history

Arlon ‘Coco’ Owens, originally from Ogmore Vale, a Christmas swim founder member, was a bit of a clown in real life.

He lost most of his hair while in the army as a ‘desert rat’ on account of wearing his helmet in the heat (so he always said!)

After the war he was barman at the Esplanade Hotel (now the battlebank). Later on he and his wife Maisie Owens ran the ‘Sospan Fach’ café for 25 years.

Arlon and Roy Morgan, from Kenfig Hill, would swim all year round, mostly at Rest Bay. Sadly both have departed now and together with other departed swim members are our ‘weather co-ordinators’. They usually do a splendid job!

My Dad, Arlon ‘Coco’ Owens, enjoyed his swimming, the gee gees, the choir but most of all he loved Porthcawl, its people and community.

The centre for his modus operandi was Sospan Fach Cafe which was like a community and tourist information centre all rolled into one. Besides being a haven for gossiping locals, skiving school kids, Arlon and the rock behind him, my Mum, Maisie, always provided a warm welcome for new residents and visitors to the town.

The manifestation of his love for the community is embodied in his enthusiasm for the Christmas Morning Swim.

During October 1965 and after a Chamber of Trade meeting, Arlon Owens and I were standing outside Woolworths in John Street, discussing things from the meeting. Arlon, as always thinking about swimming and ways of publicising Porthcawl suggested how we could have a swim on Christmas morning and give away some cheap toys to any children attending.

The conversation went on into the early hours of the morning. After deciding that he could be ‘Coco the Clown’ and push me off the pier dressed as Father Christmas (Arlon said he would get the lifeguards to save me) we made our separate ways home.

It became a Chamber of Trade function (helped by interested parties) for over 20 years before being taken over entirely by the Christmas Morning Swim Committee.

Having left the Navy, I decided to return to Porthcawl shortly before Christmas. Having known Arlon Owens from previous visits home, I was aware he swam all year round. After a few pints with him, he mentioned Christmas morning. I agreed to join him, but I forgot completely about it until there was a knock on my door Christmas morning and Arlon said to me, “Are you ready?” I couldn’t back down, little realising I would still be there 50 plus years later.

Even as early as October, Stan would have his minutes book out and start seeing what had to be done first. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and is greatly missed by many people. He was known as ‘Stan the Man’ by a lot of the young people who took part in the Swim. Although he never swam himself, he put his heart and soul into the morning to make sure everything would be okay.