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July 2022 July 2022

SANDFORD PARKS LIDO The pool like many others had been
through good times and bad. It
experienced its heyday immediately
before and after the war. However,
The memories came flooding back as I
looked through the entrance at the blue with times changing and foreign
oasis of the pool and the green holidays becoming more popular,
parkland behind. Fifty years ago in the harder times were ahead. Also, new
mid 60s, Diana and I used to make indoor facilities in Cheltenham were
regular visits to the Sandford Parks Lido built in 1971 and the future of the lido
and very little seemed to have was called into question. However, a
changed: the peace, the tranquillity, the concerted campaign by its supporters
buzz, the excitement remained. saved the day and attendance levels
of over 232,000 in 1983 and 1984
Set in four wonderful acres of parkland proved the decision was a right one.
and flower borders the pool was built in
In 1996, the Borough Council handed over the management of the lido to a
board of trustees. A charitable trust was formed and Sandford Lido Limited, a
registered charity still runs the pool’s operations. In my travels around the country,
1934, completed in early 1935 and
opened in the summer of that year. I have come to the conclusion that pools are not always best run by local
With much pomp and ceremony the councils and that a team of enthusiastic volunteers with a wide set of skills often
then mayor of Cheltenham and his do a much better job bringing imagination, flair and enterprise to the table.
lady wife travelled in open top motor Keith was very keen to run the lido as
cars along with 500 other local an all the year round facility and
dignitaries from the municipal offices develop new areas of activity. After
to the lido. After the mayor declared all the place has so much to offer with
the pool open, his lady wife pressed its Olympic sized pool measuring 50
the button to set the magnificent metres by 27 metres (10 lanes) kept
fountain into action. heated to a temperature of 24/25
This was to be a very proud moment for the town as thousands turned out to degrees C. It is the only ASA
witness the great day. I was soon to find out that the people of Cheltenham are accredited 50 metre open air pool in
still cherishing their own bit of paradise to this very day the country. It had undergone a
major refurbishment in 2006/07 when
“I’ve come to see Keith Morris” I said to the listing structure was stabilized with
the lady at the entrance to the pool. a hundred supporting piles, a new
Keith soon emerged from his office pool floor installed and scum
around the corner with Dave Banyard channels replaced.
one of the pool trustees.
We were soon joined by Tony Cherrington, the current vice chair of the trustees.
I was immediately struck by their Tony, an ex GB water polo player and passionate supporter of the lido told me “I
enthusiasm and pride in the place. Keith love this place and people are always waiting for the pool to open each year”.
was the business and operational The town of course has a great tradition in water polo and Tony remembered
manager for the pool and was by all fondly of the time back in the 50s when 2,000 people turned up to watch the
account a seven day a week man at this team beat the Australian national side 2-1. On the very morning of my visit the
time of the year. Dave, a former mayor polo team had entertain Sheffield who had recently been promoted to the
of Cheltenham had retired from council National League in a friendly game at the lido. Tony was off to swim in the World
work a few years ago and was now fully involved with his lifelong passion, the lido.

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