News

FIRE SWIM TURNS INTO FIRE BOWL!

Following on from earlier news that due to unexpected delays with the renovations of Colchester Leisure Pool the 2009 Fire Swim had to be cancelled, we’re pleased to announce that an alternative has been negotiated.

Rather than a 24 hour swim, this years event will now be a 24 hour bowling extravaganza!

Colchester Ten-Pin (which is on the same site as Colchester Leisure World) have kindly allowed us to use their facilities on the 3rd & 4th October i.e. the same time as the Fire Swim was to due take place, and Swim sponsors - Travis Perkins - have also agreed to sponsor this one off replacement event. So, instead of a 24 hour swim, we now have - for this year only - a 24 hour bowl.

Those who already have times booked to swim are being invited to bowl instead. Obviously, we are unable to collect sponsorship money for the swim, but will instead be accepting donations. We hope that those who have already sponsored swimmers will be happy to instead donate to those who are now bowling as we still would like to make as much money as possible for our local charities and The Fire Fighters Charity.

If you need further information, or would like to see if there are still times available to take part, then please contact us.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your patience with all of the changes and for your continued support and look forward to seeing everyone at the Fire Bowl!!

6.9.09

FIRE BOWL - 2009

The Fire Bowl, which took place as a last minute event instead of the usual annual Fire Swim, due to over-running renovation work at the normal venue of Colchester Leisure Pool, was hailed a success by all of those who took part.

A number of those who would usually swim turned out to bowl instead and there were even some who still turned up in fancy dress! Well done and thank you to all for helping to make the occasion one to be remembered.

A total of around £2,000 was raised at the event by way of donations and it is hoped that over the coming months this figure will rise.

The Fire Swim Committee would like to thank all of those who took part and/or made donations and would like to offer their thanks once again to everyone at Ten Pin Bowl for their assistance in getting the event off the ground and for helping it to run so smoothly, particularly bearing in mind the lack of time to get everything organised.

Thanks also go once again to Travis Perkins who kindly transferred their sponsorship of the Fire Swim to the Fire Bowl.

Planning for the 2010 Fire Swim will start again soon and so if you’re interested in taking part, then please get in touch and full information will be provided to you.

October 2009

FIRE BOWL PRESENTATION NIGHT AND THE 2010 SWIM

Although the Fireswim presentation night is usually held at Colchester Leisure World, in line with the fact that the 2009 event was a whole different thing, presentation night is different too!

This year it will be held on 25 May at Colchester Fire Station. Due to the last minute nature of the 2009 event and the fact that it was a Fire Bowl rather than the usual Fireswim, the amount of money raised was much less than usual. This means that the amount available for distribution is therefore, obviously lower. The event will therefore, just be a small affair with those that are receiving cheques having been invited to the station for a brief presentation and gathering.

There will be no trophy giving this year either as these are all related to the Fireswim.

We’d like to offer our thanks again to all those who took part in the Firebowl. Your support and attendance was much appreciated.

Now this year ....... everything is back to normal and if you’d like to take part then please get in touch as we’re starting to book the lanes now.

Don’t forget night owls are highly sought after as those midnight hours are hard to fill. Why not make a night of it get a big group of you together and come along for a swim and then cheer those other late night/early morning teams along! Your sponsors might even be more generous if they know you’re swimming in the middle of the night which all goes to help :-)

Whatever time of day or night you swim THANK YOU. The event wouldn’t exist without your help and we know that the Charities that benefit from the money raised are all extremely appreciative of the efforts made by those that take part.

We look forward to seeing you ...... first weekend in October as usual ........... put it in your diary now !!

April 2010

2010 Fireswim - Another Successful Event!

The 2010 Fireswim has taken place and once again has proved to be a successful event. There were some concerns that after having to have a last minute change in 2009 to the Fire Bowl, that it may be difficult to get momentum for the swim again; but even though there weren’t enough swimmers to fill the full 24 hours these fears have been put aside as regular attendees, and new faces, proved that people are still keen to take part in this annual fundraising event.

