flags went un-noticed on the day as the wind prevented me from hanging them across the poles that I had bought down, so we had to make do with twisting them round a fence post.   They were there honest!

Special thankyou has to go to all the volunteers that offered their time and valueable experience to making the event run smoothly. 

Yep, head still there !

Kayak and boat support from Chalkwell Redcaps Open Water Swimming Club, Blackwater Triathlon Club, SWF Yacht Club, and close friend and past Channel Swimmer 'Water Slave' Karen Eyles, along with husband Roger, provided additional kayak and first aid support.

All the trouble I went to getting a celebrity, and no-one even
noticed Noel Edmunds swimming

Volunteers collecting money, selling raffle tickets, checking swimmers in and out of the water, feeding them home made cakes, all gave their time free of charge.

Must get the crabs off me toes before I come out

The generosity of all those involved meant that every single penny raised was able to go direct to the charities.  So thankyou everyone.

A special thank you goes to Lee at The Whalebone Pub who catered superbly with 50 hungry mouths all decending in the pub at the same time for a social.






Lee donated additional money and a fabulous raffle prize of a 'meal for two' at The Scrimshaws restaurant (which I am delighted to say, was won by a Redcap, Julie Dempsey).  He fed all the hungry swimmers free of charge.

Look at all those lovely prizes.

I am absolutely delighted that all swimmers enjoyed the day and the swim. Without the full support of everyone involved, I could not have done this so a very special personal thankyou from me.

Special thanks to our No. 1 kayaker, Andy.

I was wondering how to thank Lee for his generosity and Derrick Griffiths came up with the idea of a group of us doing a training swim in the Crouch, you can all pop back to mine afterwards to use the hair-dryer and put your lippy on (men as well if nec.!) and then I could book a table in Scrimshaws restaurant and we could all go for a nice meal.  All interested, email me your names and I will organise a nice little dip for us soon.

Phew, all counted in and out safely.

And so to the raffle.  Only possible because
many people donated prizes.  I would suspect
at least another £50 was taken in raffle money.
Thankyou.

Happy Days.

THE COUNTDOWN TO C.P.C.P.C.P.C IS ON. ONLY 6 WEEKS TO GO !

And Mrs Tyrant didn't even charge for the cakes or drink - thats a first!

2012 - A New Challenge - by Lorraine Rate

Following the disappointing cancellation of SKS, not to deter the swimmers from attempting a challenging 6 hour swim this summer, the 6 swimmers have decided on a 'safer' but equally as exhausting challenge of swimming from The Crowstone in Chalkwell to Southend Pier and back again, 3 times over. 

This equates to approximately 15 kilometers and with only one tide to complete the 3 laps, it will be made even more difficult by the fact that they will be swimming against a fast incoming and fast outgoing tide for two of the lengths.

• The first length, as the tide comes in, will be tough but the swimmers will be fresh and strong.
• Length two should be relatively quick as the tide will still be incoming as the swimmers return to the Crowstone to complete lap 1.
• Lap 2 hopefully should not cause too much of a problem, as long as the weather is kind.
• Length 5 will be swum with an out-going tide, so although the swimmers will be extremely tired, provided they are on target, they will have the force of nature on their side.
• Length 6 will be THE KILLER.  6 tired, exhausted swimmers will only be able to reach their goal and get back home, by swimming against a strong outgoing tide.

As soon as we have the exact date that all swimmers are available, I will advertise it.  I do hope lots of you will come down to the beach to support the challenge.  It would be nice to have some company too.  If you want to swim alongside one of the swimmers for a section of the challenge, I am sure they would be grateful for the company.

The swimmers will need as much support between laps as they can get so any volunteers willing to wade out and pass some jelly-beans, bananas or go-faster drink would be welcomed.

As the swimmers are doing this challenge to raise money for the RNLI and Essex Search & Rescue, any volunteers willing to walk the beaches with the charity buckets to grab a few donations, would also be gratefully received.  Please email Lorraine Rate on bettsyhouse@hotmail.com or catch her at one of the Crowstone Crawls if you are able to offer your support on the day.

Thank you.

