Of Swim The Door
This page recognizes all those friends (erh and some strangers) who have Swam The Door with me be it along or in a group. You are all veterans even if some of you (technically speaking) have never actually got in the water!
After an extraordinary (un-minuted) meeting of the veterans sub-committee of Swim the Door (UK) and numerous rounds of voting, it has been agreed that a veteran will now be defined as:
1. People who have at least one STD under their belt/trousers/skirts within a five year period
2. People who get STDs without wearing wetsuits (“unless it turns out to not be warmer than last year”)
3. People that turn up!!
Note 1. Therefore, the previously existing rigorous and (un) transparent process of adding new veterans to the STD “roll of honour” has been abandoned (which in-effect has been the case since 2017).
Note 2. Afterall, if you are prepared to turn up, swim in the sea through a sea arch in (at times) rough conditions and in what (some say) is cold water YOU ARE ALL VETERANS.
“Roll of honour!” (year by year)
For pre 2005 photos see
http://www.diggersworld.net/swim-the-door/prehistoric-swim-the-door-pre-2005/
2005:
The first “big one”
Digger (Sa to Su), Richard (Sa), Dan E (Sa & Su), Russell (Sa & Tu), Rolfe (Su), Jo L (Mo), Dan L (Mo), Julia (Tu), Lorraine (Tu), Graham A (Tu & Th), Sandra A (Tu & Th), Neil (Tu & B1), Sandra B (We & B1), Chris S (Th & B1), Zoe (Th & B1), Lizzy (Th & B1), Kev (Fr), Jen (Fr), Christiane (Th, B1 & Su), Sarah (Fr), Greg (Fr), Emily (Fr), Megan (Fr), Hanna (Fr), Jes (Fr), Mike T (B1), Roger (B1), Dave (Fr, B1 & Sun), Helen (B1), Mark P (B1), Ron (B1), Pete (B1), Graham (B1), David G (B1), Rosemary (B1), Bethany (B1), Joscelyn (B1), Matt (B1), Catherine (B1), Alison (B1), Pamela (B1), Johnny (B1 & Su), Rog (B1 & Su)
2006:
Alex (Sat. 1x canoe assist), Alison (Sat. 3x STD), Annette (Sun. 1x STD), Christiane (Sat & Sun. 6 x STD), Dave S (Fri & Sat. 2x STD), David G (Fri, Sat & Sun. 4 x STD), Diana (Sat. 1x STD), Digger (Fri, Sa & Su. 12x STD), Graham (Sat. 1x STD), Harry (Sat. 1x canoe assist STD), Heidi (Sat. 1x canoe assist), Helen (Sun. 2x STD + canoe assists), Johnny (Sat. 1x STD), Joscelyn (Sat. 1x STD), JT (Sat & Sun. 5x STD), Julia (Sun. 3x STD), Lew (Sat. 1x STD), Mark (Sun. 2x STD + canoe assists), Neil W (Sat. 1x STD), Pamela (Sat. 1x STD), Rob (Sat. 1x STD), Rog (Sat. 1x STD), Ron (Sat. 1x STD), Russel (Sun. 3x STD), Sandra (Sat. 1x STD), Syann (Sat. 1x STD), Zoe (Fri. 1x STD)
2007:
Alison (Sat. 3x STD), Andrew (Sat. 1x STD assist), Catherine (Sat. 3x STD), Chloe (Sat. 2x STD), Christiane (Sat & Sun. 10 x STD), Dave S (Sat. 2x STD), David G (Fri, Sat & Sun. 8 x STD), Diana (Sat. 3x STD), Digger (Fri, Sa & Su. 20x STD), Graham (Sat. 1x STD), Harry (Sat. 1x assist STD), Helen (Sat & Sun. 5x STD + canoe assists), James (Sat. 2x STD), Johnny (Sat. 3x STD), Joscelyn (Sat. 3x STD), JT (tbc), Mark F (Sun. 2x STD), Mark P (Sat. 2x STD + canoe assists), Matt (Sat. 2x STD), Neil W (Sat. 1x STD), Pamela (Sat. 1x STD), Rob (Sat. 1x STD), Rog (Sat. 2x STD), Ron (Sat. 1x STD), Sandra (Sat. 3x STD), Syann (Sat. 1x STD), Zoe (Sat. 1x STD)
2008:
