Thousands of hardy souls took part in Boxing Day dips around the North-East coast. Peter Barron was among those who took the plunge

IF you’re Christmas crackers enough to go for a swim in the icy North Sea on December 26, it’s worth having the Lord on your side.
Following an Angel – complete with halo – therefore seemed to me to make sense.
The “Angel of the North” in question was Anne Shepherd, from Stockton, who was taking part in her 20th consecutive Boxing Day dip at Seaton Carew, despite coming up to the age of 67.
Anne, together with elves Angela Ferguson and Angela Armstrong, were among the 500-plus Boxing Day dippers who gathered at the Staincliffe Hotel to register for the annual event organised by Hartlepool Round Table.
The aim of Anne and her “elf and safety representatives” was to raise money to take disabled children to Lourdes as part of a pilgrimage organised at St Patrick’s Church in Hartlepool.
“Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without me going for a dip – I just love it,” declared Anne as she enthusiastically made her way down the sand towards the crashing waves.
All around us were brave fundraisers in all kinds of weird and wonderful costumes, including a gang of p-p-p-p-perishing penguins, a few Star Wars characters, and enough footballers to form their own league. There was also no shortage of outrageous wigs, plenty of giant dogs, and even a Super Mario, called John Kett, from Norton.
I owe Karen Clayton, of the Daisy Chain charity, a humble apology for thinking she was Scooby Doo.
“I’m a kangaroo,” she sighed, proceeding to show me the little joey in her pouch.
As for me, I was in my Santa costume, having been talked into taking part by the intrepid and persuasive Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Brian Jones, who was dipping to raise £1,000 for St Teresa’s Hospice, The Samaritans, The 700 Club for homeless people, and the British Lung Foundation.
“What are you doing Boxing Day?” he’d asked several weeks ago and, before I knew it, I’d foolishly agreed to put my extremities into deep freeze.
As I started to paddle, the wind turbines on the horizon were going like the clappers and my feet were numb within seconds.
“Oh, come on in a bit further,” shouted Angel of the North, Anne Shepherd, who was dancing among the waves and squealing with delight.
I gritted my teeth and waded out another 10 yards, determined not to go any deeper than my waist.
But the trouble with Santa Claus trousers is that they quickly get water-logged and start falling down. The end result was that I stumbled and took a dive head-first into the bitterly cold briny.
I emerged to see the Angel of the North, two elves, and a penguin in fits of giggles.
I thought I knew what being cold felt like but I didn’t – until that unforgettably shocking moment.
Back on dry land, the vice chairman of Hartlepool Round Table, Dominic Wheatley, was thrilled: “It was a fantastic turn-out – one of the best we’ve ever had. Hope you enjoyed it,” he said.
“Enjoy” is probably not the word I’d use but, when all the charity contributions have been added up by the gallant Seaton Carew dippers, it’s expected that somewhere in the region of £30,000 will have been raised for a wide range of good causes.
And that’s enough to give anyone a warm feeling inside.