New Year’s Day 2009
A cold plunge in the lake!
On New Years Day 2009, eight Oxford Branch members had a plunge into the cold waters of Hinksey Lake. It’s a tradition to dive in the lake on New Years Day although this was the first time Jacob and I had been in the water.
This year’s eight divers were Andy Pickering, Graham Bowsher, Vic Warner, John Waterhouse, Nick Allsworth and Bob Chick with Jacob and I snorkelling. A photographer from the Oxford Mail also came along to take some photographs to go into the Oxford Mail and Oxford Times newspapers.
When Jacob and I jumped in we realised that it was absolutely freezing as we only had wetsuits on while the other divers were wearing drysuits. The photographer took pictures of Jacob and I along with Nick dressed up in his Santa costume. Then Jacob and I got out while the other divers went for a dive in the lake.
Other members of Oxford Branch plus friends and family turned up to watch us dive. After the dive we went back to the clubhouse, got changed and had a snack.
Finally it was a freezing New Years Day in the lake but from my point of view I thought it was excellent. Thank you to the people who got the food ready and organised the dive.