After many years of successful fundraising by the Splashout Committee, our new pool at the Knights Templar School had just opened and the public sessions were proving very popular.

It was suggested that a new swimming group might be formed to cater for the children who had just left Knights Templar School and whose parents had helped to raise the money for the pool. Looking back, it seems remarkable that none of that first group of 9 year olds could swim and we started with some in arm-bands, some unable to duck under the water and none with any distance badges.

From those very basic beginnings the Dolphins went from strength to strength as younger swimmers joined and extra groups were formed. We were able to offer distance awards - 25 metres was quite an achievement in those days.

From 1965 onwards the Dolphins supported the Minehead Rotary Swimathon. This event has given a big boost to swimming and very few West Somerset swimmers will not have taken part at some time. In the last thirteen years the Dolphins have raised over £10,000 for this event and won many awards at all age levels. Over £3,500 has been returned to help operate our pool and we are grateful for the magnificent and welcome support from the hard working volunteers of the Minehead Rotary Club.

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In line with ASA guidelines the Dolphins has always included the cost of the awards as a part of the lesson fee and over 600 awards have been given in the last twelve months. Every award represents real effort and achievement by the swimmer.

Many Dolphins have gone on to gain success with local swimming clubs; some have swum at County and National level. It is great to see them demonstrate their amazing performances when they return from time to time.

From the outset the prime aim of the Dolphins has been to improve Safety in the Water and we regularly test for the ASA Survival awards. We also offer our own Basic Survival awards so even the youngest can experience the problems of swimming with clothes on.

Although all records back to day 1 are on computer, we now have a new web-site which gives details of the Amateur Swimming Association awards we offer and many of the latest performances. We remind everyone that performances should not be compared but should be taken as a basis for personal improvement.

It has been a major factor in the development of the Dolphins that every group includes at least one excellent performer to help demonstrate the strokes and skills and so encourage others by example. A special "thank you" to all those who have helped in this way - you demonstrate so much better than I can !

Over the years we have received magnificent help from parents; without their help on the poolside and at many larger events the Dolphins could not have been so successful.

Jim has now been teaching children to swim for the last forty years - long enough so that at least one of the children he taught is now a grandmother !

He would like to think that swimming becomes so enjoyable for every Dolphin that they will carry on swimming for pleasure as they get older. Some will still be swimming in 60 or 70 years time so they may as well get their strokes correct as early as possible !