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| Susan Taylor Coniston 2012. |
Ricks had just landed in France and were starting our return
swim to Dover on Monday (15/7/13) afternoon when we were told by our pilot the
tragic news that our good friend Susan Taylor had lost her life during her solo
attempt the previous evening....to say we were heart broken by the news is a
total understatement everyone of the Ricks team knew Susan personally, its only
now we have a chance to say a few words about the lady we all grew to
love, admire and respected for her 100% commitment to her dream of swimming the English channel and to help the Diabetes
UK and Rainbows Hospice charities in every way she could .....She never asked
for anything..., she only ever gave everything...we have lost a good friend,
the world has lost a shinning star....x
Big Rick’s swimmer Paul knew Susan best, these are his thoughts...
We would like to take a few moments to say something about our good friend Susan Taylor , Big Ricks feel very lucky that we got to know both Susan and Stephen very well over the past few years , Susan had swam and trained alongside us all last summer (2012) at swan pool in Sandwell valley , Susan and Stephen would make the long trip every Monday night from Barwell in Leicestershire to the swan just so Susan could train in open water in readiness for her solo swim in 2013 ,we saw Susan in the matter of months go from being a nervous 1st time open water swimmer ,swimming in wetsuit hating the cold , to swimming in skin and doing hrs and hrs and hrs with ease, she was always smiling, always asking questions of how she could do it better and faster..they were a lovely couple to be around, always making jokes, especially when Stephen decided to get a kayak so he could escort Susan around the swan and at the many races Susan did throughout the summer of 2012 with British long distance swimming association, think Susan was more worried about Stephen being safe in the Kayak then she was in the water;-)..
This year Susan found somewhere local to swim in Leicestershire ,but we kept in touch with one another through facebook and twitter ,she was always on the go either training or working on how better she could help both Diabetes UK and Rainbows Hospice charity, we last spoke last Friday afternoon, she was really excited ,she had just received her specially made swimsuit for the swim., she said it was that was finally piece in the jigsaw and she was ready to swim, her pilot had called that morning saying there was every chance the swim would go ahead on Sunday ..!!! we wished each other luck for our swims, and arranging to all met up in the Channel Pub The White Horse on Tuesday afternoon to party the afternoon away to celebrate our swims .I've shed many a tear over the past few days, Susan had asked me to be on her boat last year to be an escorted swimmer on her channel swim should she need one, but as the dates for both our swims clashed I could not do it., ...Susan was such a lovely lady ...gave everything to the swim and to the charities she supported ...I’m not sure Susan really knew just how special she was to everyone who came into contact her, the channel was only the beginning for this special lady,
Finally I wish to send out my best thoughts and best wishes, along with that of everyone in big Ricks swim team, every one of the swimmers at swan pool and I’m sure everyone in the swimming world to Stephen and Susan’s family and this time ......Paul & Big Ricks xx
Big Rick’s swimmer Paul knew Susan best, these are his thoughts...
We would like to take a few moments to say something about our good friend Susan Taylor , Big Ricks feel very lucky that we got to know both Susan and Stephen very well over the past few years , Susan had swam and trained alongside us all last summer (2012) at swan pool in Sandwell valley , Susan and Stephen would make the long trip every Monday night from Barwell in Leicestershire to the swan just so Susan could train in open water in readiness for her solo swim in 2013 ,we saw Susan in the matter of months go from being a nervous 1st time open water swimmer ,swimming in wetsuit hating the cold , to swimming in skin and doing hrs and hrs and hrs with ease, she was always smiling, always asking questions of how she could do it better and faster..they were a lovely couple to be around, always making jokes, especially when Stephen decided to get a kayak so he could escort Susan around the swan and at the many races Susan did throughout the summer of 2012 with British long distance swimming association, think Susan was more worried about Stephen being safe in the Kayak then she was in the water;-)..
This year Susan found somewhere local to swim in Leicestershire ,but we kept in touch with one another through facebook and twitter ,she was always on the go either training or working on how better she could help both Diabetes UK and Rainbows Hospice charity, we last spoke last Friday afternoon, she was really excited ,she had just received her specially made swimsuit for the swim., she said it was that was finally piece in the jigsaw and she was ready to swim, her pilot had called that morning saying there was every chance the swim would go ahead on Sunday ..!!! we wished each other luck for our swims, and arranging to all met up in the Channel Pub The White Horse on Tuesday afternoon to party the afternoon away to celebrate our swims .I've shed many a tear over the past few days, Susan had asked me to be on her boat last year to be an escorted swimmer on her channel swim should she need one, but as the dates for both our swims clashed I could not do it., ...Susan was such a lovely lady ...gave everything to the swim and to the charities she supported ...I’m not sure Susan really knew just how special she was to everyone who came into contact her, the channel was only the beginning for this special lady,
Finally I wish to send out my best thoughts and best wishes, along with that of everyone in big Ricks swim team, every one of the swimmers at swan pool and I’m sure everyone in the swimming world to Stephen and Susan’s family and this time ......Paul & Big Ricks xx
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Susan worked tirelessly over the past two years to raise much needed funds
for her 2 chosen charities
Diabetes UK and Rainbows Hospice
charity....,
She created a face
book page called Create
a Ripple Channel Swim, should you wish to donate to susans charities this
link below will take you her page for more details
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this beautiful and peaceful picture was done by Susan’s Friends
at Stanton Lakes Open Water Swimming ,
It was where Susan spent many hours training over the past
year
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It’s easy to forget when everyone is feeling so sad, just
how much fun Susan was ,
we always used to
have great fun Trainingat swan pool on monday nights, winding each other up, about how we many loops we
had had done, not letting who was coldest we were , or who was working hardest, this was a short
fun Video we did last yr, as Susan was finishing her Monday night swim.. ,just
to for the record we think Susan had done at least 3 miles this night...but a
little Ricks and Mr Taylor encouragement
is always good... ;-))
she was a star, Susan
is going to be missed so much by everyone....Ricks
Susan's song played at her funeral
Angels by Robbie Williams
Please take moment to listen if only for a few minutes .and just think to yourself , maybe smile, maybe shed a tear, to remember and to never forget a lovely lady who gave everything to help others x
