SWIMMERS, staff and spectators alike are looking forward to a cold, wet and windy winter, at Kelly College swimming pool! The pool has undergone some major work which has included a new roof and new ventilation over the past three weeks. Kelly swimming pool started life as a 20 metre, open air pool and back in the mid 70s was extended to a 25 metre pool also having a roof put on. This roof lasted the 30 years up to 2005, although the last few years it had become very distressed and leaky. Tavistock Fire Brigade took less than three hours to help empty the 82,000 gallons of water, and then work could begin. It took almost one and a half days for the old roof to be removed. Then new ventilation was put in place while a huge crane lifted the new, triple insulated steel roof into place. Finally remedial work had to be done on the pool sides and base, before water could be put in and slowly heated. At present almost 400 local children learn to swim, or improve their technique, during children?s lessons at Kelly. There are also sessions for adult swimmers, over 55s and also for people referred by the doctor. Kelly also has an extensive Swim Squad with several swimmers aiming for the 2012 Olympics! Clare Short, the pool manager, said ?This is a fantastic new start for Kelly pool and seeing the work carried out has been very exciting. There is still further work to be done, but this is a huge start to improving the structure to a pool which prides itself on swimming excellence.? Kelly College swimming pool will re-open on Monday September 19. Enquiries about swimming sessions should be made to Clare Short on 01822 813155 or to admin assistant, Kate Tugwell on 01822 616235.
