SOME people take to swimming like the proverbial duck to water, as we have seen in the Tele’s report about youngsters having a splashing time as they learn to swim.

But for others, like your correspondent, it was not quite so easy.

I was 37 before I learned to swim, partly because early experience at pools was always in freezing water, which I didn’t particularly relish, and also due to the fact I was worried about going under and not re-emerging.

It’s much more fun for children to learn now than back in the Victorian days when I shivered and there was less tuition, but the basic dread of accidentally drowning possibly remains for many people well into adulthood.

I was fine when I gained the confidence to float, but a guy in my swimming class, who was even older than me, had to throw in the towel because he couldn’t overcome his fear of water.

Quite apart from being a vital skill if you happen to fall into a river, the ability to swim is also great for keeping fit.

One of Inverclyde most enthusiastic advocates of encouraging swimming was former Provost Jimmy Boyd, who was so fit he could walk around on his hands.

I remember moaning to him one day about hating getting soaked when out running.

“Ach,” he replied scornfully, “your skin’s watertight!”

And that swimmingly wise observation still comes to mind every time I get drenched on a run!