By Isle of Wight Observer
An Island man is marking his 104th birthday, with the release of a short film celebrating his remarkable life, and life-long connection to the sea.
Bill Smith, who has spent more than 50 years swimming in the waters off the Island, believes the daily ritual helped him live a long and happy life. “I enjoyed making the film – very worthwhile,” he said. “I’m looking forward to showing the film to my friends and family, to show them I can still do things. They think I’m getting old!”
The film, Bill’s Story, was produced as part of the Solent Seascape Project, a five-year initiative working to restore nature to the Solent’s marine habitats.
The short film describes the changes Bill has seen in British seas over the last century. Once a professional chef, he recalls buying fish at market ‘as tall as a man’ – turbot and halibut are now rarely seen.
In recent years, Bill has limited his swims to indoor pools, concerned about pollution in the Solent. However, he remains optimistic, believing the sea can recover. “Huge fish and clean water could return,” he said.
Louise MacCallum, Solent Seascape Project manager, said: “Restoring the marine habitats of the Solent is vital, not just for wildlife, but for the health and wellbeing of the communities who live alongside it.”
Bill’s Story is available via iw.observer/bills-story.