SKS 2012 - Cancelled. By Lorraine Rate

Sadly SKS has been postponed for the swimmers 2012 Charity Challenge.  Attached is the letter received from The PLA to the swimmers, which after careful consideration by all  involved, it was agreed that Olympic year was not the year to attempt this.

Not to despair, and so as not to let our charities down, all challengers will shortly decide on an alternative so be sure to keep an eye on the blog for the announcement.

A big thankyou to the huge list of volunteers which were all lined up to support this challenge.  Your enthusiasm to help the swimmers to succeed was and will remain, very much appreciated.

My Queens Jubilee Charity fund raising swim will STILL GO AHEAD, as we will continue to support our charities.

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.

PLAYING THE WAITING GAME

Last week saw the letter of approval finally go off to the PLA for our forthcoming charity challenge.  No news yet, but here is a copy of the letter that I am waiting a reply to.

                                    5 April 2012

Mrs L Rate

5 Raymonds Close

South Woodham Ferrers

Essex

CM3 5NZ.

07773 952323

Captain Roy Stanbrook

PLA Harbour Master

Port of London Authority

London River House

Royal Pier Road

Gravesend

Kent

DA12 2BG

Dear Mr Stanbrook

                                    

SOUTHEND – KENT – SOUTHEND

CHARITY SWIM CHALLENGE

PROPOSED DATE – JULY 15 2012

I am writing to you on the recommendation of Mr Den Freeman (Southend RNLI) to seek your advice and support with regards to our proposed forthcoming Charity Swim Challenge from Southend-on-Sea, Essex (approximate location 51.5347 N, 0.6938 E) to Allhallows, Kent (approximate location 51.479 N, 0.6437 E) and back again on 15th July 2012, (weather permitting or nearest possible date thereafter). The high tide on the 15th July 2012 is predicted to be at 0935 GMT with a height of 4.8m (at Southend) with a swimmable depth of water available approximately 3 hour before high tide to 3 hours after it. This tide was chosen as it is close to a neap tide therefore with less flow of water compared to a larger tide.

We understand that the PLA did give approval for this challenge in 2003 to Mr Peter Rae, a member of the Essex Yacht club. He was granted permission by Captain Gordon Dickens and had a successful crossing, both ways.

Following on from our 2011 Christmas Charity Challenge, The Echo newspaper spoke to Martin Garside, spokesman from the Port of London Authority, and I quote, said “Clearly, such an activity does raise potential issues, not least because it would involve the need to cross very busy shipping lanes. “As with any such activity, our primary interest is the safety of anyone taking part in an event and the safety of the many other users of the Thames Estuary.” “Given those safety issues, very careful and detailed discussion with the organisers would be needed to work out an appropriate way forward.”

This response was welcomed by us. As the safety of all our swimmers and the other users of the Thames Estuary is our utmost priority, I am hopeful that discussions can be forthcoming. Primarily, I request your formal approval as we will not undertake this challenge without it.

Whilst we already have on hand kayak support, motorised vessels, life jackets, radio control etc. in place, we clearly also need to undertake expert advice on safety requisites. The RNLI have advised we should have one motorised craft per two swimmer ratio in addition to the one on one kayak support.

We fully intend to keep the Southend RNLI, the Southend Foreshore Office and Chalkwell Lifeguards informed at all times with our proposed plans.

The reason for our challenge is to raise money for Southend RNLI to assist in the new boathouse project PF2069. The project is to replace the existing old boathouse and the temporary hovercraft hanger, located on the eastern side of the pier on the seawall, with a new modern facility. The new boathouse will house the D-Class inshore lifeboat, the Search and Rescue Hovercraft and a launching tractor, also giving better facilities for the volunteer crews that give up their time so freely to provide this search and rescue service.

We also have another charity, Essex Search and Rescue whom we aim to also raise a large sum of money as being totally non government funded, rely entirely on donations.

We currently have 14 swimmers who have been training extremely hard throughout the winter for this challenge. From those 14, we intend to choose a maximum of 6 swimmers. Hence our charity title, “6 Swimmers, 6 Hours, only 1 tide”. All our swimmers are experienced open water swimmers and have demonstrated that they are more than capable of swimming the minimum 15km distance required.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the above with you and trust you will get back to me at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely

L Rate

Ladies Captain

Chalkwell Redcaps Open Water Swimming Club