It’s the motto imprinted on badges, flags and the forearms (I like to imagine) of soggy folk across the land. Emma proudly declared it as I joined her for coffee, along with the rest of the St Leonards Blue Tits… Blue Bells or Mermaids. These are all names for the varied bunch of people who meet on the beach opposite The Royal Victoria Hotel every day at 10am to swim together. Mostly women, but everyone is welcome, they’re a friendly bunch with a very simple and fitting aim to “just get wet”.

Photos by Clare Hughes

I’ve seen them before, frolicking, and come to think of it now, I regularly hear screaming around 10am but always suspected it was a local school group or an early event at The Piper… alas no, it’s the Tits.

They’re part of a worldwide network connected by a love of swimming and having fun. “It’s nice to be part of both a local and international community,” said Emma. “Wherever you go in the world you can get in touch with a ‘flock’ and find a friendly troop of people to swim with”.

It’s this sense of community which keeps the group motivated to swim together. Many people join for the physical and mental health benefits but stay for the friendship and connections made.

One member had been miserable and isolated during the pandemic and came out the other side to discover she had a brain tumour. After emergency surgery she decided that life was too short, moved to the seaside, joined the flock and found that she wasn’t alone. She had support, love and a community

to be part of. Swimming with the group has allowed her to heal in a variety of unexpected ways. “It’s just everything, I know these guys would have my back in a minute. And vice versa”.

There’s something about the potential danger and unpredictable force of the sea that deepens the bond between these people. They can’t get too wrapped up in their heads, they just have to deal with what’s in front of them, one stroke at a time. They place trust in one another and look out for everyone. The motto rings true, they won’t leave you behind. “You don’t even have to say anything, you can turn up feeling really like you want to cry, and somebody will just wrap you in their arms and you feel completely safe and supported… or you can turn up angry and everyone will scream and swear with you” one member said.

It’s rare that we, as adults, are encouraged to scream in public, but the Tits really embrace it. “Is it something to do with the sea?” I wondered as I got blown up London Road in torrential rain, tempted to give public screaming a try myself… “is it the freedom of connecting to something wilder and bigger than ourselves?” Whatever it is, it seems that the group are willing to accept others for who they are and there is no judgement or ego involved. “You’ll have snot coming out your nose, pebbles up your bum crack, seaweed in your ears, a boob hanging out, but your lippy will still be on. It’s fantastic” said Dierdre.

Some days the group swim in glittery ball gowns, some days in funny hats… one day a member covered her face in squirty cream before a swim (I never quite found out why) and other days they just sit on the shoreline drinking tea. It’s about having fun and letting out your inner child with some pals at the seaside.

This youthful excitement and sense of acceptance amongst the group has allowed them to feel more confident as individuals. “I feel much more myself as a result of this, you’re not doubting yourself as much, I’ll think ‘I wanna do that so I’m gonna do it’”. When people join the group they flourish in other areas of their life, they do things that would usually scare them and they’re not so afraid of failing because they know they have a group of people to fall back on who will either give them a hug, have a laugh, or just not care at all

One woman said “I’m silver haired, I’m supposed to be over the hill, but here I’m seen for who I am and I feel sexy as fuck. We appreciate each other’s beauty, were all different shapes, sizes, nationalities, histories, we’ve all got our physical, emotional and mental scars, they’re on display and we love it. It’s empowering”.

The fun the group has together attracts members from all walks of life (in fact some people come across the group by walking their dog on the beach and deciding to join there and then). Though mostly Tits and Mermaids, there are a few Blue Bells (or men as they’re otherwise called) amongst the group “I take my hat off to the them, you see a screaming gaggle in the surf and they come over and ask ‘Is this for everybody?’ I think wow, that took guts, come join!”

Scientific research suggests the benefits of cold-water swimming are endless, from pain relief and improved cardiovascular health to increased metabolism, immunity and even libido (once everything’s defrosted back to room temperature, I presume). Some studies have revealed that it can help with depression and anxiety, and many find that it eases their symptoms of menstruation and
the menopause.

The group spoke a lot about a primal sensation that connects many women to the sea… the tides, the waves, the rhythm of it. They feel a spiritual connection to the water and feel held not only by each other, but by the sea itself. There’s seemingly an energy, an extra emotion that you can’t quite put your finger on, a beautiful feeling but something to be wary of, having respect and the knowledge that things could change at any minute, the sea can be perilous. As such, safety is always a concern and the group assess weather and surf forecasts before making any decisions. If it’s a bit rough, they sit with a coffee, or “stand on the shoreline tarting around, getting walloped about by the wind”.

Sewage discharge also affects their ability to swim. If it rains some of the group won’t swim as they’ll know there will have been a dump (cue tortured flashbacks from Kevin and Perry Go Large). “There’s been times when I’ve been able to smell it, that definitely stops me going in” said one member, and another did a beach clean and found around 30 tampon applicators, which naturally took the shine off a morning dip.

Apart from that there’s very little that deters the swimmers. It seemed to me that for many of them joining the group had been utterly life changing and they all agreed they’re much happier people. Beforehand one of the swimmers had been in a marriage they didn’t want to be in, undergoing chemo and was struggling to be a mum, “I didn’t know how to do it, nothing in my life was bright or fun. I started swimming for recovery… all of a sudden I’ve got people in my life who love me no matter what, that’s so valuable”. Another woman in the group now carries an emergency sparkly dress in her rucksack at all times, ready to whip out and swim in, like a fabulous amphibian super-hero.

‘Leave No Tit Behind’ is a motto that sums them all up perfectly, with a hint of irony, innuendo and fun but a testament to the love, care and deep bond they have formed with each other. “I’d trust all these people with anything, likewise I’d never do anything to betray that trust.” ⚫