One might wonder why that caption for this next fortnightly article in www.caribdirect.com but all will be revealed in due course considering Britain is noted for more than its fair share of rain. On occasions this country is known to use a proverbial saying ‘It never rains but it pours’. Well enough about rain and give me the sunshine any day instead.
As a child growing up in rural Jamaica surrounded by the beautiful crystal blue water of the Caribbean Sea, I never had the experience then of visiting the lovely beaches. I blame that on my grandmother who would never allow me to go on school trips to the beach or to catch crabs during the annual crab season as according to her and I still hear her words echoing in my ears, ‘Yuh will drown’. So, in effect I never learnt to swim. Even a trip to Johnson River in the parish of St. Thomas near Hillside from the family home in Spring Road, White Hall where the adults would all go occasionally to wash clothes and have a cook-out as a day of fun, whilst we the youngsters tried to catch janga (crayfish) or shrimps was heavily monitored every step of the way in the shallow river water. Sometimes we would encounter eels which were very slippery that they would slither out of our hands in the blink of an eye.
Once accompanied by Ronald who I grew up with, as teenagers we broke away from the family gathering whilst on one of those supervised river outings and ventured quite some distance away to the top of the dam upstream which now has the name Reggae Falls. Who should come looking for us? My grand aunt Mrs. Ina Watson a primary school teacher who became concerned as to our whereabouts. She found me perched high on the slippery steps overlooking the crystal-clear water cascading down with all the mist and spray as it reached the bottom with a thunderous roar. You might get the picture if you think of this tourist attraction being a much smaller version of Niagara Falls in Canada where I have been several times. She sternly rebuked me and told me to get down. She was so angry with us and as youngsters we could not understand what all the fuss was about!!!
Even more interesting was that for the next few weeks my grand-aunt would relay the story to everybody of me according to her version precariously positioned and being within a hair’s breadth of losing my grip and falling in the deep water and possible drowning as a non-swimmer.
It reminds me of my grandmother’s famous saying, ‘There is always danger where no danger shows’ and as adventurous youngsters we never really viewed our escapades similar to those in the Hardy Boy novels as dangerous as growing up on an expansive farm we always loved the sense of adventure and discovery. So, in essence I have never learnt to swim and that has always been the case for most people in the Caribbean.
Fast forward as during the pandemic I read a magazine article featuring Linford Christie, Britain’s greatest 100 metre runner having recently learnt to swim and now does open water swimming. I immediately thought if it was good enough for him then it should also be good enough for me and made a vow that I would also learn to swim albeit much later in life. Hence the caption of it is never too late for a shower of rain.
There is too an often-heard misconception or myth which needs dispelling that Black people due to our bone and body structure will sink if we attempt to swim. That of course is a misnomer and therefore absolutely rubbish. Our daughter started swimming lessons from the age of four and became a competent swimmer at a young age. So, I registered at the Birmingham University swimming pool with one-to-one lessons as a beginner in 2022. Progression to a beginners’ class with others followed having gained confidence and then to the intermediary swimming group. As of September I have now been moved to the advanced swimming group after being assessed independently by a swimming coach as a competent swimmer. Who would have thought this was possible and I am really proud of this achievement and am sharing it with the readers? If we all take up this sporting activity, one might end up saving yours or someone’s life should there be an occasion when one is found in difficulty in water.
My message to Black women in particular who choose not to swim or learn to do so, with the often-heard excuse about the chlorine in the water affects their hair, to simply put that behind them as they are depriving themselves of one of the best forms of physical activity in order to keep in shape and control or prevent diabetes which as most people know I am passionate about as a health and well-being message. Certainly a double-edged sword and the benefits of swimming cannot be overstated as a means of keeping fit and active.
The athletes from the Caribbean are well known globally over the years for their sprinting prowess and considering most islands there are surrounded by the warm sea water my plea would be to anyone who cannot swim to join a swimming club and learn this lifesaving skill. Remember there are the front crawl or freestyle stroke, breast stroke, backstroke and butterfly stroke of which the latter is my least favourite. Even treading water was very difficult to start with but one has mastered the technique. Hope you enjoy reading this article and also like me enjoy the pleasures derived from swimming.
London born Tony Kelly of Jamaican parents grew up in Jamaica and returned to live in Birmingham in 1979.
He is a graduate of Mico Teachers’ College and taught in Kingston high schools prior to working for 30+ years as a middle manager in central and local government with an emphasis on equity, equality, diversity and inclusion. He has a masters’ degree in socio-legal studies from the university of Birmingham.
For over a decade Tony has volunteered as a diabetes ambassador firstly for Diabetes UK and now for the National Health Service – Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group. A multi-award winner doing a yearly average of 150 health and well-being events, locally, nationally and internationally focusing on type 2 diabetes. He was diagnosed with this medical condition 18 years ago. However with a combination of physical activity and diet he has never taken medication thus proving with the right mindset and discipline it can be achieved.
As a diabetes advocate/activist Tony will continue delivering the message of healthy options to readers of CaribDirect.com .
