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July 2021 July 2021
Tiger Moth, a remarkable man! Working Together protocol with Town and Parish Councils
Open water swimming throws We are currently working with the Dorset Association of Town and Parish Councils
up some interesting people to (DATPC) to
talk to.
prepare and provide clarity on how Dorset Council and Town & Parish Councils will
The club has a long tradition in work together positively to deliver services locally while respecting mutual rights as
e n c o u r a g i n g c h a n n e l separate and sovereign democratic bodies. When this is complete, I will publish
swi mme rs wi th e l e ve n the complete document.
successful solo swims last year
and six already this year. Seven
channel relay swims involving Climate Change Progress
club members had already
taken place this season. I was Dorset has been cited as a national leader in council climate change and
introduced to Nick Adams, a ecological policies
committee member and nine Councillors have recently been told of how Dorset Council is to spend a £19 million
times conqueror of the government grant to reduce its carbon footprint – initially with 35 projects, which
channel. He was getting married on 24 . August, the anniversary of Captain could be expanded later to 50 These mainly involve council buildings, schools and
th
Matthew Webb’s epic first swim in 1875. other assets and this equates to more than £50 per head for Dorset’s population,
The scene was now a hive of activity as the handicapper Kristy prepared the
swim list and handicapping for the Jock Fee 880 yards handicap race. Her
boyfriend Mark Fabik, the club’s official handicapper had swum the channel two
weeks previously and was on a boat somewhere mid-channel crewing for his
friend Matt Dawson.
“Would you like to take part?” Brian enquired. Wouldn’t I just! So I was off to the
rather cramped changing rooms and club headquarters to change into my
swimming costume for the race. It felt truly wonderful to be in the presence of
these fellow swimmers, the banter, the camaraderie was tangible and real, I
loved it! On their customised costumes I noticed Serpentine Ron, Serpentine Ros
and Serpentine Will.

Soon the first of the swimmers were off with a gentle sidestroke as the starter well ahead of the amounts given to other councils on a per capita basis. In
called the timings through his mobile microphone. I was listed to start at 40 Greater Manchester where the Government grant was highest overall it worked
minutes 30 seconds and was told by out at £28 per head and in Kent, £14 per head. Design work is now underway on
Kristy that under no circumstances decarbonisation work for 35 council sites including County Hall, education and
was I to win the race, it was just not leisure centres, with another 15 sites likely to be included later. The work was
done. Well maybe with a turbo based mainly around heating systems and would include a move towards
charged outboard motor on my ‘greener’ methods including air and ground source systems, improving building
rear end, I might have stood a efficiency through insulation and generating local energy where possible. All will
chance but certainly not with this be subject to ongoing evaluation by government as the council will have to
handicap! spend the money by January 2022.
The wonderful thing about a
handicap race is that it allows club St Marys School – Approval to become a new SEND School
members to compete on an equal and a centre of Excellence
and inclusive basis, be they elite
open water swimmers or swim I am delighted to report that we now have approval for this to be a Special

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