WITH the freezing temperatures of the last week rising to a balmy six to eight degrees and the sun making a welcomed visit to Crooklets Beach, Bude Surf Life Saving Club witnessed another amazing turn out for the 2009 Mike Moyle Christmas Day Swim.

The popularity of this event still continues to surprise the organisers, with so many people willing to give part of this special day, to show their support for Bude Surf Life Saving Club.

Around 2,000 people witnessed between 300 to 400 swimmers wait on the start line, for Stuart Bell to signal the start of the event by releasing a rocket. There then ensued a dash down the beach and a plunge into the two foot surf, rolling in off the Atlantic Ocean.

There appeared to be more people in the sea than at any time during the summer. The majority of swimmers, after getting wet, exited the surf a lot quicker than their entry, although some take the opportunity to stay in longer.

It still seems surreal that so many people, wearing only swim suits, are willing to take a swim in the sea, in the middle of the winter.

The club members always make sure there is plenty of safety cover, with their inshore rescue boat and rescue boards manned throughout.

The club would also like to thank members of the coastguards and the first responder unit, who also help to monitor this event. Without this type of safety cover and all the necessary assessments and statements, this type of event cannot take place on council run beaches.

As the swimmers leave the water, club members serve hot chocolate, mulled wine and sausage rolls, to both participants and spectators in the club house, before everyone goes on their way to enjoy the rest of their Christmas day.

Before the event, family and friends of Will Pates, who is serving in Afghanistan, gathered outside the club for Christmas greeting photographs, which have been forwarded to him via Facebook and directly after completing the dip, one swimmer ran up the beach and proposed to his girlfriend, in front of all the spectators. To the delight of everyone there, she accepted.

Bude Surf Life Saving Club Chairman, Adrian Parsons said: "It's wonderful to see so many happy people in one place, for such a short period of time and for this I would like to thank everyone who takes part, swimmers, spectators, club members, other rescue services and anyone else who helps make this event the success it has become. I would also like to thank Sainsburys for supplying everything for the hot drinks.

"On behalf of Bude Surf Life Saving Club and its members, may I wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year and we will look forward to see you all again at the Bude SLSC, 2010, Christmas Day swim."

See this week's 'Post' for more photos from the event.