See what we’ve been up to.
Have you got yours yet?
Sales of our limited addition jute shopping bags are going really well. In case you haven’t seen them, we commissioned robust and practical shopping bags from a company called “Go Jute.” They are available in Navy Blue or Turquoise and sport the WPFG logo with…
Home Start Aquathon
A team of six known as the ‘Freman Flyers‘ will be taking on Home Start – Royston, Buntingford & South Cambridgeshire Aquathon challenge on April 27th at Royston Leisure Centre. The team, led by one of the Ward Freman Community Pool Group (WFCPG) trustees Frazer…
Town Council demonstrates support
It was standing room only at The Manor House on Thursday 27th February as over forty pool supporters attended Buntingford Town Council’s monthly full council meeting, as a request by us for a grant of £45,000 was to be debated. To the credit of the…
Impact Questionnaire
Complete this questionnaire and help us get some serious funding! https://forms.office.com/r/W2VsYdEfgc?embed=true It’s been just over a year since the pool was closed and almost a year since our charity was formed. That means we will be eligible to apply for lots more grants. In order…
Race Night raises £540
Trustees Joanne Willett and Alison Barr organised a swimming themed race night on the 18th January 2025. This was no ordinary race night simply watching pre recorded races on a tv screen, but one where audience participation in the races was key. Attendees were invited…
1st Anniversary of pool closure
Today is one year since the Ward Freman pool closed. From the outside of the building you may not think much has occurred in the past year, the pool is still closed. Click here to read the newsletter to find out the progress we have made….
12 Ducks of Christmas Photo Shoot Competition
Santa Claus has gathered the Freman flock of ducks (kindly knitted by our volunteers) and sent them out to get ready for Christmas. Find the ducks by visiting the business, then take your own photo of where they have gone. Some ducks can be seen…
David Lewis Memorial Golf event raises £1500
On Friday 27th October 2024 the David Lewis Memorial Golf Day raised £1500 for the Ward Freman Community Pool Group.David’s son Mark and his wife Sharon have been raising money for local charities over the past nine years. When they heard about the closure of…
Charity Golf Day
On Friday 27th September Mark and Sharon Lewis will be hosting the 10th David Lewis Memorial Golf Day at East Herts Golf Club. This year we are honoured to have been chosen as the beneficiary of the event. Over the past nine years Mark has…
August 2024 Newsletter
It’s been hard work eating ice creams, homemade cakes and freshly made pizzas whilst listening to some excellent live music at Braughing Wheelbarrow Race, Anstey Fair and Aspenden Village Fete this past month. But someone had to do it and in doing so we have…
July Newsletter
With thanks to our team of trustees and volunteers taking the time to engage with local residents at Edwinstree Middle School Summer fair and Millfield First School Summer Party, our eNewsletter is now being sent out to over 520 individuals. This months newsletter contains designs…
Fundraising Quiz
On 27th July 2024 a fundraising quiz will be hosted by Robert Waddingham at the Seth Ward Community Centre, Buntingford.Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start, tickets £5 each. There will be prizes for the winning team, a raffle and bar. All proceeds go…
Save a life
On Tuesday 18th June 2024 several young people and their parents enjoyed a fun and educational lifesaving session at Brick House Farm, Hormead. As part of the Royal Life Saving Society Drowning Prevention Week, instructors Barry and Chantal Ellis donated their time to teach youngsters…
June 2024 Update
Since the update in May the plans for funding the essential repairs and renovations to the pool have taken a slight hiatus. We were getting ready to submit our application to the Community Ownership Fund (COF), with the final round of applications being 30th May…
June Newsletter
The June edition of our pool supporters newsletter was sent out to 474 people on 11th June 2024. We have also published regular updates in The Diary which is distributed to 560 households in the villages of Barkway, Barley, Reed, Nuthampstead, Newsells, Buckland and Chipping….
Save a Life, Save the Pool
As part of the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) Drowning Prevention Week 15-22nd June 2024, the Ward Freman Community Pool Group are hosting a ‘Save a life, save a pool’ event on Tuesday 18th June 2024. This event aims to provide vital water safety and lifesaving skills whilst…
Reed Annual Parish Meeting
On Wednesday 29th May 2024 the Ward Freman Community Pool Group were represented by Trustees Frazer and Joanne Willett at Reed’s Annual Parish Meeting. Following feedback from the villagers the Council changed the format of the meeting, so instead of a series of presentations from…
May Newsletter
The May edition of our pool supporters newsletter was sent out to 455 people on 21st May 2024, following a further 125 new subscribers signing up at the Barkway Market on 11th May. This newsletter was kindly produced by Georgina Schwan, who volunteered her time….
April Newsletter
Candy Keane volunteered to produce our new pool supporters newsletter which was emailed to 330 subscribers on 25th April 2024. We really appreciate her putting some creativity to our news! Click here to view.
May Update
The Ward Freman swimming pool requires significant funding in order to make it a desirable, fit for purpose pool once again. The pool was built in 1976 and stands pretty much as it was built. Whilst it has had some repairs and upgrades over the…
Dance raises £1114
On Saturday 27th April Buntingford’s Seth Ward Community Centre was the venue for a ‘Dance the Decades’ fundraising event hosted by Victoria Burt in aid of the Ward Freman Community Pool Group. Our thanks also goes to DJ Spencer Brett who donated his services for…
Fundraising
Not only did Sarah Hopewell ran the London Marathon on Sunday 21st April in 3 hours 54 minutes, but she did it whilst festooned with swimming paraphernalia and raised £1292! Sarah is the East Herts District Council Executive Member for Wellbeing and has been incredibly…
Send us a video
Trustee Joanne Willett had a great night at the Buntingford Shorts Showcase last night watching an amazing shortlist of finalists and gaining inspiration for our campaign. We are going to apply to the Community Ownership Fund for a substantial amount of money but we need…
Business Plan Meeting
Trustees had a hybrid meeting today at Wallfields (EHDC Hertford Office) with Simon Newland and Emily White (Hertfordshire County Council) and Helen Standon (East Herts District Council). Alison Barr, Joanne Willett, Shelia White and Philip Wylie along with Sarah Hopewell (East Herts District Councillor Castle…
Charity Status
The Ward Freman Community Pool Group CIO is now a registered charity, number 1207746. The charitable object as stated in our constitution is to promote for the benefit of the public at large, in particular but not exclusively those living in Hertfordshire and the surrounding…
Fundraising Dance
Saturday 27th April 8pm-11pm Freman College Come and join us for a fabulous night of dancing, fun and enjoyment all in aid of the Ward Freman swimming pool. “Dance the Decades” will be an evening of brilliant music from the 60s to the noughties, so…
CIO constitution
The Ward Freman Community Pool Group CIO constitution has been submitted to the Charity Commission. We await their decision (should be within 40 working days) regarding registration. This is one of the important steps we need to accomplish in order to apply for Community Ownership…
Pool Drained
After delays due to blocked drains, the pool has been successfully drained and the feared collapse of the tank (the hole in the ground) has not happened. Members of the group visited the pool to see first hand the condition of the tiling. Apart from…