The South London Swimming Club is a member’s Club who’s home is Tooting Bec Lido. It is the largest fresh water pool in England. They are one of England’s oldest swimming clubs, founded in 1906 and have been holding races at Tooting Bec Lido since 1908. They are a very sociable and inclusive club with members from birth to 90 and every kind of swimmer from those wanting a leisurely meander through to long distance swimmers training for the Channel.

The club is run by volunteers and works closely with Wandsworth Council and DC Leisure who run and manage the Lido to ensure that the pool remains a viable and valued resource within, and for, the community.

This mmorning, Kathy and I drove from Bournemouth to the lido to join Rich & Collette and Mark & Lucinda. After a cup of tea in the pool-side cafe we took the pluge in the 5 degree water. Next to the lido, is a sauna which is ideally placed so you can jump out of the icy water and warm up within minutes. It was encouraging to hear that we had swam three times as far as a local swimmer who had been swimming in the lido all winter. I will pop back to the lido for a couple of swims at the end of the week. Hopefully is will be a bit colder then.