St Andrew’s Headmaster swims in icy channel for full term to raise funds for school pavilion

29 Aug 2018

Headmaster of St Andrew’s Prep, Eastbourne, Gareth Jones, is just days away from achieving his target to swim in the English Channel each school day of the summer term (73 days in total).

The sea temperature was just 7 degrees when he embarked on his first swim on 16 April as he bid to raise money for the refurbishment of the school’s pavilion.

On Friday, Mr Jones will be cheered on by staff, parents and pupils as he sets off  on the one-and-a-half mile stretch between Eastbourne Pier and Holywell circa 6am. He anticipates reaching Holywell between 7am and 7.30am and will be greeted to a breakfast feast on the beach.

Mr Jones said, “With the  refurbishment of the pavilion following quickly on back of the opening of a new state-of-the-art sports hall and alongside a large refurbishment project in the school’s boarding house,  the St Andrew’s Prep facilities have never been better. The support for my swim from the whole school community has been enormously welcome and really very humbling.  It has been an immense challenge but one which I hope pupils here will remember and might even inspire them to take on their own challenges at some stage in their future lives.”

For a tongue in cheek insight into Gareth’s first swim, click the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BdvWZ_vpr0 !

And if you wish to make a donation, please do click here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=GarethJones4&pageUrl=1

For further information, contact Katie Gent, Marketing Manager, 01323 733203