Golden years
Yvonne's five brothers were keen athletes. I used to run around
with them and that's how I met her. I asked her if she'd write to
me during the war and she agreed. We were married six months after
I returned from India and we've never been apart since.
She warned me that if we were going to last, I'd better take up
swimming. It was a legacy in her family, a real passion. That was
63 years ago and now it's impossible to imagine our lives without
each other and without the water.
We swim every day, all year round. We have a pool in our garden.
It's not much but it's big enough for us to jump in and do a few
lengths on weekday mornings. On Saturdays we swim in the Serpentine
at Hyde Park, then on Sunday we race at the Tooting Bec Lido.
I've been racing at Tooting Bec for 60 years now. We go every
week and race whenever the water's above four or five degrees. It's
like a big family: we all look out for each other, look forward to
seeing each other and have coffee and cake after the race, then do
three cheers for the winner.
Last year, they held the World Cold Water Swimming Championships
here. It was quite the coup because people travel from all over to
compete. The Finns even donated a sauna to the pool for the
occasion. We had a hot tub and a funny hat competition.
It was a particularly special day for Yvonne and I as we both
raced and won gold! It's just a shame we were the only people
racing in our age groups! But a win is a win and we're just so glad
we can still come here and swim.
There's nothing else like it in the world. I love being in the
water with her. It makes you feel so free and keeps your body and
mind fit. The day we give up swimming will be the day we give up
all together.