A new film has been released documenting the swimming community at Hampstead Heath’s ponds.
Film The Ponds follows the three open swimming areas at Hampstead Heath for 12 months, through the blistering summer and freezing cold winter.
Tickets for screenings are already selling out with swimming groups from all over Europe requesting their own viewings.
Patrick McLennan, co-producer/ director told the Standard that the film introduces audiences to characters that use the ponds throughout the year.
He said: “I think the fact that people are prepared to get up on a January or February morning and go down, cycle, drive or walk to the pond and jump into four degrees water makes them interesting straight away because not everyone is prepared to do that.”
One character who plays a prominent role in the film is Tom Kearney. He started going to the ponds to aid his recovery following an accident in 2009 where he was hit by a bendy bus on Oxford Street.
Mr McLennan said: “He almost died and was in a coma for two and a half weeks. When he got through that, he was rehabilitating at home, his neighbour said ‘you’ve got to go in the water because if a bendy bus isn’t going to kill you then the cold water certainly won’t either and I think it would make you better.’
“So Tom became a really important part of our documentary because he talks about how the men’s pond aided his recovery and allowed him to recover from devastating trauma.”
Mr McLennan said that the film touches on the history of the ponds, showing footage of men and women using the facilities “in years gone by.”
“Swimmers there are very mindful of the fact that they have a very precious facility and that they want to keep it as the way it is currently. It’s got a very loyal regular community.”
It’s not just the community that want to see the film. Screenings in the local area have sold out with people as far afield as Belgium requesting to hold their own screening.
“When Samuel Smith and I started filming, we started it and thought that it was turning out to be a worthwhile and interesting project.
“When you start something like this, you’re not aware if there’s going to be an audience for it. We’ve been absolutely delighted to find that there is a big audience for it. Not only in London.
“There are swimming groups and people around the country who have heard about it and are getting in touch. People in Hampshire, Newcastle, Brussels and Ireland. They’ve seen the trailer and getting in touch and asking us how they can see it.
“The response has been remarkable.”
To find out how you can see the film visit The Ponds' website.
