Southey give £200 to the Marlens Charity

On Saturday 22 August, the Clevedon Masonic Hall buzzed with conversation as members gathered for a relaxed hub buffet lunch. Midway through the afternoon, George Sergeant and Steve Derwin stepped forward to present a cheque for £200 to Sarah Swash, chair of the Marlens charity — the volunteer group responsible for the enormous task of maintaining Clevedon’s iconic Marine Lake.

For so many swimmers across the province, the lake is more than a landmark; it’s part of daily life. Keeping it clean, safe, and thriving is a labour of love carried out by Marlens volunteers, and Sarah’s presence made that dedication feel very real.

Later, she delivered a thoughtful and eye‑opening presentation about the charity’s work. Her stories — equal parts inspiring and sobering — held the room’s attention, and diners were clearly moved by the scale of the effort behind the scenes. There was a genuine sense of pride knowing that the funds raised will help support the volunteers who care for such a treasured community space.