This summer I’m taking on one of the UK’s wildest open water swims, a 10km cold water swim near Snowdonia.

The last time I travelled from the beach at Barmouth to the George III pub at Penmaenpool must be nearly 50 years ago, kayaking upstream with my father, although he soon left me struggling against the current and the shallow water as the tide had yet to turn fully. Swimming the 10km Hurly Burly is likely to be a proper challenge; big nature, beautiful scenery, and hundreds of swimmers all taking on something epic together.

I am swimming in memory of my father, Allan (Paddy) Taylor, also my coach and the swimming teacher at school. He died in 2022, for a second time, having received a heart transplant that gave him 35 extra years of life. He packed those extra years full of adventures, including swimming and water sports, for which he won numerous medals at the UK and International Transplant Games. Following his transplant, he had to retire from his job, but continued to teach swimming at the Calvert Trust, which provides respite adventure holidays for people with disabilities to benefit from outdoor activities. He was based at the Trust’s Kielder Water facility, where he supported the sailing and canoeing activities, but was mainly responsible for the swimming and therapy pool.

I’m doing this swim to raise money for two charities:

Level Water

A brilliant charity that would have been very close to both Paddy's hearts, providing 1-to-1 swimming lessons for children with disabilities. These lessons are joyful, empowering, and completely life-changing. Every £15 raised gives a child the chance to learn to swim.

Freedom from Torture

The only UK-based human rights organisation dedicated to the treatment and rehabilitation of torture survivors. Your support could help provide counselling, group therapy and ongoing support for survivors of torture. Your donation will help give someone hope and strength on their journey to recovery. Thank you for standing with torture survivors.