Serpentine Dip, Hyde Park
Dec 25, 2004

Hyde Park always seems like such a nice peaceful place, green and pleasant in the middle of the hustle and bustle of London. So you'd think that on Christmas Day, when most people are indoors eating turkey and watching the Queen's speech it would be one of the most quiet and serene places in the City.

How wrong could you be? On Christmas Day every year Hyde Park is filled with screams and yells as a group known as the Serpentine Swimmers launch themselves in to the icy cold water of the lake of the same name.

Made up of people from all walks of life, you can find Government Ministers, Etonian Schoolmasters, Barrow Boys and Ticket Touts all taking part, the Serpentine Swimmers is a group of Londoners dedicated to swimming - many have crossed the channel without the aid of a P&O ferry while others can hardly manage the one hundred yards they are challenged to swim on Christmas Day.

Known to most of us as the Serpentine Dip the race has been held every year since 1864 and the first to cross the finish line is awarded with a trophy which has become known as the Peter Pan Cup since it was originally presented by the author of Peter Pan, J. M. Barrie.

Thick ice has been known to cancel the race officially but cold and inclement weather doesn't stop the crazy swimming addicts who have been known to actually cut a large hole in the ice to allow them to keep their tradition.

It may not be everyone's Christmas cup of tea and it certainly isn't sitting in front of an Eastenders special with a sweet sherry and your snoring Auntie Flo but the Serpentine Dip is a great Christmas tradition nonetheless.

Serpentine Dip,
Hyde Park
Dec 25, 2004
www.serpentineswimmingclub.com

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