Take two

Published on Thursday 27 December 2007 15:47

Peter Jackson has done the Loony Dook every year since it began. Last year, his granddaughter Nikki Anderson joined him

Peter (59) on Nikki

NIKKI'S great. She's nine years old going on 36. She's a lovely girl, very caring. She's beautiful, really, and cheeky and outgoing. She's smart, very intelligent – that's not me being biased – and she asks questions. She's got a memory like an elephant.

I was one of the originals at the Loony Dook. It was a silly bet between a couple of guys who wanted something to do on New Year's Day. Someone suggested a parachute jump and we told him to get lost. Then somebody else said, "Why don't we jump in the Forth?" And that's what happened. One of the old guys, Bomber, said he'd come and make soup for us. He did – Bomber the soup dragon we ended up calling him.

You've really got to see it to believe it. There were five of us that first time – now we get about 450 people from all over the world.

The year Nikki did it, it was freezing – even I would say that and I've been doing it for 22 years. I warned her. I said, "It's going to be cold." She had her wee cycling shorts on, so we gave her a dressing gown. She went up past her waist, which is amazing. I mean, we had a bunch of guys from Texas one year. They were saying, "Ah, we're rough, we're tough." One of them got in up to his knees then ran away.

Nikki loved it… well, she didn't love it at the time. She said, "I'm not going to do it again, Granda." But she'll try anything.

Don't get me wrong. It's well organised. We look after people. But you've really got to dress right for this. One year it was snowing and a guy who was trying to take my photo asked me to take my shoes off. I did… and I couldn't walk afterwards. I was numb. My legs had given up.

We get a piper down the street, then there's hot soup and toddies at The Moorings afterwards– it's just a brilliant day.

Nikki (nine) on Peter

MY GRANDA'S big, cuddly and strong. He's the best. He's got 12 tattoos: two Bugs Bunnies on his chest, one swallow on each hand, a rose on one arm and there's a lady on the other, and I think there's a tiger too. My favourite one is the Bugs Bunny.

I see him every Saturday. I used to go swimming with him when we went to Cyprus on holiday but he's getting too old now. That's what Granny says.

He was in the navy when he was younger, so he can't feel the cold. When he does the Loony Dook, he doesn't wear a top and he goes right out, swimming. But he can't go under the water because he's got asthma.

I didn't really think he was mad, though – when I knew the money was going to charity, I thought it was good. I asked if I could do it and he said, "Don't do it, it's freezing." I had to persuade him to take me. My friends – Holly, Jacks, Becky and Paula – did it, so I decided to join in.

My first time was last year. I wore a swimsuit, a pair of trackies, a long-sleeved top and my granda's jumper. I went in up to below my hips and I was just standing there freezing. I went a wee bit deeper but then I came back because it was too cold.

After, we went back to The Moorings. We went to the bathroom and got changed. There was sand in between my toes in my trainers and I had to walk along the beach with wet feet. I was freezing. But we made 100. I can't remember what the charity was, but I think it was a kids' appeal in Edinburgh.

It's good fun being with everyone else. My two stepsisters came and watched last year, so I'll try to persuade them to join in.

• The Loony Dook (www.theloonydook.co.uk) involves hundreds of people – many in fancy dress – plunging into the River Forth in South Queensferry on New Year's Day to raise funds for charity