Taunton Prep children swam the English Channel to help save a local pool from closure
Taunton Prep pupils braved cold waters and jellyfish to swim the English Channel from Dover to Cap Gris Nez to help save their local Wivey Pool from closure.
The group of boys and girls – some as young as 12 had all trained in open waters for two years prior to this testing challenge. All of them swam the 21 miles successfully, raising a total of £6,000. There were 18 pupils in total, and they swam in three teams of six. They are believed to be among the youngest groups ever to take on the Channel swim challenge.
Taunton Prep pupil Jess, 12, says: “I was a bit nervous swimming the Channel because of jellyfish and swimming in the dark but we have been training in the sea at Lyme Regis so I’ve trained in the dark and been stung before so I felt properly prepared”.
“We trained at Wivey pool when there was ice and frost on the ground around the pool – the Channel felt warm compared to that!” says her team mate Olivia.
Chair of Wivey Pool in Taunton Liz Hurry says: “Wivey Pool is very grateful, impressed and in awe of whatthe children achieved – not just the money, but the whole Channel swim itself. It’s just amazing. Thank you very much’ seems an easy thing to say for what was an incredible thing to do.”
Taunton Prep School tauntonschool.co.uk
Further reading: Dauntsey’s student is record breaker
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