WHAT great news that the free swimming lessons for P1 kids is to be available to every one of the district’s primary schools.

I was lucky enough to learn to swim when I was only 5 years-old and I have never regretted it.

To be honest it gave me something I was able to develop as a sporting activity and I enjoyed competing as a youngster at a very modest level.

Not being much good at ball sports it did give me an activity to follow which allowed me to have plenty of exercise.

The thing was that while I was having fun and exercise opportunities a lot of my friends simply could not swim because opportunities at school then were very limited.

So this move by the Cowdenbeath Area Committee is going to allow an awful lot of youngsters the chance to learn a skill which will give them sporting opportunities and a skill that can save lives.

Clearly it is something that is going to cost the Area Committee a bit of money but it will be cash well spent.

Many parents may have wanted to pay to allow their kids to learn to swim but may have found it beyond the family budget so this will have given the current P1s in the local schools an outstanding opportunity.

Some may go on to become good competitive swimmers but the most will become competent in the water and it will mean that they will be confident when they are on holiday and if they fall in by mistake when they are at the seaside they will not get into any trouble.

A total of 50 free lessons will ensure that all the children involved will get their appropriate skills and will be ready to enjoy themselves when they are beside the waterside. So well done the councillors, it is not often they deserve praise but definitely this time.

SWIMMER,

Cowdenbeath.