Following years of community effort, Leonard Stanley Community Swimming Pool re-opened this afternoon, Sunday.
The pool was first constructed in the 1970s at Leonard Stanley Primary School. Benefactor Lisa Bazley told of how her father had joined a group of volunteer parents help dig out the pool back in the day: “I think there was a call out for fathers to come and help dig a hole at the weekends – it was either that or they might have gone to the wine circle – or they might have done a bit of both.”
School Office Manager Lisa Williams told of how she volunteered to do a sponsored skydive at 13,500 feet to raise vital cash to fund the pool re-opening: “It was absolutely fantastic. It’s what the school has missed for the past couple of years, and it has been amazing.”
Lisa Bazley added: “My husband died a couple of years ago, and I just felt I wanted to memorialise my father, my mother, my husband and this just popped up and I saw Lisa’s skydiving plea for cash.
“It was just the right time to help out others. It’s close to the heart and you want to spread that love and that sense of community because everyone in the village has done so much over the decades, keeping the place going.
“I wouldn’t jump out of an aeroplane for love nor money, but I was in a position to help a little bit more, so I did that.”
The celebrations began at 1pm and featured a barbecue, craft table, games, forest school and ice creams. The St John Ambulance was also on hand to provide support.
The pool was re-opened at 2pm when Lisa Bazley and School Office Manager Lisa Williams joined forces to cut the ribbon to officially re-open the pool.
Plans are to open the pool to the wider community as well as the school, with visits from students from Kings Stanley School.
Video by Matt Bigwood
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Pictures by Hannah Bigwood
