People assume that everyone can swim. It’s the sport that most people say they would like to do more of, but 8.5 million adults can’t do it at all. Around 1 in 4 non-swimmers has suffered a bad water experience in childhood.

Thank goodness you have taken steps to ensure that your children enjoy the water and learn to swim for their own safety. Swimming plays such an important part if we are to enjoy the benefits - aquafit, water polo, synchro, diving, life saving as well as the beach, sailing, surfing, sub aqua and so on.

How about your swimming ability - are you a weak or non swimmer and need to build up your confidence. Why not join us before those summer holidays?

SOUTHERN WATER SWIMMER(S) OF THE YEAR 2009

 Do I really need to tell you just how well your child has done at swimming thanks to our wonderful team of dedicated teachers - Sally, Chris and Jasmin?

 So how difficult was it to choose a “Winner”? - well actually it was impossible. Our runners up are CHARLIE ALLEN and ELLIE WATSON.

 The winners are MALACHI, AMELIA & CAMERON JONES  aka Chi, Milly & Cam. All three suffer from a very rare syndrome affecting their skin, ligaments and internal organs. They have a daily routine of physiotherapy, monthly local hospital appointments, six monthly  reviews  by Great Ormond Street, which includes a fortnight’s stay once a year, all to try and keep them out of their wheelchairs. Swimming has been a serious struggle, although fatigued and with a fear of water, all three are now confident and really look forward to swimming. They have a go at all four strokes and enjoy tackling the skills.

 All these children,  were older complete beginners,  with a fear of water. After a lot of tears, refusals and frustration (and that’s only the teachers!) we now have them all swimming and happy to come. Charlie who has limited sight has achieved 200m. Ellie achieved 5m and then “forgot” how to swim, so we had to start all over again.

     CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR PUPILS,
YOU ARE ALL WINNERS 

 Anne

Newsletter Summer 2009

It’s been another great term both for our lessons and charity. After three years, we have had to say a sad farewell to Sallie, who is working in America before returning home to Essex, having now completed her degree course. 

Unfortunately, we are forced to increase the fees due to the rise in pool hire, insurance and other essential costs. The lesson prices have not changed over two difficult years. The term is also an extra week - sorry!!.

We are involved with school swimming . We can always tell children who have been encouraged to have lessons and those that haven’t. You will find our children in the school team and usually well ahead of their classmates. Swimming is a wonderful confidence booster which spills over into the rest of their lives. Also, we notice that their peers tend to look up to them, especially when they are competing. We very often find that children can excel in swimming and are not always able to prove themselves in other ways.

We were very proud that St Margaret’s won best small school at the Brighton schools gala. We have been working with this school for many years.

 We look forward to a wonderful and safe summer. Hopefully, your children will take away their water safety lesson and will never have to use it, but just in case ..... the knowledge is there.

I have to end with a big thank you to Sally and Chris for their loyalty and devotion to lessons. Sometimes I call them at 6.45am on a swimming day and say “can you be there?” and they are. THANK YOU,  Anne