The Big Dip and what it means to Scouting in Chichester

It is all in the name of fundraising for 1st Birdham and Wittering Scout Group, which organises The Big Dip each January.

People willingly sign up to run into the sea on New Year's Day and over the years, there have been many choices of fancy dress, including octopuses, mermaids, sharks, pirates and superheroes, witnessed alongside regular swimwear.

It was a big year in 2008, as the group was celebrating its 60th anniversary and raising money towards a new headquarters, so The Big Dip of January 2009 was even more significant.

Robert Baden-Powell, who founded the Scout movement in 1907, made many visits to Chichester in the early years. Although other groups in the district had been going since the start, it was not until the 1930s that Scout troops were launched at Birdham and the Witterings.

There was a Scout troop in Witterings, while Birdham had a Cub pack and a Scout troop. These were combined in 1947 to form 1st Birdham and Wittering Scout Group.

At first, they met in a corrugated iron hut, originally used as a store by Birdham Post Office. The building was adjacent to the school playground and after the school closed, a purpose-built headquarters was opened in 1964.

The lease on that building had two years left to run when the group reached its diamond jubilee year and plans were made to replace it.

The Big Dip of January 1, 2009, was the perfect end to the year of celebration and most of the money raised went towards the headquarters, with the rest funding Scouting activities.

The likes of Elvis, some sharp-shooting cowboys including one with his trusty horse and even a bride took a plunge into the sea off Shore Road. Prizes were awarded for the best-dressed male and female, under-16 and best-dressed team.

The Big Dip seemed to get bigger and bigger each year and in 2011, there was a huge crowd, despite the freezing cold weather.

The group finally got its new headquarters this summer. The old building was demolished and the new building was officially opened in June 2025.