This week has been dominated by the final volunteer weekend of the refurbishment. The last cleaning jobs were ably completed by a host of local people who cleaned the lockers, toilets and windows, scrubbed the changing room floors, weeded and pruned the car park overgrowth and cleared the gully, put bands and numbers on locker keys – (sacrificing a finger nail or two along the way!) and even vacuumed the pool side! (who can say they’ve ever done that? (It was very dusty!)) A special mention to Diane George’s husband – I’m very sorry I didn’t catch your name – who saved us the cost of a skip by removing a lot of assorted waste material. Next week we will be open, just in time for Halloween, meaning Phase One and the initial refurbishment will be complete!!

This, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, is “The end of the beginning.” Opening for business represents the completion of our first two stated goals: to Repair and Reopen. Revitalisation will take place over the next few years as income supports fundraising. We are immensely grateful and humbled by the contribution of the over 100 people whose more than 1150 hours of volunteering, putting their arms down drains, screwing things to walls, weeding and painting and dusting and scrubbing, have made this thing actually happen! That’s not to mention the contribution of many local firms who have contributed their expertise or materials and time at a reduced rate to bring us to this point. 

Speaking of which, this week we received a delivery of cafe furniture and equipment from Thorns Group Event Hire, Adrian and Archie of Pool Cover Servicing came to well, service the pool cover, Bill from Gareth White’s team came back to tackle some complicated electrics, Richard from RGS flooring completed the carpeting of the new viewing area, Freman College donated a surplus Panini Press and Dr Heating, when Dave wasn’t running around the showers having finished the heat exchanger install, (see Facebook!) took delivery of the water softener which turned out to be much bigger than anticipated! As did the package that turned out to be the giant inflatable!

Joanne and I were beaten to being the first in the water by Bob and Dunk, (again see Facebook video), exactly five months and five days after the charity got the keys. Not all fun and games, (honest!) as we did have a bit of pool bottom sweeping to do.