|
How it all began...
Sadly,
in the 1940s, a small boy from Silsden drowned in the canal. The
townspeople of the day, naturally, were devastated at this small
boy's death. A group was formed to raise funds to build a swimming
pool in the town to ensure that all children could learn to swim
and so the tragedy of the small boy drowning would not be repeated.
Children gave pennies, coffee mornings and jumble sales were held
and floats were sponsored for the carnival. Anything which would
raise funds was attempted.
The campaign continued for many years.
Eventually it was decided that unless the plunge was taken (excuse
the pun!) and a swimming pool built the fundraising would go on
for ever. The Headteacher of Hothfield Junior School at the time,
Mr John Stanley Bell, decided that they could spare part of an outside
classroom on the school site (which explains the shape and design
of the pool at the moment) and eventually, in 1974 the pool opened.
The school successfully ran the pool for many years with all local
children learning to swim there.
The cost of continuing to run the
pool eventually proved a drain to the schools funds until it was
beginning to take away cash from books and pencils etc. Reluctantly,
in 1999, the School Governors took the decision to close the pool.
The Governors did state at that time that the pool would be mothballed
for 12 months and if any group felt they could raise the funds required
for necessary repairs and installations they would be prepared to
listen to them.
In July 2000, at the eleventh hour, residents approached
Silsden Town Council and asked whether the Council would be willing
to take over the running of this very necessary and worthwhile swimming
pool. With the Town Council's backing, a group of 4 people; 2 Town
Councillors (one of whom, Jakki Birtwistle had previously run Silsden
Swim Club at the pool), the Town Clerk (at this time, me) and a
member of the public sat down and looked into various costings etc
and whether the pool would be able to be run, not at a profit but
with enough funds to cover all expenses. The group decided that
it was too good a facility to let go to waste without at least trying
to save it. The group prepared a Business Plan and submitted this
to the Governors to see if they would at least let the group try
to raise the necessary funding to allow repairs etc to take place.
To the delight of the group and the local community in general,
in October 2000, the Governors gave the group the go ahead to try
to raise the £10,000 necessary to make repairs. Begging letters
were sent out to local businesses asking for money or materials,
residents made donations, fun days and coffee mornings were held.
One of the first donors was the family of the little boy who had
drowned many years earlier. As before, anything which would generate
money was tried. Eventually the fighting fund approached £8000 and
the Governors gave the go ahead for repairs to be started at the
pool. Legal documents were created giving permission for the Town
Council to occupy the pool building and Swimstart was born. A committee,
Swimstart, was set up to oversee work on the pool.
Works began in
January 2001 with a target of opening for business at Easter time
2001. A large number of local tradespeople gave their time and skills
for free and committee members (and their husbands!) all pitched
in. It was decided to start with lessons in the Easter holidays
and places for these courses sold out within days. Swimstart was
up and running. The courses proved so successful that the position
we had wanted to be in after 2 years, was achieved within 6 months.
Sadly, before the pool could be reopened, the former Headteacher
of Hothfield Junior School and great supporter of Swimstart, Mr
John Stanley Bell, died. It was decided that it would be a fitting
tribute to rename the pool in Mr Bell's memory. So it was that in
May 2001 Mr Bell's widow, Audrey, assisted by the Lord Mayor of
Bradford and the Mayor of Silsden, Cllr Lawrence Walton (a member
of the original group), cut the ribbon and reopened the pool.
We
now have over 500 children learning to swim each week and would
estimate that, with holiday as well as weekly courses, nearly 5,000
children have passed through our doors learning to swim over the
past 3 years. We are truly proud of the numbers of children who
have learned to swim with us and continue learning to swim with
us. This has to be of benefit to the community in general.
Joanne
Conway
Pool Manager
July 2004.
|