Diana (Sat. 1x STD), Digger (Fri, Sa & Su. 15x STD, 1x little door), Graham (Sat. 1x STD), Helen (Sat. 1xSTD + canoe assists), Johnny (Fri 1x STD, Sat. 3x STD), JT (Sat. 1x STD), Kelly (Sat. 1x STD), Lee (Sat. 1xSTD), Mandy (Sat. 3x STD), Mark P (Sat. 3x STD canoe assists), Mark (Sat. 1x STD), Rog (Sat. 2x STD), Rolfe (Sat. 5x STD, Sun 5xSTD, 1x little door), Ron (Sat. 1x STD), Sandra (Sat. 1x STD), Russell (Sat. 1x STD), Syann (Sat. 1x STD), Zoe (Sat. 1x aborted STD), Inflatable elephant, dolphin, donkey, zebra (Sat. 1x STD)
2009:
Year of the “incident” that we don’t mention any more….. (only the “survivors” shown in photo)
Attendess came from Bedfordshire (Zoe, Mark, Taran, Maya, Helen, Mark, Christiane & Digger), Buckinghamshire (Jonny C), Leicestershire (Jo, Toby, Danny), Plymouth (Collette), London (JT, Jono, Diane, Alex, Heidi, Phil), Brighton (Ron, Syann, Ella, Megan, Justin), Oxford (Rog), Woking (Sandra, Graham & Emily), Kent (Tasha), Petersfield (Diana, Andrew & Harry), Guildford (Rolfe), Dorset (Julia, Russell, Chloe, Mike, Ciorstaidh, Alex), Lulworth (first responders), Bournemouth Hospital (1 x helicopter) and various other rescue services.
2010:
Year after the year of the “incident” that we don’t mention any more….
Allan (Sat. 5x STD), Bobby The Dog (Sat. many randomx STD), Bryar (Sat. 1x STD), Christiane (Sat. 3x STD), Di (Sat. 5x STD), Digger (Fri, Sa & Su. 15x STD, 1x little door), Graham (Sat. 1x STD), Helen (Sat. 3xSTD + canoe assists), Jo (Sat. 3x STD), Julia (Sat. 2x STD), Louise (Sat. 5xSTD, Sun 1x little door), Mark P (Sat & Sun manyx STD canoe assists), Mark (Sat. 1x STD), Rog (Sat. 2x STD), Rolfe (Sat. 5x STD, Sun 5xSTD, 1x little door), Ron (Sat. 1x STD), Russell (Sat. 3x STD), Sandra (Sat. 1aborted STD), Zoe (Sat. 1x aborted STD)
2011:
Year after the year after the year of the “incident” that we don’t mention any more….
Alex W (no STD but a regular supporter), Alex T (no STD but plays a mean football), Andrew (no STD but canoe & barbee assists), Bobby (Sat. STD in honour of Jake), Chloe (no STD but entered the artwork competition), Christiane (Sat. STD maintaining veteran status), Ciorstaidh(no STD but first year as a weekender), Diana (Sat. STD with no wetsuit and guide for Bobby), Diane (no STD but regular supporter of event and camped this year!), Digger (Thurs, Fri, Sat, Mon STD), Emily (no STD but entered the artwork competition), Esmie(no STD but surely soon), Graham (no STD but did create the website), Harry (no STD but was seen in a canoe witha strange man with hair claiming to be his Dad), Heidi (dry land abort), Helen (Sat. and Mon. STD aborts), Jason (no STD but has promised to get in training for next year), James (no STD but did put on wetsuit and get quite dirty), Jono (Sat. STD swam in preparation for the London-Brighton bike ride), Julia (Sat. STD maintaining veteran status), Lorna (no STD but has promised to get in training for next year), Louise (Sat. STD 2nd year running and still no wetsuit), Lucy (Sat. STD respect!), Mark P (Mon. accidental STD and many others sat in rescue canoe), Mark (of the 2009 incident-no comment), Maya (Sat. STD respect!), Mike (Sat. STD- no wetsuit), Rebecca(Sat. 2x STD no with one without wetsuit), Richard (no STD but has promised to get in training for next year), Russell (Sat. STD maintaining veteran status), Sandra (Sat. STD and CPK co-coordinator), Taran (no STD but surely a prospect of the future), Tasha (Sat. STD respect!), Teresa (Sat. 3x STD at least but no need for the wet suit next year!), Zoe (dry land abort).
