Our community gets involved in all sorts of adventures and activities. Affinity Rowing Club member, Pippa explains how members of the club ended up on the big screen in the recently released film, Vindication Swim.
Vindication Swim, tells the tale of Mercedes Gleitze who became the first British woman to swim the English Channel. She completed this challenging task in 1927 overcoming the oppression faced by women in British society in the 1920’s and the cold stormy waters of the North Sea. She also faced a rival, Mona McLennan who claimed to have swum across the channel faster. Under pressure from the media she swam the 33 kilometer distance in much colder conditions to prove she had completed the first attempt.
Affinity Rowing Club, and other clubs in the area, were approached by the director, Elliot Hasler, in May 2021 to take part in filming the swimming sequences out in the waters of Newhaven.
As rowing was predominantly a male sport at that time, club members were asked to dress as men of the 1920’s. At least seven of our rowers were female which required some rummaging in various charity shops and relatives’ wardrobes to complete their outfits. Club members were filmed as extras on the dock and others were out in the bay in gigs. Everyone had a great time getting into character and being part of such an interesting process.
Photo credit: Affinity Rowing Club
One member said,; “We had to be in the right place at the right time which involved a lot of maneuvering around to get in shot and waiting around for ‘Action’ to be called.”
The all-female crew wearing flat caps also nicknamed themselves ‘Pesky Blinders’, and knowing these club members I would tend to agree!
The film was screened in cinemas throughout March. Click here to watch the Vindication Swim trailer.
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