A FASCINATING exhibition of old photographs, newspaper clippings and medals is being displayed at the outdoor pool in Cirencester this week.
Cirencester Open Air Swimming Pool turned 150 three years ago and volunteers hoped to display a collection of artefacts charting the pool's history to mark this milestone.
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic this was cancelled but the group decided to come together and host the exhibition this year instead.
This free exhibition is being held at the community rooms right to the pool - which is situated in Riverside Walk Thomas Street between Cecily Hill and The Mead in Cirencester - everyday this week between 10am and 5pm.
It first opened last Friday (September 8) and will end on Sunday, September 17.
It encompasses a range of artefacts such as photos of the water polo team over the years, a register of tickets from the 1960s and scrap books of newspaper cuttings.
There is some mystery surrounding some of the artefacts on display and volunteers organising the exhibition would like to hear from any residents who may have the answers to their questions.
Five medals were donated to the exhibition and the team would like help identifying where they came from.
They are the size of a £2 coin and have CSWPC 1952 inscribed on the back.
Barbara Chamberlain has done a lot of research on pool's history which has been published on its website.
When Cirencester Town Council first built the indoor swimming pool in 1972 proposals were made to close the outdoor pool but substantial opposition culminated in the council handing it over to the Open Air Swimming Association.
The pool was granted charitable status in 1983 and volunteers have been running it over since.
Today more than 100 volunteers run the organisation and everyone who works there, with the exception of the lifeguards and pool managers, help out for free.
Valerie Wheeler learned to swim at the outdoor pool as a child and since she retired she has got heavily involved as a volunteer.
Valerie said: "We have a very interesting collection of bits and pieces that have been given to us by the public over the years.
"It is important to reflect on the history of the pool because it nearly closed in the 70s when the leisure centre first opened.
"Volunteers battled on and kept it open against the odds and we are very grateful to them.
"We have a few things that haven't been properly identified and it would be great if anyone who has knowledge of the pool could give us some more information about this.
"We would love to hear from anyone that has any knowledge, collectables or memories of the pool."
To find out more about the pool's history visit tinyurl.com/4ahwwd93
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here