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July 2022 July 2022
impressed with how comfortable this place feels with everyone getting on with
each other.”
“Every time the sun comes out, we jump in pool and swim a couple of lengths so
we are getting fitter too!”
Sadly, I had no time to stay a while and further soak in the atmosphere, swim and
to enjoy a Jazz Evening which was to take place that evening but I will be back!
The cafe where we sat was doing excellent trade on the afternoon I was there
and owner Suzanna Moffat was hoping to be able to open onto the Park to
further enhance her trade which would potentially bring further revenue to the
pool in fees she pays to the trust.
This pool I know will continue to flourish because it has such wonderful backing
from the local community and a skilled management team who pull it all
together. Dave Banyard told me that the trustees did not always agree but they
worked really well together and were all committed to the lido. Dave had struck
up a conversation with Diana who grew up on the Cotswolds and amazingly they
were both born in the same Sunnyside Nursing Home back in the 1940s!
The lido’s future looks in safe hands with the encouragement of all the
stakeholders including the borough council which has been very supportive. Keith
was keen to say that this working partnership was perhaps the best example of its
kind in the country. The number of season ticket holders continues to grow with
1,167 registered this summer
Last year, 206.000 people came to the pool and Keith told me that it was well on
its way to exceeding this total in the current season. When the sun shone on busy
days in the past week, 4,000 people packed the lido and you could hardly see a
blade of grass for human bodies.
I loved this place and I will return!

Bob Holman

As a footnote to this article, Tony Cherrington did get to swim in a cross channel
relay team which still holds the record for the oldest team across. In September
this year, if all goes to plan, I am going to be part of a team which hopefully will
break this record. The average age of our 6 person “One Foot in the Wave” team
will be 75 years 337 days and it will be 30 years since I completed my solo swim in
1992. Fingers crossed!

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