This year the swim took place from 10 am on Saturday 2 October, through to Midnight and an amazing amount of just under £8,000 was pledged by those taking part. In the past the pledged amount has generally increased by the time the finally tally is made, so fingers crossed, but everyone involved is thrilled at the amount pledged so far, particularly in the current difficult economic climate.

The Fireswim Committee would like to say a very big THANK YOU to all those who took part and helped out and of course, would like to thank all those who made a donation and/or sponsored the swimmers to take part. Without the sponsorship and the swimmers the event wouldn’t take place, so THANK YOU all.

Same Time, Same Place Next Year - The 2011 swim will be on the 1st & 2nd of October 2011 so if you would like to take part again next year, or have been inspired and would like to swim for the first time, then get in touch. Everyone has a lot of fun and we’d love to see you there. For those of you who’ve never taken part before, this website gives you an idea of what happens at the event and you can book via the ‘Taking Part’ pages. Alternatively, go to the ‘Contact Us’ page where you’ll find details of how to do that :-)

Thank you again everyone for making this another successful year and we look forward to seeing you all next time.

3 October 2010

Local Celebrity Swims For Charity

This year’s Fire Swim was once again very successful (see below) with some familiar faces swimming plus some new!

We’re always pleased to welcome anyone who wishes to join us at this annual event, and this year Hospital Radio, who provide the musical entertainment throughout the whole day - and night - had a surprise in store for us. They always have a team swimming and this year had a well known local celebrity join them. None other than Paul Barber - known for his roles as Denzil in ‘Only Fools & Horses’ and Horse in ‘The Full Monty’ plus many more!

It was great to have such a well know celebrity join our community event and judging from his grin in the Team Photo we think he enjoyed himself too!

New Chairman Announced ........... Presentation Night Arranged

After having been involved with the Fireswim for a number of years, in 2004 Steve Kerridge took over the mantle of Fireswim Chairman and since that time has had a highly active involvement in all aspects involved with this annual event.

Unfortunately, the powers that be have moved him from Colchester Fire Station and in light of this it is impossible for him to still give the same ‘hands on’ commitment that is such an integral part of this role. He has therefore, sadly relinquished this role.

Steve will still be involved with the Fireswim, so don’t worry you’ll still get to see him at the event, he just wont have the same day to day involvement as when he was Chairman. I’m sure that you’ll join the rest of the Committee in thanking him for the commitment he has shown and in wishing him well at his new Station.

This brings us to the new Chairman!

Taking over this role is another Fireswim stalwart - Jeremy ‘Jez’ Tuckwell. He’s been involved with the Fireswim for a number of years and has happily stepped in to fill this position. The Committee all wish him well in his new role and I’m sure that you’ll join us in this.

Jez’s first public appearance as Chairman will be at this years Presentation Night, so you’ll get to see him directing his crew very soon!

Presentation Night has been arranged for 27 May and those who are receiving donations will be hearing soon, if they’ve not already done so.

We’re pleased to say that we raised £8,000 in sponsorship money which means that yet again we can help a number of charitable organisations. We look forward to seeing you there and to another enjoyable evening.

Don’t forget ....... this year’s Fireswim is the first weekend in October as usual! If it’s not in your diary already make sure you put it there now!!

18 April 2011

2011 Anniversary Fire Swim

This year is the 30th year that the fireswim has been running and I’m sure that you’ll agree that it’s quite an achievement to have been going for so long.

Hopefully it will continue for many years to come as the sponsorship money raised has helped so many local Charities and the Fire Fighter’s Charity and we’d love to be able to keep doing that.

If you’ve never taken part, why not join our celebrations. There can’t be a better year for a first timer than a celebratory year! If you’re a regular then it will be a chance to pat yourselves on the back in the knowledge that you’ve helped to keep this event running for so long and that you’ve helped the Charities to obtain items that they would have gone without if not for the donations from the Swim.

If you’re a fancy dress swimmer - we know there are some of you out there .... and don’t forget there’s a trophy each year for the best one - then why not consider the theme ‘celebration’ for your creations?

Whether you dress up or not, it’s always a really enjoyable event and we look forward to seeing you all there again this year.

7 August 2011