Porthcawl Christmas Morning Swim

Some of the original swimmers from the early days of the Christmas Morning Swim

The Porthcawl Christmas Morning Swim has its origins in the early 1960s, sparked by the passion of Arlon Owens, a man known for his unwavering commitment to daily swims, no matter the weather. Arlon, alongside a few local friends, would head to Rest Bay each morning for a dip in the sea, and it wasn’t long before this small gathering grew into a much-anticipated festive tradition.

A feature about the Porthcawl Christmas swim show on the BBC's 'The Best Christmas Food Ever' in 2018

Arlon ‘Coco’ Owens, originally from Ogmore Vale, a Christmas swim founder member, was a bit of a clown in real life.

He lost most of his hair while in the army as a ‘desert rat’ on account of wearing his helmet in the heat (so he always said!)

After the war he was barman at the Esplanade Hotel (now the battlebank). Later on he and his wife Maisie Owens ran the ‘Sospan Fach’ café for 25 years.

Arlon and Roy Morgan, from Kenfig Hill, would swim all year round, mostly at Rest Bay. Sadly both have departed now and together with other departed swim members are our ‘weather co-ordinators’. They usually do a splendid job!

Wendy Richards (Arlon's daughter)

Swimmers make their way down the slipway to the sea

My Dad, Arlon ‘Coco’ Owens, enjoyed his swimming, the gee gees, the choir but most of all he loved Porthcawl, its people and community.

The centre for his modus operandi was Sospan Fach Cafe which was like a community and tourist information centre all rolled into one. Besides being a haven for gossiping locals, skiving school kids, Arlon and the rock behind him, my Mum, Maisie, always provided a warm welcome for new residents and visitors to the town.

The manifestation of his love for the community is embodied in his enthusiasm for the Christmas Morning Swim.

Gareth Owens (Arlon's son) writing in 2014

By 1965, the tradition had gained enough traction for the Porthcawl Chamber of Trade to officially sponsor the event, and the first formal Christmas Morning Swim was held. The early swims were small but lively, with costumes and a festive parade adding to the fun.

During October 1965 and after a Chamber of Trade meeting, Arlon Owens and I were standing outside Woolworths in John Street, discussing things from the meeting. Arlon, as always thinking about swimming and ways of publicising Porthcawl suggested how we could have a swim on Christmas morning and give away some cheap toys to any children attending.

The conversation went on into the early hours of the morning. After deciding that he could be ‘Coco the Clown’ and push me off the pier dressed as Father Christmas (Arlon said he would get the lifeguards to save me) we made our separate ways home.

It became a Chamber of Trade function (helped by interested parties) for over 20 years before being taken over entirely by the Christmas Morning Swim Committee.

Jack Bridge

Swimmers parade through the town before taking to the sea

As the swim grew in size and popularity, many notable locals became part of the event. Among them was Victor Davies, who joined the swim after returning to Porthcawl from the Navy.

Having left the Navy, I decided to return to Porthcawl shortly before Christmas. Having known Arlon Owens from previous visits home, I was aware he swam all year round. After a few pints with him, he mentioned Christmas morning. I agreed to join him, but I forgot completely about it until there was a knock on my door Christmas morning and Arlon said to me, “Are you ready?” I couldn’t back down, little realising I would still be there 50 plus years later.

Victor Davies

The event continued to evolve over the years, becoming an essential part of the Porthcawl Christmas calendar. In the late 1980s, tragedy struck when Arlon passed away while swimming at Rest Bay. His death was a significant blow to the community, but the swim was taken forward by local figures like Stan Howells, who became instrumental in ensuring that the event continued to thrive. The swim grew larger, the costumes more elaborate, and the community’s spirit remained strong.

Even as early as October, Stan would have his minutes book out and start seeing what had to be done first. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and is greatly missed by many people. He was known as ‘Stan the Man’ by a lot of the young people who took part in the Swim. Although he never swam himself, he put his heart and soul into the morning to make sure everything would be okay.

Stan's loving wife, Maureen

Ths swim has benefitted over the years from various notable committee members and volunteers.

Dai 'Viking' Thomas played a convincing Santa Claus for many years Gareth Owens took on the role of 'Coco' after his father's passing. Chris Hughes and Victor Davies would marshall and lead all the swimmers each year. Ian Stroud with his links to the RNLI has been a great help in keeping the event safe and well organised during his tenure as chairman.

Dai 'Viking' Thomas (left), Jackie Jones (centre), and Gareth Owens as 'Coco' (right)

Gareth speaking on BBC News on 25 December 2016

Today, the Porthcawl Christmas Morning Swim is a thriving celebration of community, with over a thousand swimmers braving the cold each year. The festive atmosphere, the elaborate costumes, and the parade remain central to the event.

Arlon’s family continues to be involved, with his daughter, grandson, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter all playing active roles on the committee. The tradition lives on, ensuring that this treasured event will be part of Porthcawl’s Christmas mornings for years to come.