Page 50 - br-may-2022

Mayl 2022 May 2022

Here is a question: I cannot think of a pool that started life as an outdoor pool,
converted to an indoor pool and then reverted back. Answers on a postcard,
please?

As we walked through the
entrance we were greeted by
Ryan Baker who was responsible
for the management of the pool.
He was lifeguarding and running
reception with a colleague. Ryan
was in his last year at
Bournemouth University studying
a sports management degree
and this was his summer job
presumably to help pay off those
student loans. What better job
can you have if you are studying
this subject? He seemed to take
charge of everything including
lifeguard training and plant
maintenance. He even took one to one swimming lessons through the summer.
Pic 208
As we chatted for a while on poolside, I looked around taking in my surroundings.
The pool was bright, cheerful and bubbling with lido life. The sun beat down from
a clear blue sky as youngsters and families played on the many floats in the pool.
“This is great Grampy, I love it!” Robert exclaimed later. We have been swimming
buddies since he was two so it was good to get the opinion of the younger
generation.
The pool itself measures 22.25 metres (25
yards imperial measurement) long by 9.09
metres wide. It is 1.2 metres deep at the
shallow end and 2.1 metres at the deep
end with the water heated to a balmy
29C. It was brightly coloured with some
splendid murals on the walls. The Prince’s
Trust got involved in providing this lovely
artwork. Pic 177
A new cover and roller had been
installed for the start of the current season
and this had been funded by a National
Lottery grant. The council had also
bought a giant inflatable at a cost of
£4,000, a good investment as kids love
this facility.

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