Melksham Blue Pool has closed its doors for the final time last month and local people have been sending in their memories.
Alf Sparks was superintendent of the pool for 25 years from 1961 to 1986 when the pool was open air, ably assisted by his wife, Joyce for most of that time.
“The pool would be absolutely heaving on a busy day,” he said. “We would have a thousand people there in a day when the weather was good.
“It was hectic and some days I was on my own, with no-one to help me poolside. Sometimes I’d have to get a member of the public to watch the swimmers in the shallow end if I had to go up the deep end to deal with something.
“We had a few mishaps in the pool but fortunately, we never lost anyone!
“The pool was so popular and during the summer holidays, kids would spend all day here. Eventually, we had to introduce sessions as it was just too busy.
“The pool was covered in the late 80s which was good because people could swim all year, but lots of people still preferred the open air pool. I still see people around town who say they miss it.
“Thousands of kids must have learnt to swim in the pool over the years. The schools used to bring them but most remember it as a place to hang out with their friends. There wasn’t much else to do for the youngsters back then.”
Joyce added, “We were open from 9am to 9pm and which were long days and on rainy days, you would see no-one all day and then someone would arrive at 8.30pm and want to go for a swim. In the summer, we could be incredibly busy. One day we had over 1,100 people in and that’s when the council decided there had to be sessions, so youngsters couldn’t come in and stay all day.”
Deputy mayor, Sue Mortimer, has happy memories of her days at the pool saying, “My memories of the Blue Pool go back to the open-air days when the pool was only open from May to September. I had a season ticket for the summer season and as I remember, it cost five shillings (25p in new money!). The pool was the same area as the blue pool although the shallow end was a bit deeper. There was also a fountain for the younger children, which was very popular, and a slide that went into the shallow end. There were diving boards – a springboard as well as a low and top board.
“I spent most of the days of the summer holiday at the pool, swimming, diving, picnicking and generally having a great time, as did most other children. Really happy fun days with Alfie Sparks, the manager of the pool, who kept us all in check. I remember that some councillors were complaining of us children for swimming for less than a penny a day. Did that really matter? To overcome this, the council introduced sessions – before then we were able to stay the whole day.
“We did in fact still stay the whole day as when Alfie blew the whistle for the end of session, we wrapped our towels round us, went out, got in the queue and then used our season ticket to come back in for the next session!”
Ian Hedges remembers the days of the open air pool.
“So, so cold!” he said. “As a primary school child at Chapel Knap School in Gastard way back in the 1960s, we were taken to the pool on a “Tomitax” coach (remember those?) from our rather remote village.
“Whilst I am sure those who could swim enjoyed it, my only memory is one of abject fear! The thought of getting into that freezing water, and then having to cling on to a polystyrene float for dear-life is a picture I can still conjure up.
“I never made it beyond the ‘float’ stage, but had I managed to swim a width at the Blue Pool, I would have been rewarded with a doughnut to eat on the coach home. Sadly, I merely watched others do that! And I can still feel that bitterly cold water to this day.”
Sarah Emery remembers swimming 150 lengths (5mk) for a Swimathon in March 2016.
Other comments included:
• Suzanne Taylor, “Gosh we spent all our weekends, holidays, after-school time there – never the same atmosphere once they covered it over.”
• Alison Cecilia Airaksinen, “Such memories of my childhood spent at the Blue Pool. Used to have a season ticket. Would cycle from George Ward School and back at lunchtime. Remember Mr Sparks with many fond memories. Hated it when they introduced sessions. You had to get out and queue up to come back in. Never used it when they built the roof. Visited to take a look. By then I had moved away. But still have family in Melksham.”
• Linda McBrine, “What a shame. I had many happy hours spent during the school holidays, come rain or shine we were there with Joyce and Alfie. Happy times.”
• Stephanie Tarling, “We all went to its opening and spent so many happy days there with Joyce and Alf Sparks looking out for us all. So sad, great loss.”
• Shania Davis, “So many memories, I used to go there like once a week with my class in primary school and even went there with my family and had so much fun.
• Mary Baker, “Yes, many happy memories; the outside changing cubicles. Kiddies’ water fountain and yes, the hot concrete. But there was the frustration of getting there and finding it was too cold and not open in the days before there was a telephone to find out. Have used it for years and all our children learnt to swim here, will miss it that’s for sure.
• Keith Gloinson, “Never been in it since before they put roof on and made it all posh. The days of going for a swim in the lashing rain. Days when the concrete nearly burnt your feet as you got out the pool, was so hot.”
• Chris Andrews, “I remember swimming in a thunderstorm when it was open air and worrying I’d be struck by lightning.
• Liz Jones, “I was there the day it opened. Spent many a great time during teen years.”
• Amanda Jacklin, “Used to go there as a little girl. Good memories; it was outdoors then.”
• Pamela Hartley, “Both my boys learned to swim at the Blue Pool so I have happy memories of it.”
• Sharon Vivian, “I loved the outdoor pool as a kid.”
