Sir,
Please accept our sincere appreciation for both your excellent coverage of the 2011 Saundersfoot New Year's Day Swim and the publicity you allowed us in the weeks prior to the event.
We are delighted that a record 1,307 swimmers braved the elements, watched by the largest crowd Saundersfoot has seen.
Such events do not just happen. It takes a great deal of preparation and co-operation between many individuals and organisations.
Through your newspaper, we extend our gratitude to all the emergency services, Tenby Surf and Rescue, Pembroke Paddlers, Angelo Fecci and fellow lifeguards, all bucket collectors, Swim Factor contestants, all celebrities for wearing the 2011 NYDS shirt and all the other individuals who made the swim such a great success.
A special thank you for Tenby and District Fire Brigade for their invaluable support and for ensuring a swift exit from the beach for all swimmers.
We would like to thank all those individuals and groups who swam, as well as all who sponsored them.
The fact that almost all wear fancy dress ensures that the swim is such a fantastic and colourful spectacle.
The New Year's Swim has become such an important day for the entire village. It brings us together as a community and the celebrations last well into late evening.
Preparations are well under way for the 2012 'Olympic' swim. I invite all aspiring Olympians to join us on New Year's Day.
It is a tribute to this area of the county that three adjacent coastal resorts can arrange three such magnificent swims.
Martyn Williams,
Chairman,
Saundersfoot Festivities.