Don't forget, Cirencester Open Air Pool has served the town well (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Don't forget, Cirencester Open Air Pool has served the town well

2:31pm Wednesday 30th May 2012 in Letters

I WOULD like to thank Cirencester Town Council, St James’s Place and the Bingham Library Trust for their generosity in sponsoring Cirencester Open Air Pool which is run by a hard working group of volunteers.

Many older Cirencesterians learned to swim at this pool and will remember the sight of crocodiles of schoolchildren walking through town, towels tucked under their arms on their way to swimming lessons at the baths.

My parents Mr and Mrs Arthur Gough were superintendents at the pool for many years before and during the Second World War when it was owned by the town council. It provided leisure facilities for all the armed forces stationed locally. I spent many happy hours swimming there when on leave. In 1940 after the evacuation of Dunkirk several local lads came to thank my father for having taught them to swim. This ability gave them the confidence to leave the beach and wade in the sea in full kit often in seas up to their chests in order to climb on to the boats that had been sent to rescue them.

I do hope we get a good summer this year so many more people can enjoy the delights of swimming in the open air.

MRS JOY LOFTHOUSE Chesterton House Chesterton Lane