History of the pool

Ward Freman Pool time-line

The story so far....

Fundraising

The David Lewis Memorial Golf Day raises £1500!

27th September 2024

Fundraising

The David Lewis Memorial Golf Day raises £1500!

27th September 2024

Fundraising

With the Buckland & Chipping Harvest Fayre being the last pre loved book sale event this summer, with have subscribed 739 people to our e-newsletter and raised a total of £460.

14th September 2024

Fundraising

With the Buckland & Chipping Harvest Fayre being the last pre loved book sale event this summer, with have subscribed 739 people to our e-newsletter and raised a total of £460.

14th September 2024

Fundraising

The Herts and Essex County Fair hosted our community engagement stall raising £92 from pre loved books sales. With patrons from a larger geographical area there weren’t many new subscribers to our newsletter.

18th August 2024

Fundraising

The Herts and Essex County Fair hosted our community engagement stall raising £92 from pre loved books sales. With patrons from a larger geographical area there weren’t many new subscribers to our newsletter.

18th August 2024

Community Engagement

Trustees enjoyed an afternoon at Aspenden village fete raising £170 from pre loved book sales and updating the community on our progress.

4th August 2024

Community Engagement

Trustees enjoyed an afternoon at Aspenden village fete raising £170 from pre loved book sales and updating the community on our progress.

4th August 2024

Fundraising

Helen Betley is the first person to swim Butterfly around the island of Jersey in a time of 11 hours and 39minutes also raising £4030 for our cause.

25th July 2024

Fundraising

Helen Betley is the first person to swim Butterfly around the island of Jersey in a time of 11 hours and 39minutes also raising £4030 for our cause.

25th July 2024

Community Engagement

Trustees and volunteers had a weekend spreading the word of the charity, signing up new supporters to and selling pre loved books raising £197, at Braughing Wheelbarrow Race and Anstey Fair.

13th & 14th July 2024

Community Engagement

Trustees and volunteers had a weekend spreading the word of the charity, signing up new supporters to and selling pre loved books raising £197, at Braughing Wheelbarrow Race and Anstey Fair.

13th & 14th July 2024

Community Ownership Fund Uncertainty

With a new Labour Government settling in, the final round of Community Ownership Funding has not continued, but Labour report they are keen to support communities.
We await further updates………

9th July 2024

Community Ownership Fund Uncertainty

With a new Labour Government settling in, the final round of Community Ownership Funding has not continued, but Labour report they are keen to support communities.
We await further updates………

9th July 2024

New Plans

Local Architectural firm G2 donated their time and services to produce some fabulous new plans, for a whole new look dry side experience. Community engagement resulted in 90 comments for us to refine the design.

5th July 2024

New Plans

Local Architectural firm G2 donated their time and services to produce some fabulous new plans, for a whole new look dry side experience. Community engagement resulted in 90 comments for us to refine the design.

5th July 2024

General Election postpones Community Ownership Fund applications

With a general election being called on 4th July 2024 all government activity ceases. This means we cannot submit our application for a Community Ownership Fund (COF) grant on 31st May 2024.

23rd May 2024

General Election postpones Community Ownership Fund applications

With a general election being called on 4th July 2024 all government activity ceases. This means we cannot submit our application for a Community Ownership Fund (COF) grant on 31st May 2024.

23rd May 2024

Community Engagement

Trustees and volunteers attended Barkway Market to inform the community of our plans. 125 new people signed up to stay informed of our progress by optioning to receive our e-newsletter.

11th May 2024

Community Engagement

Trustees and volunteers attended Barkway Market to inform the community of our plans. 125 new people signed up to stay informed of our progress by optioning to receive our e-newsletter.

11th May 2024

Fundraising

Victoria Burt hosted ‘Dance the Decades’ fundraising event raising £1114

27th April 2024

Fundraising

Victoria Burt hosted ‘Dance the Decades’ fundraising event raising £1114

27th April 2024

Fundraising

Sarah Hopewell raised £1292 running the London Marathon in swimwear.

21st April 2024

Fundraising

Sarah Hopewell raised £1292 running the London Marathon in swimwear.

21st April 2024

Community Ownership Fund

A Community Ownership Fund expression of interest successfully submitted and eligibility of funding confirmed.

14th April 2024

Community Ownership Fund

A Community Ownership Fund expression of interest successfully submitted and eligibility of funding confirmed.

14th April 2024

Councils Meeting

Trustees met with members of Hertfordshire County Council and East Herts District Council to discuss our business plan and next steps in trying to secure the lease of the Ward Freman Pool.

8th April 2024

Councils Meeting

Trustees met with members of Hertfordshire County Council and East Herts District Council to discuss our business plan and next steps in trying to secure the lease of the Ward Freman Pool.

8th April 2024

Registered Charity

Ward Freman Community Pool Group CIO becomes registered charity with the RCN 1207746

5th April 2024

Registered Charity

Ward Freman Community Pool Group CIO becomes registered charity with the RCN 1207746

5th April 2024

Business Plan

Business plan v1 submitted to Hertfordshire County Council in order to secure the lease of the pool.

28th March 2024

Business Plan

Business plan v1 submitted to Hertfordshire County Council in order to secure the lease of the pool.

28th March 2024

Charity Application Submitted

Ward Freman Community Pool Group Charitable Incorporated Organisation application submitted to the Charity Commission

15th March 2024

Charity Application Submitted

Ward Freman Community Pool Group Charitable Incorporated Organisation application submitted to the Charity Commission

15th March 2024

Pool Drained

Pool drainage completed and the sides are still standing!

5th March 2024

Pool Drained

Pool drainage completed and the sides are still standing!

5th March 2024

We Are Not Alone

There are many community owned pools thriving throughout the UK, several coming back from a worse state of repair than Ward Freman. They have done it, so can we!

