British Wild Swimming: 2,000 Years of Freedom, Joy and Adventure
Latest Wild Swimming News: Swimming to Freedom in 2012?
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Hung Out to Dry Chris Ayriss update in progress |
"...a fascinating book ...very readable, informative and entertaining... excellent illustrations." leicester Mercury. "...the whole story makes for a fascinating social history." bristol Evening Post. "Superb" Daniel Start (wild Swimming). This captivating book puts flesh on the bones of British history, exposing for the first time the dramatic impact that swimmers have had on culture and morals. It explores the reason for a change in attitudes that has shaped the lives of every man woman and child in Great Britain and to varying degrees the world. British swimmers once filled the lakes and waterways of England. How did these sportsmen, the pride of the nation, find themselves chased out of the water, rounded up and confined to indoor swimming pools? Discover how pride turned to prejudice as swimmers sparked the development of the unique British culture of prudery. This book fills the conspicuous gap in understanding, that envelops this controversial and thought provoking subject. | ||
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Recommended: "Ayriss clearly loves open water swimming and his despair at the restrictions imposed on swimmers shines through... informed, entertaining and factual... The book is supported by an excellent collection of illustrations and historic photographs." Simon Griffiths h2open magazine, June 2011 ISBN 978-0-557-12428-2 £10.00 20% saving Signed - post free in the UK | |||
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Swim in the great outdoors and experience the cool refreshing waters of the British countryside, and you will find returning to any indoor pool stifling and restrictive. Often featured in newspapers and magazines, modern day wild swimming is gaining popularity. Alice Roberts and Robson Green have brought the wild swimming adventure into our homes through television, but it all started back in 1999 with Roger Deakin's legendary book; Waterlog. Have you tried wild swimming? Although in the past people swam in the waters closest to their homes, modern day swimming restrictions can make life difficult for the would be wild swimmer. Guide books such as Wild Swimming by Daniel Start, and Kate Rew's Wild Swim, will direct you to popular swimming holes across the country. But why should we have to travel? Why have British attitudes hardened towards wild swimming when, after all, the sport re-surfaced right here in the UK 400 years ago? Why are our attitudes today so remarkably different to the rest of Europe? Discover how a clash of culture changed the sport from an animated, outdoor, playful activity, mostly enjoyed by working class boys, into a very competitive sport, confined predominantly to man-made pools. This history of British swimming sheds new light on the development of British culture, imparting insight and understanding as to the growth of our current prejudice towards outdoor swimming. Have your eyes opened to discover that despite restrictions, the desire to escape to the wild is propelling swimmers out of the indoor pool to return to the wild. Be inspired! "Hung Out to Dry is a fascinating book, ...very readable, informative and entertaining... excellent illustrations." leicester Mercury |
 2,000 Remarkable Years
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The History of swimming in LeicesterWild swimming is not about freezing cold water; it's about the joy of swimming in the great outdoors, breaking free from the indoor swimming pool and returning to swim in the wild. British culture has taken the fun out of swimming; swimmers have been imprisoned at indoor pools for far too long. Wild swimming means breaking free from convention, escaping to the outdoors and returning to beautiful surroundings, to water that sparkles with sunlight, and the exhilaration and freshness of pure living water.  "a smashing book... it deserves to do well" Farley Book List "...the whole story makes for a fascinating social history." Bristol Evening post "...a thought-provoking and stimulating book, written in an accessible, direct and conversational style. ...of interest to every outdoor swimmer." Outdoor Swimming Society
"Hung Out to Dry is a serious work of dogged research, personal experience and an insightful indictment of our times where to have water fun is now so regulated that it will cease to be fun at all! Read this book and wake up to what has happened to the English." Roger Hutchinson "Superb" Daniel Start (wild Swimming) "An excellent book so many memories" Michael Morris |
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 "extremely interesting and informative ... a useful reference tool and an entertaining read."
Soar Magazine | ||
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3 February 2012 | |||
