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Plunge into the history of the Boxing Day swim

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Sam Cooper

Published: 2:59 PM December 21, 2018 Updated: 7:04 PM November 7, 2020

shs Boxing Day Swim 1994. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives - Credit: Archant

We’ve delved into the archive to find pictures from Boxing Day swims gone by.

shs Boxing Day Swim 1994. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives - Credit: Archant

Dating back to 1986, these pictures capture a time before smartphones could record our every move.

As always, there were a few brave souls baring the brunt of the cold waves in nothing but swimtrunks.

The event also encourages fancy dress and plenty donned a costume. A spectacular Loch Ness Monster requiring two swimmers to keep it afloat was snapped in 1987. There were also a couple of well dressed gents sporting a full suit on their way to the waves.

The Christmas tradition has been ongoing since 1985 with Sidmouth Lifeboat and Sidmouth Surf Life Saving Club on-hand just in case the water gets too choppy.

shs Boxing Day Swim 1994. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives - Credit: Archant

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The annual event helps raise money for the Sidmouth branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution who collects money on the day and there was almost 450 swimmers for last year’s event.

shs Boxing Day Swim 1994. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives - Credit: Archant

shs Boxing Day Swim 1987. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives - Credit: Archant

shs Boxing Day Swim 1986. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives - Credit: Archant

shs Boxing Day Swim 1987. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives - Credit: Archant

shs Boxing Day Swim 1986. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives - Credit: Archant

Sidmouth boxing day swim. Ref shs 8794-53-15TI. Picture: Terry Ife - Credit: Archant

Battling it out on the beach at the Sidmouth boxing day swim. Ref shs 8783-53-15TI. Picture: Terry Ife - Credit: Archant

Sidmouth boxing day swim. Ref shs 8747-53-15TI. Picture: Terry Ife - Credit: Archant

Ronnie Moore and his daughters Lucy and Rosie were disappointed that the boxing day swim had been cancelled due to the weather. Ref shs 8670-53-15TI. Picture: Terry Ife - Credit: Archant

The swimmers from the Scouts and Post Office brough with them a smoke breathing dragon. Photo by Simon Horn. Ref shs 8563-52-13SH. To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk - Credit: Archant

Sidmouth Boxing Day swimmers head into the waves on Thursday. Photo by Simon Horn. Ref shs 8555-52-13SH. To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk - Credit: Archant

Sidmouth Swim 2014. Ref shs 3734-53-14TI. Picture: Terry Ife - Credit: Archant

Sidmouth Boxing Day swimmers. Photo by Simon Horn. Ref shs 8557-52-13SH. To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk - Credit: Archant

Sidmouth Swim 2014. Ref shs 3691-53-14TI. Picture: Terry Ife - Credit: Archant

Boxing day swim in Sidmouth. Picture by Terry Ife ref shs 6184-52-12TI To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk and click on my photos24 - Credit: Archant

Boxing day swim in Sidmouth. Picture by Terry Ife ref shs 6170-52-12TI To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk and click on my photos24 - Credit: Archant

Sidmouth Swim 2014. Ref shs 3733-53-14TI. Picture: Terry Ife - Credit: Archant

Boxing day swim in Sidmouth. Picture by Terry Ife ref shs 6138-52-12TI To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk and click on my photos24 - Credit: Archant

Boxing day swim in Sidmouth. Picture by Terry Ife ref shs 6110-52-12TI To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk and click on my photos24 - Credit: Archant

Sidmouth Swim 2010. Picture by Terry Ife ref shs 6066-52-10TI - Credit: Archant

Sidmouth Swim 2010. Picture by Terry Ife ref shs 6048-52-10TI - Credit: Archant

Sidmouth Swim 2010. Picture by Terry Ife ref shs 6036-52-10TI - Credit: Archant

Sidmouth Swim 2010. Picture by Terry Ife ref shs 6043-52-10TI - Credit: Archant

'And There Off' Sidmouth Boxing day swim 2011. Photo by Terry Ife ref shs 5896-52-11TI To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk and click on myphotos24 - Credit: Archant

Sidmouth Boxing day swim 2011. Photo by Terry Ife ref shs 5910-52-11TI To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk and click on myphotos24 - Credit: Archant

Kieran Davies at the Sidmouth Boxing day swim. Photo by Terry Ife ref shs 5842-52-11TI To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk and click on myphotos24 - Credit: Archant

David Hall with Richard,William and Bernard Holland at the Sidmouth Boxing day swim. Photo by Terry Ife ref shs 5848-52-11TI To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk and click on myphotos24 - Credit: Archant