2012:
Barny (no STD but in training for first wolf to STD), Chloe (no STD but entered the artwork competition), Ciorstaidh (no STD but camped!), Digger (gutted to say only Sun STD), Emily (no STD but entered the artwork competition), Esmie (no STD but cured of fear of dogs- sort of), Graham (no STD but did create the website), Helen (Sat swim and Sun STD without wetsuit- respect!), James (no STD but did come along way), Jono (no STD but brought sick note), Jonney C (Sat swim and Sun STD without wetsuit- respect!), Julia (no STD), Louise (no STD or swim- whats going on?), Lucy (no STD despite coming a very long way), Luke (no STD but did it when he was minus 6months), Mark P (no STD and conditions too rough for rescue canoe), Mark (of the 2009 incident-no comment), Maya (Sun STD, her second unassisted, respect!), Mike ( no STD), Rebecca (Sun STD), Richard (no STD but I’m sure he promised to get in training for next year), Russell (no STD but did get back from Isle of Man in time to attend), Saffron (no STD but looked keen and its her first year), Sandra (no STD and CPK co-coordinator), Taran (no STD but surely a prospect of the future), Teresa (Sat swim), Toby (no STD but told us about some good drinking games), Zoe (Sun pathetic “swim”, heroic and unexpect Sun STD).
2013:
Chloe (no STD but entered the artwork competition), Digger (STD), Emily (STD award-see below), Graham (STD award: casual swim), Helen (STD veteran and without wetsuit- respect!), James (no STD but did come along way), Jono (no STD but did man the rescue canoe), Jonney C (STD veteran without wetsuit- respect!), Julia (STD veteran without wetsuit-respect!), Louise (STD), Lucy (no STD despite coming a very long way), Luke (no STD but did it when he was minus 6 months), Mark P (no STD but manned the rescue canoe all of Saturday), Mark (of the 2009 incident-STD- no comment), Maya (STD, her third unassisted, nearly a veteran, respect!), Mike (no STD), Rebecca (STD, must learn to do it with everyone else!), Richard (no STD but supplier of barbee, respect!), Russell (STD veteran without wetsuit, respect), Saffron (no show), Sandra (STD veteran and CPK co-coordinator), Steve (a STD virgin till this year!), Taran (no STD but surely a prospect of the future), Teresa (STD, despite wearing a wetsuite working towards veteran status), Zoe (STD award- most improved- difficult to believe).
2014:
Chloe (first ever STD and entry in this years artwork competition), Digger (STD), Emily (non-chicken pox STD and entry in this years artwork competition), Graham (STD and regular winner of the casual swim award), Helen (STD veteran and never wears a wetsuit- say no more, respect!), James (no attendance this year but entered for “best football-linked excuse” award), Jess (first ever STD and first ever recorded Huddersfield Town fan to do it), Jono (STD and entered for the “most improved” swimmer award), Jonney C (STD veteran, attendee at early bird Friday swim but now wears a wet suit even though it “gets warmer every year”!), Julia (STD veteran and mother of STD child), Julian (many STD and first ever recorded Bradford City fan to do it), Lorna (looked a natural, got very wet, but didn’t leave the shore), Louise (STD and missing from the group photo as “too keen to get it over with”), Lucy (STD and brought “new blood in the form of Jess“), Luke (no official STD but according to his mother “did it when he was minus 6 months”- legal case pending), Mark P (no STD but manned the rescue canoe all of Saturday- hero!), Mark (STD and of the 2009 incident which we promised not to mention again -oops!!), Maya (we are beginning to lose count of the number of STDs so must be a veteran now and probably the youngest ever- respect!), Richard (no STD but official group photographer), Russell (STD veteran without wetsuit, respect), Rog (many STD and although wears a wet suit a bit too often was seen in “skins” at one point), Sandra (STD veteran, mother of STD child and CPK co-coordinator), Sarah (many STD and surely mother of prospective STD children?), Taran (first ever STD- respect), Teresa (many STD and despite wearing a wetsuit close to veteran status), Zoe (STD veteran and even mother of two STD children- what happened to the old screaming Zoe? Oh entered for the best screaming in an inflatable canoe on the sea competition!).
