Back into the light

Around 25 determined people were brave enough to take the plunge and dive into Grey Dam on Tuesday morning to mark the Winter Solstice.

The car thermometer read 6C at 7.30am when Grocott’s Mail arrived to find participants in Grahamstown’s annual Polar Plunge waiting on the bank for event founder George Euvrard to lead them to the dam’s east bank for five minutes of freezing – the temperature in the water ranges between 9C and 12C, depending on depth and time of day. “I can’t believe I did it!” “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be – you just have to keep going.” “Absolutely freezing!” That was how the conversations went afterwards when PG Glass were handing out hot chocolate to wide-eyed swimmers. The Grahamstown Polar Plunge tradition, now in its 12th year, is intended to mark the time when the southern hemisphere starts its journey “into the light” at the winter solstice.

Also now part of the tradition, PG Glass collects blankets and warm clothing from participants and spectators which they distribute as part of the PG Cares programme.

The PG Glass team serves hot chocolate to grateful participants after Grahamstown’s 12th annual Polar Plunge in Grey dam on 21 June. PG Glass also collected blankets and warm clothes from participants and spectators for their PG Cares campaign.

Participants queue to climb out of Grey Dam after Grahamstown’s 12th annual Polar Plunge on Tuesday 21 June.

Photos: Sue Maclennan Jono Campbell (left) and Colin Meyer enjoy a cup of hot chocolate afterwards.