THE annual Christmas day swim at Crooklets beach in Bude went swimmingly as more than 1,000 people entered the water to raise money for the Bude Surf Lifesaving Club.

The total amount raised is yet to be announced as the team is still counting donations.

The event was started many years ago by Peter Vickery and Mick Moyle. Following the sad passing of Mick, the event was renamed the Mick Moyle Memorial Christmas Day Swim, and has been going strong ever since.

The event is now organised by Peter and the Bude Surf Life Saving Club, with members each taking on a specific duty to ensure the event runs smoothly.

Peter told the Post: “I think there were about one thousand swimmers in the sea and just as many watching. This event is growing every year and I would say it has been a record breaking year for swimmers and a record breaking year for the amount raised — it should be emphasised how generous people were with their donations in the various buckets being taken around, hence why we don’t have a total yet as it is going to take a long time to count it all up!”

Peter said the event usually starts at 11am but this year the swimmers headed down to the sea at 11.01am following a minute silence in memory of Margaret Frost who sadly passed away on Sunday, December 22.

Peter said: “Every year we have one of Mick Moyle’s grandchildren blow the whistle at 11am to start the swim, but this year they blew the whistle at 11.01am to signal the end of the minute silence before everyone ran down in to the sea.

“It was dangerous conditions for the swim as there was a low tide, but the Bude Surf Lifesaving Club provided beach safety and created a pit where it was safe for people to swim. A big thank you to them for all their support.”

Following the swim everyone was invited to have festive mulled wine and sausage rolls.