2015:
Aja (STD), Andrew (first attendance for a while and partner of STD swimmer), Chloe (attendee and previous winner of artwork award), Chris (attendee for first time in 10 years and partner of STD choppy Saturday swim), Chris (attendee and non STD swimmer), Di (first STD for a while and not in a wet suit, welcome back), Cole (first attendance and, like his mother, was heard to promise to swim it next year), Digger (STD), Ella (first attendance for a while, welcome back, and best fossil finder), Emily (STD and winner of 3rd STD in row by person under 11), Graham (STD and regular winner of the casual swim award), Helen (STD veteran and regular winner of “wetsuit are for wimps” award), Jo (first attendance in a while and supplier of “The ultimate STD fire-water”), Jono (STD, social secretary, facebook co-ordinator and entered for the “most improved” swimmer award), Jonney C (STD veteran, attendee at early bird Friday and choppy Saturday swim, but now wears a wet suit even though it “gets warmer every year”!), Julia (STD veteran and mother of STD child), Liz (first attendance but I’m sure she promised to “swim it next year”!), Lorna (attendee and regular winner of “I’m lost, is Dorset in South London?” award), Louise (not far off being a STD veteran and best supplier of 50 year old spectacles), Luke (a regular attendee since before he was born, but no official STD although his mother claims “he did it when he was minus 6 months”- legal case pending), Mark P (no STD but manned the rescue canoe all of Sunday- hero!), Mark (STD and of the famed 2009 helicopter incident which we promised not to mention again -oops!!), Megan (first attendance in a while and winner of the best birthday card- children’s- award), Richard (a regular attendee who I understand is still looking forward to his first STD), Ron (first STD for a while, welcome back), Russell (STD veteran although his misses now forces him to wear wetsuit- sounds a bit dodgy), Rog (STD veteran in all but name and travelled by boat and foot to attend), Sandra (STD veteran, mother of STD child and CPK co-coordinator), Sandra (first STD for 10 years, non wet suit and during choppy Saturday swim, respect!), Syann (first attendance in a while, welcome back, and partner of a STD veteran), Uncle Bulgaria (first attendance and STD), Ursula (1st STD that we know of and on choppy Saturday and not in wet suit, but we don’t actually know her real name- this is what Jono called her as he photographed her coming out of the sea “thinking she was Sandra my lord”), Zoe (STD veteran and mother of STD child veteran, did you know she ran the London Marathon this year?!!).
