Rachel and Lily in the river Thames
My daughter, Lily, dipping in the Thames at Runnymeade, Berkshire on the hotest day of the year so far, 29 June 2019.
I was very conscious of the negative press that outdoor swimming had received that week, with repeated warnings not to go in the water due to safety concerns. I felt strongly that we should not be deterred but equally did not want to atract unwanted criticism or encourage others to take risks.