February 2024

We Are Not Alone

There are many community owned pools thriving throughout the UK, several coming back from a worse state of repair than Ward Freman. They have done it, so can we!

February 2024

Community Questionnaire

Questionnaire launched to gather the community views about the pool’s future. 650 responses within the first three weeks.

28th January 2024

Community Questionnaire

Questionnaire launched to gather the community views about the pool’s future. 650 responses within the first three weeks.

28th January 2024

A future plan

A meeting of officers at County and District councils concluded that if a community group wished to take on the facility, in principle this would be agreed, pending a viable business plan.

10th January 2024

A future plan

A meeting of officers at County and District councils concluded that if a community group wished to take on the facility, in principle this would be agreed, pending a viable business plan.

10th January 2024

Pool Closed

Pool Closed

23rd December 2023

Pool Closed

Pool Closed

23rd December 2023

Petition to keep the pool open

A petition with over 1200 signatures was presented at a full District Council meeting. It did not result in a change of position from East Herts District council.

13th December 2023

Petition to keep the pool open

A petition with over 1200 signatures was presented at a full District Council meeting. It did not result in a change of position from East Herts District council.

13th December 2023

Community Action

Eleven pool users met at the Buntingford Scout Hut along with district councillors, to find out more about the issues, see what the options were, and start developing a plan to save our pool.

9th December 2023

Community Action

Eleven pool users met at the Buntingford Scout Hut along with district councillors, to find out more about the issues, see what the options were, and start developing a plan to save our pool.

9th December 2023

Fundraising Starts

Local resident Louise Hampton started a ‘Go Fund Me’ fundraising page. £890 was donated by the community in the first month.

24th November 2023

Fundraising Starts

Local resident Louise Hampton started a ‘Go Fund Me’ fundraising page. £890 was donated by the community in the first month.

24th November 2023

Cost of the Problem

Residents raised concern at the news of pool closure. Problems with the filtration system, tiles and other issues with the pool would cost £543,000 to repair. Collectively the councils were not in a position to fund these repairs. Costs could spiral as the pool would need to be drained to find out why tiles were lifting which risked the sides collapsing.

November 2023

Cost of the Problem

Residents raised concern at the news of pool closure. Problems with the filtration system, tiles and other issues with the pool would cost £543,000 to repair. Collectively the councils were not in a position to fund these repairs. Costs could spiral as the pool would need to be drained to find out why tiles were lifting which risked the sides collapsing.

November 2023

Notification to Close

Pool users, Buntingford Swimming Club and local pool staff informed the pool will be closing 23rd December 2023 due to health and safety concerns, whilst future options were explored.

November 2023

Notification to Close

Pool users, Buntingford Swimming Club and local pool staff informed the pool will be closing 23rd December 2023 due to health and safety concerns, whilst future options were explored.

November 2023

Freman College Academy

Freman College becomes an academy with Hertfordshire County Council retaining ownership of the Ward Freman Pool. Agreement still remains that the pool is for school use 9am – 5.30pm term time. The 40/60 split between County and District also remained in place.

August 2011

Freman College Academy

Freman College becomes an academy with Hertfordshire County Council retaining ownership of the Ward Freman Pool. Agreement still remains that the pool is for school use 9am – 5.30pm term time. The 40/60 split between County and District also remained in place.

August 2011

What's in a Name?

Ward Freman School changes its name to Freman College, felt to more accurately reflect the age range and expectations of the students. However the pool name remains unchanged.

1st September 1999

What's in a Name?

Ward Freman School changes its name to Freman College, felt to more accurately reflect the age range and expectations of the students. However the pool name remains unchanged.

1st September 1999

Hot Water

£3,500 spent to replace the hot water system

1990

Hot Water

£3,500 spent to replace the hot water system

1990

Insulation

£1500 Spent on cavity wall insulation

1981

Insulation

£1500 Spent on cavity wall insulation

1981

Pool Closed Again

The pool temporarily closes for 14 weeks to repair tiles

June 1980

Pool Closed Again

The pool temporarily closes for 14 weeks to repair tiles

June 1980

Temporary Closure

Due to tiles lifting the pool had to close

Feb 1980

Temporary Closure

Due to tiles lifting the pool had to close

Feb 1980

Joint Agreement

A joint agreement was signed between Hertfordshire County Council (the
building owners), and East Herts District Council, outlining the use of the pool. It was specified that the pool was for school use only between 9am and 5.30pm Monday-Friday term time. The remaining time the pool was available to the public. Responsibility for costs of maintaining the pool were to be funded 40% County Council, and
60% East Herts District Council.

9th June 1977

Joint Agreement

A joint agreement was signed between Hertfordshire County Council (the
building owners), and East Herts District Council, outlining the use of the pool. It was specified that the pool was for school use only between 9am and 5.30pm Monday-Friday term time. The remaining time the pool was available to the public. Responsibility for costs of maintaining the pool were to be funded 40% County Council, and
60% East Herts District Council.

9th June 1977

Pool Opens

Ward Freman pool was built as part of the Ward Freman School which opened in 1970. Named in honour of Elizabeth Freman, the first recorded benefactor of Buntingford Grammar School in 1633 (and built on land belonging to the Freman family), and Seth Ward Bishop of Salisbury (1667-1689) a student and later benefactor of the Grammar School too.

May 1976

Pool Opens

Ward Freman pool was built as part of the Ward Freman School which opened in 1970. Named in honour of Elizabeth Freman, the first recorded benefactor of Buntingford Grammar School in 1633 (and built on land belonging to the Freman family), and Seth Ward Bishop of Salisbury (1667-1689) a student and later benefactor of the Grammar School too.

May 1976
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