2016:
Caroline (a STD virgin until this year, Sat STD x 1), Chloe (child of STD veterans, regular attendee and previous winner of artwork award, Sat STD x 1), Christiane (returned after several years absence to claim her STD veteran status, Sat and Sun STD x many), Digger (Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun & Mon STD x many), Emily (a STD child veteran who has attended every year of her life and winner of artwork award, Sat STD x 1), Graham (STD and regular winner of the casual swim award, Sat STD x 1), Heidi (first attendance for several years and promised to swim it next year- well that’s what I heard! Sat STDIC x many), Helen (STD veteran and regular winner of “wetsuit are for wimps” award, Sat STD x 3), Jono (STD social secretary and facebook co-ordinator, Sat STD x 2), Jonney C (STD veteran and attendee of the early bird Thursday swim if only he could have found Digger, Sat STD x 2, Sun STD x 1), Julia (STD veteran and mother of STD child, Sat STD x 1 non-wet suit), Julian (argued by some, well Teresa, to be a STD veteran. Legal case pending, Sat STD x multiple but un-supervised), Louise (STD veteran and bride to be, Sat STD x 2?), Luke (a regular attendee since before he was born, but no official STD although his mother claims “he did it when he was minus 6 months”- legal case pending), Mark P (no STD but manned the rescue/photography canoe- hero!), Mark (STD and of the famed 2009 helicopter incident which we promised not to mention again -oops!! Fri, Sat, Sun & Mon STD x multiple), Neil (did he really attend? did he really swim? did he really bring the best “sign” and “worst” Gin ever? Sat STD x 1 despite parental advice), Richard (a regular attendee who I understand is still looking forward to his first STD once he gets married!), Russell (STD veteran and attendee of the “May reconnaissance swim), Sandra (STD veteran, mother of STD child and CPK co-coordinator, Sat STD x 2?), Teresa (argued by some, well herself, to be a STD veteran. Legal case pending, Sat STD x multiple but un-supervised), Zoe (mother of STD child veteran and consistently voted “most improved STD”, did you know she ran the London Marathon last year?!! Fri & Sat STD x multiple- we would never have believed it if we weren’t there!).
2017:
The year we finally stopped counting how many STDs we all have/did
Chloe, Christiane, Digger, Emily, Graham, Helen, Isla, Julia, Jonney, Louise, Luke, Mark, Mark, Mystery women 1, 2 & 3, Richard, Ron, Rosie, Sandra, Will, Zoe.
2018:
BACK ROW: Louise, Jono, Zoe, Ron, Johnny, Graham, Julian, Teresa, Sandra
FRONT ROW (the young un’s): Mark, Digger, Sophie, Lucy, Daisy, Emily, Unicorn
BEHIND THE CAMERA: Richard
STILL ON A31: Daryl and Jan
2019:
BACK ROW: Unknown toddler, Courtney, Deby, Zoe, SLC, Mark, Russell, Graham, Sandra, Ron, Richard, Louise, Digger
FRONT ROW: Daryl, Jono, Julia, Chloe, Luke, Emily, Daisy
BEHIND THE CAMERA: Jan.
PRESENT BUT NOT THIS BEACH: Jonny
STILL ON WAY (or lost): Lorna
2020:
Least said the better
Only one attendee this year=Covid 19
2021:
Back, but on a reduced scale “covid bubble” scale.
L-R= Emily, Pineapple, Chloe, Sandra, Graham, Daisy, Julia, Fuzzy, Mark, Zoe, Digger, SLC, Jono, unknown small boy
“Inspirational” words from some of the veterans
Digger
In an unstable and rapidly changing world it has provided me with considerable stability- in a fluid sort of way. Also I guess you could say that I have nothing else to do and its is my event so I guess I have no choice but to turn up every year!.
(1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 (Jan 1st), 2001, 2002?, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Christiane
It was a bit scary but I went with the flow and can definitely confirm that ‘Swim the Door’ veterans do it in the sea.
(2005 incl. participant in the 100th STD of that year, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Helen
The water just gets hotter and hotter every year (ed. well I think thats what she said!!)
(2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 abort, 2010)
Jo
Before I went into the water in 2011 I needed a pee, but after getting in I had other things to worry about (and I am not talking about my nails!)
(2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Julia
After I ‘Swam the Door’ in 2006 it opens a new door in my life because I fell pregnant and now fear the implications of doing another STD
(1998, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011-saved from demotion STD)
Russell
Every time I ‘Swim the Door’ it makes me feel buoyant again.
(1998, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
JT
Before I ‘Swam the Door’ my life had no meaning, but then a door opened to a whole new world (AND it made my hair go a bit funny).
(1999, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 abort, 2010. Currently under investigation for lack of recent attendance and strange hair style)
Rolfe
Despite winning the Near Drowning award in 2005, I have been coming back year on year in the hope of winning another award.
(2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Currently under investigation for lack of recent attendance)
Ron
With regard ‘Swim the Door’ I never get carried away and knew I wouldn’t die in a silly doorway.
(Easter 2000 in Force 9 gale, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010)
