Panama Swimming Club Clubhouse Northern Promenade Whitley Bay

Image: © Geoff Holland Taken: 8 Oct 2018

What a difference 11 years can make as can be seen from this photograph, taken after a delightful renovation in 2018, and the photograph shown at https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/541592 Established in 1930, the Swimming Club are well known for their traditional New Years Day dip in the North Sea. The following poem appeared in the 2019-published book, `Tyne Anew Celebrating Public Art in North Tyneside`: Hey, look at us (Panama Swimming Club) Hey, look at us hairy-chested freestylers on Whitley`s wild coast all-weather water babes stripped ready for a dip we are open water bathers as tough as Old Nick. Hey, look at us, we defy Nature`s Laws. Just look at us in our goggles and hats and slim Speedo suits we are cold water athletes stronger than nails we are harder than rock as slippery as seals. Hey, look at us and our pale northern skin. Just look at us as the tide ebbs and flows and the breakers roll in we are four-season swimmers with steel in our veins who ride the white horses on a rough North Sea swell. Hey, look at us! The poem was written by Geoff Holland For a selection of detailed free to download walking routes in the area visit www.northtynesidewalks.co.uk

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