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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Dear <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Oxford</st1:City></st1:place>
swimmers<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Thanks to the kindness of one of our members, Angus, and the creativity
of Tracey at Oxford Brookes, I am holding a silent swim on Saturday 17<sup>th</sup>
July near Abingdon. The idea, as ever, is to introduce more people into the
joys of swimming… and with a meditation first, and in a very special
place, should be lovely occasion. We’re holding it as part of the Oxford
Symposium on the Culture of Rowing & Swimming – there may be a few of
you who are interested in their Friday talks. <a
href="http://rowingandswimming.eventbrite.com/">http://rowingandswimming.eventbrite.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I am looking for a few volunteers to help make it special for
newcomers. Can you? Can you bring a non swimmer with you to help? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Event details: <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a
href="http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/index.php?p=events&s=&id=63">http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/index.php?p=events&s=&id=63</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>If you’re used to swimming free on your own/with a friend, that
is what we hope to achieve for a bigger group, some of whom will be first
timers. The idea is to power down on the social chat, and by suggesting people
not speak, allow them to enjoy all the sights, sounds and sensations of the
riverbank. (I know I sound like a tree hugger… hang on, perhaps I am).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Can you? A few non-swimming roles too if you have someone who might
sacrifice their swim for <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Roles include: <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0cm' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Designing, laminating
and cobbling together some signposts of words we can put down the
riverbank for people to swim past<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Turning up 7am Saturday
morning to put up the event shelter, bring picnic blankets for people to
sit on and lay then out, walk up and down riverbank hammering the
aforementioned signpost into the bank, putting up easel with what happens
when<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Wearing <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">OSS</st1:place></st1:City> tshirt so people
can ask you things about their fears of swimming/ the timetable (in a
whisper), helping them with all the normal worries about shoes, bags, pike.
Volunteers can buy t’s at cost price<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Staying to guard the
bags while all else pop off and swim<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Smiling<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Swimming in your <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">OSS</st1:place></st1:City> hat so people
feel reassured by your presence<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Topping and tailing each
swim group. While we’re not responsible for everyone (it’s a
social swim) but only courteous to go at the front and back so we don’t
leave anyone behind<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Rowing a boat (we
can borrow some down there)<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Selling <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">OSS</st1:City></st1:place> kit to anyone who
wants it (hats, I heart the thames book, wild swim, hoodies, hats)<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>If you feel so
inclined, bringing more tea, coffee and breakfast things that you need
yourself<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Taking down event
shelter and tidying up when we leave (event end by 10.30am, we should all
be off by 11am). <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo5'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Photograph event or
record it in some way for <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">OSS</st1:place></st1:City>
posterity<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Let me know if you can help, and in what capacity.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Many thanks<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Kate<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Timetable (approx)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>7am: volunteers arrive, set up<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Details swimmers will receive (event location is kept secret so we have
some way of controlling and knowing numbers) <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>8am – swimmers arrive, get ready to swim, put bags in bag
shelter, sit on blankets, settle <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>8.15am - meditation on the banks, led by a local teacher. After this
QUIET TIME!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>8.25am - walk up or down the banks, led by an <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">OSS</st1:place></st1:City> swimmer... one route will be a swim of
about a mile, the other route will be a swim of about half a mile. You will be
walking barefoot in your swimming cossies, unless wearing shoes you plan to
swim in, across some gravel and along the <st1:place w:st="on">Thames</st1:place>
path<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>8.35ish - get in and swim! Enjoy the sights and sounds of the
riverbank. Recently we saw an oyster catcher in the <st1:place w:st="on">Thames</st1:place>
here, in search of freshwater mussels. The entry points are typical of rivers:
a bit of clambering and reeds may be required, although we have found two
sandyish beaches (but there's bound to be some mud)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>9ish - emerge back at the start point! Time to reflect and share
experiences. Probably keep volume down for a while, so people still swimming
hear only whispers. Enjoy & share whatever food you have brought with you -
thermos, croissants, camping stoves and sausages, it's up to you<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>9.55ish - when everyone is back and dry and has shared and eaten, we'll
have a little visualisation and meditation to finish. Some things we may not
have noticed in the water often come back to you at these times.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>10.30am/11am; volunteers leave<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Kate Rew<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>07931 546241<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Author, journalist and director of <a
href="http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/">Outdoor Swimming Society</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0cm' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Number 2 on
Monocle's global hot list of people who deserve a bigger stage in
2010. “Stroke of genius” (Monocle, Issue 29) <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0cm' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“The force
behind the wild swimming movement” (Triathlon 220) <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:18.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0cm' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><em><i><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:normal'>“The
Outdoor Swimming Society has become a cult movement.” (Rowan
Pelling, Daily Telegraph).</span></font></i></em> <i><span
style='font-style:italic'><o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0cm' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l4 level1 lfo4'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Reviews of Wild Swim
by Kate Rew: "Her prose is perfect. Page after page she nails things.
Will have you hunched on the sofa as though with a stash of love
letters." (The New Statesman) "A wonderful - in the old sense of
that term - and joyful romp of a book. So go on. Dive in" (Robert
Macfarlane, author of The Wild Places) <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>June OSS news: the OSS Midsummer
Party, Big Jump, swimming Everest, social swims a-go-go,
member discounts and the PM is one of us. For swimming related news,
art and inspiration, sign up for the free <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">OSS</st1:place></st1:City> newsletter and see the stories on site
now.</span><o:p></o:p></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></em></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><ST1:CITY w:st="on"></ST1:CITY><ST1:CITY w:st="on"><ST1:PLACE w:st="on"></ST1:PLACE></ST1:CITY><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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