When it comes to swimming, the wild ones head for the Thames. Fiona Adams hears how a lucky dip could put the zest back into life...
Here’s a dilemma. It’s New Year’s Day and – with any luck – glorious dawn, frost twinkling through the sunlight of a new decade. Bearing in mind that you probably have a hangover and have spent a good chunk of the past month imbibing tipples and hoovering up canapés, will your thoughts turn to: a) rolling over and burrowing deeper into the duvet; or b) springing out of bed, donning your cossie and heading down to the Thames for a spot of wild swimming?
Crazy as it sounds, it was the latter course of action that a handful of spirited local women chose in January 2019. Eschewing their respective duvets, together they braved the cold waters and went on to found Surrey Outdoor Swimmers (SOS).
Today, on the eve of their first anniversary, the Swimmers have accrued more than 1,000 members, from all walks of life, aged from 20 to over 70.
Among the converts is Emma Richards, from Hampton, who took the plunge back in the summer after suffering chronic depression and anxiety. Having heard about the benefits of wild swimming from her GP and in the media, Emma first dipped her toe in the water at Shepperton Lake.
“At the time I was in a deep depression,” she recalls. “It was really quite bad. At first, I was terrified, but that first lap changed my life! I was euphoric after finishing and wanted to get straight back in. That was what inspired me to connect with Surrey Outdoor Swimmers.
“But, again, I almost didn’t go to my first organised swim. I had turned up at the meeting point, waited, and then lost my nerve. I was walking out when everyone arrived and stopped me. They said: ‘Where are you going? Come on, get in the water!’”
That first group swim was a real turning point for Emma, and over the past six months, she has felt her physical and mental wellbeing go from strength to strength.
“It galvanized me. I didn’t believe it could have such an impact, but over the subsequent weeks I noticed my mood lifting; wild swimming started to make a real difference to me.
“The whole experience is so inclusive. There’s no body shaming, everyone has their own story and it’s really joyful. There’s peace and playfulness to be found in the water.
“With wild swimming, you feel that you can wash away your woes. Ju and Jess, who first welcomed me into the SOS tribe, have a saying: ‘Take it to the river.’ It’s all about unburdening and shrugging off your worries – when you get into the water your shoulders just drop. Of course, there’s the shock from the temperature, but afterwards, you experience a huge wave of warmth.”
Many wild swimmers and triathletes head first to Shepperton Lake, a family business that aims to provide the best swimming ‘without the walls’. But over the winter, when the lake is closed, it is the Thames that draws hardcore fans. There are lots of clean, safe stretches and SOS holds spontaneous swims most days. Whatever your schedule, there is sure to be a slot for you.
Moreover, aside from the temperature – and the odd passing boatman asking ‘Is it cold in there?’ – there are no downsides at all. Well, not many.
“Someone was harassed by a swan,” laughs Emma. “And the ducks are very inquisitive too. People often come out on their balconies to take pictures. Oh, and a passing dog once snaffled all our post-swim flapjacks. But it’s all part of the fun. There’s lots of chit-chat, lots of banter. It’s just a really diverse community with a great sense of togetherness.”
Perhaps 2020 is the year to go wild about swimming?
For Shepperton Lake opening times and prices: sheppertonopenwaterswim.co.uk. Remember, if you see anyone in difficulty in the water, phone the emergency services and ask for the Coastguard.
