Sandford Parks Lido Christmas Swim

The very brave will have the chance to take a dip in Sandford Parks Lido’s chilly waters in Cheltenham on Christmas Day 2011, for the freezing cold festive event that has been going for more than 50 years.

While many of us will be ripping open presents, preparing to watch the Queen’s speech and getting the turkey in the oven, on Christmas Day 2011 a bunch of hardy swimmers from Cheltenham and beyond will be taking the plunge at Sandford Parks Lido, for the annual Christmas Day Swim.

While the Lido pool is heated to around 24 degrees in the summer months, for this slightly crazy annual Christmas tradition the water on Sunday 25 December 2011 will be at its most chilly, and organisers say this adults-only event is not for the faint hearted.

Sandford Parks Lido Christmas Swim 2009 video

‘All participants must sign a waiver form prior to entering the very cold water and attempting to swim a width or even a length,’ warn organisers. But if the Quality Streets and television repeats won’t keep you occupied on the big day, this is one certain way to wake the senses.

The annual Christmas Swim at Sandford Parks Lido was believed to have been started more than 50 years ago by American service men during World War II, who bravely jumped into the icy December waters for a Christmas Day wash. It was cancelled in 2010, following an unprecedented spell of cold weather in Gloucestershire.

Nowadays the ‘sport’ has become more of a challenge of bravery, with around 100 people taking part – some in all manner of fancy dress – in 2009. More than 100 people also, perhaps more sensibly, watched from the sidelines, with the popularity of the festive event predicted to grow even more this year.