Dipping deep for charity  
    
		
	Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's 30 dressed up swimmers bobbing down the Thames to raise money for charity. 
		
	Members from the Swindon Sub-Aqua Club [SSAC] plunged into the icy water on Sunday morning to raise money for the Royal National Life Boat Institution. 
 
	
		
			
				
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						Getting wet 
						
							for a good cause!  
						
						swimmers taking a plunge in the  
					
						Thames for charity  | 
			
		
	
 
	The brave swimmers lept from the riverbank in Inglesham and swam east to Lechlade before receiving a well-earned cup of warm soup at The Trout Inn. 
	
	"We have been holding this annual event for 25 years now," said John Hamilton, 80, founder - and oldest - SSAC member, "and believe me, it seems to get colder every year!" 
	
	In that time, the Swindon branch - which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary - has raised in excess of £20,000 for the RNLI, which has helped buy several inshore lifeboats.