FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS…

“Forty years ago, Arlon Owens and I decided through our mutual interest, the Porthcawl Chamber of Trade, to start the swim with Arlon dressing up as Coco the Clown and myself as Father Christmas.

Arlon would push me off the pier and members of the Porthcawl Lifeguards (including Lindsey Morgan and Victor Davies) were to save me.

On the morning we set off in a boat behind my brother Bill’s car. On arrival at the Pier,we saw a few people at Coney Beach but nobody at the Pier so we took the mountain to Mohammed and on arrival they all threw me in the sea.

After an undignified exit I distributed the sixpenny toys to the couple of dozen kids in attendance.

Never did we imagine that within a few years the number of swimmers would grow to over 100 and the spectators to the thousands.

I acted as Father Christmas for six years, arriving in several different vehicles, one of them being Mr Theodore’s Land Rover which instantly transformed to the “hot toddy wagon” on the beach.

My fourth year was an unsuccessful attempt to arrive by glider. We took off twice – first the winch stalled, then the winch tow cable broke, but a quick transfer by Land Rover did the trick.

Year five and, with 900 feet of height above Stormy Down, off we flew to Coney Beach. It seemed like an age losing height down to the car parl. Arlon was a very good friend, but he often reminded my wife Barbara that I had no insurance. The things you do when you’re young.

There are many people who have put years of effort into the Porthcawl Christmas morning swim, making it the great success that it is and they should all be praised.” 

Jack Bridge, Porthcawl