Teacher takes to sea to raise school funds
Published: August 15, 2005
A teacher from south-west England battled big waves on Monday in his bid to fulfil a dream to swim the English Channel to France - and to raise cash to help maintain a high standard of swimming at his primary school.
Olly White, 27, entered the water at 6am (05h00 GMT) at Shakespeare beach near Dover, on England’s south coast, for the 35km test of endurance across one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
White, who teaches at Kentisbeare primary school in east Devon, quickly found himself amidst breaking swells up to 1,82m high, his father Paul White said from a support boat in the Channel.
But he said his son - who has been training in seas off the east Devon coast - was “in good spirits and feels very confident about things”.
“The sea is very high and it is quite tough going, but he is going very well and the wind is behind him,” the elder White said.
Before setting off, the teacher said he would pass some of the hours in the water considering the line-up of the school cricket team.
Most youngsters at Kentisbeare school can swim 100m by the age of 11 - four times the distance laid down in the national curriculum.
His swim will raise cash for the extra swimming lessons provided by the school, as well as pool hire and transport. - Sapa-AFP
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