Under starter’s orders, some of yesterday’s Guernsey Cheshire Home swimmers wait to begin their dash to splash. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0694389)

WHEN the Bailiff yesterday offered to swim in the sea at Cobo in return for a £100 charitable donation, the money was soon forthcoming.

Geoffrey Rowland and wife Diana joined dozens of others who braved the cold to help raise money for the Guernsey Cheshire Home.

Mr Rowland admitted to having mixed emotions when the money was produced. But he said he would never have lived it down with his family had he not gone in.

‘It was a very positive feeling and the adrenalin and sheer fun of it meant it wasn’t really cold,’ he said.

‘I would have probably gone in without the £100 as it will make my life far more liveable at home and it’s for a brilliant cause.’

On a day when the air temperature was not expected to top 6C and a chilling offshore breeze was blowing, swimmers in costume still engaged in a mass exercise session on the sand before entering the water together at 10am.

Last year’s event raised £700 and organiser Dave Chester was hopeful the figure would be bettered this time.