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November 2022 November 2022
fortunate that our lengthsman Tony has carried out a
huge w shape as we were pulled one way, then the other by the prevailing tide. number of repairs to restore them all to their former glory,
as can be seen in the photograph below. We remind
For the second 6 hours we made slow but sure progress across the busy shipping ourselves how lucky we are to have such a service that
lanes edging closer and closer towards the French coast. Soon, around lunchtime many larger villages and towns do not have access to.
the sun began to shine and the sea flattened and calmed. We were now
swimming in relatively good conditions but another problem was soon to emerge.
We had been very close to the Calais ferry lanes, a definite no-go area for our Country Watch Dorset
small boat. As I got in for my last hourly swim I was told to swim hard to maintain
our position just outside the ferry area. When I climbed the steps after my swim I This is a scheme launched by Dorset Police to bring
was congratulated for maintaining our position. It is the first time in my life that I together multiple partnership agencies to help combat
was praised for going literally nowhere! rural crime. As well as links to reporting fly tipping, there are a range of other
re s ou rc e s avai l abl e th rou gh th ei r we bsi te at h ttps :/ /
We were waiting for the tide to turn which it did soon after and first Kevin and www.countrywatchdorset.co.uk.
then Robert completed our swim. Robert landed at Sangatte beach roughly
halfway between Cap Gris Nez and Calais. Coincidentally, Sangatte was where I
landed 30 years ago and where Kevin finished his last channel solo swim. Next Meeting
There was of course euphoria as the rest of the team swam behind Robert onto The next meeting will be held on Thursday 10 November 2022, commencing 7pm
h
the beach. It had taken 17 hours and 57 minutes and no one blinked during that at the Drax Hall. If you wish to have an item added to the agenda for discussion,
time. It was a huge effort by the whole team and we felt quite rightly proud of please contact the Clerk or a member of the Parish Council by the end of
ourselves. We had done it and were now, subject ratification, the oldest team to October.
swim the English Channel, a world record! I also felt that it was great that Robert
our oldest swimmer was to be the one to take us to the finishing line. Bryan Benjafield
When we all landed on the beach we were greeted by four French gendarmes.
Did we look like illegal immigrants? We would of course have been rather elderly
ones if we were! Would we be required to swim back to the boat for our RHODES TO SUCCESS
passports? Thankfully they were rather friendly policemen who sent us on our way
without as much as a warning! However, they did stay a little while to make sure Dog Trainer
we went back to the boat.

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Facebook & Instagram:@rhodes2success22

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