Weymouth panto stars backing Christmas Day Harbour Swim
IT’S almost time for brave residents to plunge in to the cold waters of Weymouth Harbour – oh yes it is! The stars of this year’s panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, took time away from the stage to show their support for the Christmas Day Harbour Swim.
The annual event sees hundreds of kind-hearted residents jump in to the harbour to raise money for a variety of good causes.
Lee Redwood, who plays Dame Trott and is also the show’s writer and director, said: “We’re here to support the Christmas Day Harbour Swim and I will be down here on the day.
“It’s all about raising money and having a laugh and I absolutely love it.
“It was raining last year and so I couldn’t come down and get my hair wet but I’m hoping I can come down this year.
“It’s a real community event and things like the swim and Chase the Pudding you just wouldn’t get anywhere else.
Organised by the Weymouth and Portland Lions Club, the annual swim is hoping to top last year’s record of £23,000 raised by 336 swimmers and, for the first time, has the option to register online.
Norman Apps, of the Weymouth and Portland Lions Club, said: “We’re here to promote the Christmas Day Harbour Swim.
“This year we’re accepting online registrations and we’ve already had 150 people register online.
“We want to get as many people down here as possible raising money for whichever cause they wish. It’s all for a good cause.”
Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Cllr Richard Kosior will open the swim and present awards afterwards.
He said: “It’s a fantastic Christmas tradition that’s been going on for quite a few years and it’s getting bigger and bigger each year.
“I remember when you’d only get a few people coming down but last year, even though there was a bit of drizzle, more than 300 people swam.
“The mayoress has kindly volunteered to do the swim for our charities the MV Freedom and the Merchant Navy Association, so she will be taking the plunge.”