A big thank you goes out to Jean Cook who has been selling our ‘Shop Local, Swim Local’ bags to the members of U3A at the following clubs; u3a Bridge, u3a Church Crawlers, u3a Mah Jong, u3a Wine Appreciation, plus – BALFF (Buntingford Adult Learning For Fun) & the Buntingford Community Choir. The production of the bags has been covered by local businesses and so all of the £345 raised goes straight to helping reopen the pool.

Jean contacted the Ward Freman Community Pool Group and offered to sell bags on our behalf as like many local people has fond memories of the pool and knows the vital importance of swimming as an essential life skill.

“When my children were very young I taught then to swim. They then joined Buntingford Swimming Club and quickly got better than me so I joined the Adults’ Section just so that I could join them in the deep end. I then went on to the committee, was Membership Secretary and looked after the girls’ team at Swimming Galas. We had a lot of fun in the adults’ section and I later gained my Bronze & Silver Personal Survival Awards and my 2 mile distance award. All under the guidance of the late Alan Bowell our wonderful Swimming Coach.

Swimming is a Life Skill and our Ward Freman Swimming Pool was so important for our community – not just for Buntingford but for all the surrounding villages and schools as well. We must support the group on their journey to reopen it.“

Jean recalls how the Swimming Pool was built in 1970’s, the same time as the school and Buntingford Town Council took out a large long-term loan to help pay for it so that it could be used out of school hours and in the school holidays by members of the public. When Ward Freman School changed to Freman College the swimming pool retained its original name and in the ownership of Hertfordshire County Council.

We have had great feedback on the bag and understand that one is on it’s way to Australia! Meanwhile back in the UK we know of bags in Norfolk and Yorkshire. We would love to see a photo of how you are using your bag either shopping or swimming, locally or not so local! You can send us an email at jwillett@wardfremanpool.org or post on Facebook using the #wardfreman or #shoplocalswimlocal and don’t forget to tag Ward Freman Community Pool Group as well.

We still can’t decide which is our favourite colour, navy or turquoise and know that some people have been buying one of each! Jean’s sales were in favour of navy with 46 sold against 23 turquoise.

Many thanks to the businesses who supported the bag’s production:

Attend2Health, The Buntingford Coffee Shop, Mark Doel Butchers, Gareth White Electrical Services, The Falcon Restaurant, Poulton Building Supplies, Direct Carpets and Flooring, Fine & Country Estate Agents, Peppermill Bar & kitchen, The Chippy, Beauty by Kathryn, Velvet Rose Tattoo, J.Oliver Radley Opticians and The Buntingford Chamber of Commerce.