Conville & Walsh

Kate Rew is the author of WILD SWIM: RIVER, LAKE, LIDO & SEA a ‘joyful romp of a book’ (Robert Macfarlane) that has launched a thousand swimmers. Listed number two in Monocle’s worldwide list of people to watch in 2010, Kate is widely seen as founder of ‘something of a cult movement’ (Rowan Pelling).

Her enthusiasm for fresh air, open water and the British countryside led to the establishment of the Outdoor Swimming Society (OSS) in 2006, and a public revival in open water that has spawned a new leisure industry. Before starting a movement, Kate spotted them, as a health, psychology and fitness editor and contributor to publications such as Evening Standard, Grazia, Times, Guardian, ELLE and Sunday Times STYLE. She is a keen travel writer, for the Observer amongst others, and in 2008 made the first online feature films for the GuardianOnline travel site. She has since presented on BBC Coast, as well as appearing regularly on other TV, news and radio programmes as an independent expert.

Kate’s first book was variously described as ‘inspired’, ‘passionate’, ‘sumptious’ and ‘with a freewheeling spirit’, and it was chosen as book of the week by both Mail on Sunday and Independent. She is a reluctant public speaker but does not let that stop her, and is currently working on a new project. It is not on dry land.