Hundreds of brrr- ave souls waded into the chilly sea off Torquay and Paignton for an annual Boxing Day tradition.
Thousands of pounds were raised for local charities with the revived Boxing Day Dip in Torquay and the Walk into the Sea over at Paignton.
The Torquay event was making a return after an absence due to Covid and was a great success.
The return of the Torre Abbey Sands Dip was made possible by the support of Torre and Upton Community Partnership and Torbay Communities who provided the management and insurance. The Dip had not taken place officially since 2019 but is organised to raise funds to support the Torquay Air Cadets and make it possible for them to arrange activities for their members.
Amanda Castle, President of 200 Squadron (Torquay) Royal Air Force Air Cadets, said: "The Air Cadets embraced the challenge of the Boxing Day Dip to raise money for their activities. I am very proud of the effort put in by 200 Squadron staff and the cadets to bring this historic tradition back to Torquay. This is the first time I had joined in with the Dip and it was bracing."
This year around 100 dippers turn out and took to the sea, watched over by the RNLI from Brixham. The Grand Hotel kindly provided the Air Cadets taking part with a hot drink and a mince pie after their chilly dip.
Torre Abbey Sands Boxing Day Dip has been a tradition in Torquay since Victorian times when it was organised by the Torquay Leander Society (later becoming known as the Torquay Leander Swimming and Life Saving Society) who met to arrange it in Haarer’s Restaurant in Fleet Street since 1897. Originally taking place at Beacon Cove, a beach loved by Agatha Christie, the Dip would draw a large crowd of dippers and spectators. Many of the onlookers would sit in the warmth and comfort of the glass sunlounge in the Marina Spa to watch the dippers.
In the early 20th Century, the Dip typically attracted more dippers than spectators unlike modern day Dips, which attract more spectators than dippers. In the 1950s around 60 people would turn out to dip. The 2024 dip saw around 200 spectators watching in warm clothing from the shore.
In 1971 when the Marina Spa was demolished the dip moved to Torre Abbey Sands and Corbyn Head where the tradition continued. In 2020 Covid prevented the Dip taking place and since then the organisation and management proved difficult until the Chair of Torre and Upton Community Partnership, Margaret Forbes-Hamilton, stepped in and offered her support.
Andrew Medhurst, Chair of the 200 Squadron Welfare Committee, said: "It was great to resurrect the Torquay Boxing Day Dip. We are very grateful to Torre and Upton Community Partnership for bringing this event back and inviting our cadets to be involved. A bucket collection on the day has raised money which will be shared between 200 Squadron, Air Cadets, and Rowcroft. We are very grateful and would like to thank HM Coastguard and the RNLI for attending to keep us safe."
Flt Lt John Harle, Officer Commanding 200 Squadron (Torquay) Royal Air Force Air Cadets, said: "It has been one of my biggest achievements to get cadets back in the water on Boxing Day. This wouldn't have been possible without the Torre and Upton Community Partnership and we will be eternally grateful for the work that went into this. The money raised will give our cadets opportunities such as enhancing our flight simulators and opportunities to experience adventure training. Thank you to everyone that was involved in making this event a success, to those that keep us safe and most of all the people have supported us, thank you."
People gave generously via a Just Giving page. Anyone wanting to support the Torquay Air Cadets can do so via the 200 Squadron Air Cadets Just Giving Page: Link: Crowdfunding to 200 Squadron Air Cadets, Torquay, youth Organisation. on JustGiving. More information about 200 Squadron Air Cadets and their work can be found on their Facebook Page and website: www.200sqn.co.uk
Over in Paignton around 200 took part in th Paignton Lions Club's annual dip, or Walk in to the Sea, as more than 400 less brave souls watched from dry and warmer land.
Among them was Torbay MP Steve Darling and guide dog Jennie.
Organiser Ian Snell said the event had raised money for Paignton Lions Club and charity Free The Child. He said: "They're great causes, it's part of the community and we believe it is important to put back into the community."
The event encouraged fancy dress and saw a donation of £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s.
