Kate Rew's sadly had to withdraw from the festival for personal reasons but we're delighted Rob Fryer has been able to step into her swimming cossie.  You can book to hear Rob's talk 'What It Takes To be a Wild Swimmer' at 3pm on Saturday followed by a trio of wonderful water-based films.

Rob is eminently qualified as he is chair of the world's only river swimming club (Farleigh) and of the River & Lake Swimming Association. He's also the author of The Wild Swimming Guide. 

His massive book is the culmination of 13 years' research and contains more information on river and lake swimming sites than any other known publication with ratings and anecdotes about 650 sites in the UK and 250 more worldwide.

Rob's appeared frequently on radio and TV including BBC Radio 4 and Countryfile.  He's been wild swimming since he was at school.  Inspired and encouraged by the late Roger Deakin (author of the classic 'Waterlog') he began work on his guide.

He assiduously seeks out traditional wild swimming sites, believing that, like a treasured heirloom, knowing the "provenance" of a site adds to the enjoyment of swimming there.

As a local councillor and Mayor of Warminster Rob is a tireless campaigner for the rights of wild swimmers.