LOOKING Back received a timely photograph from reader Brydie MacDonald featuring her grandfather Des Monaghan winning the 1959 Weymouth Christmas Day Harbour Swim in 1959 when he was aged just 14.

Des himself phoned the next day and gave us more details about his moment of glory. He took aprt in the harbour swim three years running and says it was a very different occasion to the one we are used to today.

He said: “The swim was run by Weymouth Swimming Club and was a serious event, with a men’s and women’s race. You didn’t get people turning up and swimming it in costumes like they do now.

“We used to get crowds of thousands watching us and the Jersey boats used to moor up in the little harbour inlet near Hope Square so the crews could watch us.”

Des is pictured receiving his winner’s trophy from Weymouth mayoress Mrs Priddle and Len Carter who was a member of Weymouth Swimming Club.

Standing behind him is the mayor, Alderman Priddle and the man standing under the umbrella with the mayoress was Bill Docksey the mayor’s Mace Bearer.

Des added: “I remember that the water was really cold, absolutely freezing. We went in the harbour a few days before to try and acclimatise ourselves, but I don’t think we should have done. It was so cold that as soon as you went in it drove all the breath from your body.”

Des, who still swims 2,000 metres three times a week in Weymouth swimming pool, said he was a member of the town’s swimming club for ‘donkeys years’.

He joined when he was 11 or 12 and was a keen member of the club’s water polo team. He remembers Dennis Morris joining the club in 1959 or 60 and working hard to build up the club and fight successfully for a swimming pool for Weymouth.

For several years he also taught life saving skills to local youngsters in the Pontins Riviera pool at Bowleaze Cove.

As a result of talking to Des, and seeing as Christmas is only days away, it seemed a good idea to feature some other old pictures of Christmas Day swims across Weymouth Harbour and contrast them with the fun-filled event it is today.

We also came across a photo dating back to 1989 of the Osmington village trolley dash. We somehow can’t see Health and Safety allowing it to take place today.