Gulp... only 36 weeks until I attempt to swim the Channel (solo)

SOME of you will know me as a Henley Mermaid or through Henley Music School. You might even recognise me from these pages. Most days you’ll find me in the pool or the river or driving around in my Volkswagen campervan, the ultimate accessory for an outdoor swimmer.

I grew up in Henley and have three wonderful children. Our house is busy: in addition to my three adult children, I have my partner, a retired police officer, and we have our two lovely Ukrainian guests who came to stay with us when Russia attacked their homeland.

I also have two dogs (a miniature dachshund and an Italian spinone).

I went to school in Henley, and then to Trinity College of Music in London, where I studied the violin, viola and piano. I spent many years performing and teaching. Music is in my blood. Seventeen years ago, I was running the school orchestra when I noticed how music was being sidelined.

Over the course of the past 12 or so years, I’ve watched as music provision has withered under the pressure of school funding cuts.

Henley Music School has become the only source of instrumental tuition for many schools in Henley.

It is now a charity, set up for the community to provide music education in all its forms to anyone regardless of age, ability, background or means.

We are lucky to have enjoyed such amazing support from wonderful donors and we have grown to such an extent that we are in every school, teach more than 170 individual lessons a week and provide specialist piano lessons for neurodivergent students.

We run Henley Youthful Orchestra, an inclusive orchestra for any musician (rusty players welcome), Music School Sundays for children aged five to nine and many specialist ensemble groups. We have more than 900 children and 100 adults taking part in all our musical activities.

I am proud beyond measure to be bringing music into the lives of so many young people who would not otherwise have that opportunity.

My other love is my group of Henley Mermaids: five middle-aged women who take on swimming challenges to raise money for charity. Having met at Henley Open Water Swimming Club, our friendship grew and I personally think of them as part of my family. We argue, organise, laugh, swim and support each other. Over the last three years, we have raised almost £80,000 through generous donations for our swimming challenges.

We’ve swum the English, Bristol and North Channels in relay and I completed the Freedom Swim from Robben Island to Cape Town.

This year we swam from the source of the Thames in Cricklade to Henley. Each year we work to raise funds for a specific charity, usually one close to our hearts. We’ve raised funds for Henley Music School, brain condition charities and Surfers Against Sewage.

Next year, we’ll be raising money for the Henley Community Hub.

A not-for-profit community interest company, this is a project designed to restore a neglected community asset: Trinity Hall in Harpsden Road.

We aim to convert the building into a permanent home for Henley Music School and a hub for a wide range of community groups.

The hall is already used by Trinity Snooker Club and Trinity Rifle Club and I’m looking forward to that continuing.

Built in 1908, Trinity Hall has fallen into disrepair and is in desperate need of refurbishment. We aim to do this in a sustainable way by insulating the building, installing low-carbon heating and renovating the hall to make it fit for the people of Henley for the next 100 years.

Working alongside me are my fellow trustees, Carolyn Ahara, Philip Booth and my fellow Mermaid Jo Robb.

This year the Mermaids’ fundraising plan is slightly different. I will be taking on the massive challenge of swimming the Channel solo, while my friends will be swimming Loch Ness.

I’ll be spending many hours in the pool at Gillotts leisure centre and in the river to keep up my cold water acclimatisation.

I’m being supported by my excellent trainer, Sophie Whitworth, who knows a thing or two about extreme challenges.

I am being sponsored by estate agent Philip Booth Esq and Better, which runs the leisure centre.

Each month I’ll be updating Henley Standard readers about training, fundraising, the music school and life in general. Please do email any questions to mermaidlaurar@gmail.com

Feel free to ask about the music school, music, swimming, the River Thames, training or anything else.

Later this year, I celebrate my 50th birthday. I’ll be marking the occasion by taking on the two biggest challenges of my life: swimming the 21 miles of the Channel solo and raising £1million.

Henley is an amazing place with a fantastic community of people passionate about the town.

I am incredibly blessed to have a wonderful family and supportive friends. I know that together, we can do it.

www.henleymusicschool.co.uk

www.henleycommunityhub.com