Christmas Refurbishment

Major changes to the plant room and a new liner for the main pool will be taking place at Xmas. This is the first stage of our planned redevelopment of the site. Ultra Violet systems in the small pool have proved to be a great success, so a £20,000 installation of UV and new filters will give us a sparkling pool in January.

This will be the first pool in the City to utilize this revolutionary technology and it means that the level of chlorine used in the pool will be minimized. Extra filters, larger pumps and wider pipes will increase the flow of water through the cleansing system.

The existing pool liner has started to crack and groan so a £15,000 refurbishment in glass fibre will take place at the same, giving us new lane lines and a shiny surface. The footbaths will be relined as well.

The men's changing room will have the benches replaced and new hooks. All the paintwork will get a touch up and everything else a thorough scrub.

The bad news is that this work will start on Tuesday December 12 th and although the work will only take 11 days, the glass fibre has to “cure” before we can refill the water. So think of us on Christmas, we will be boiling the kettles to fill up the pool.

We will be open again on Tuesday January 2 nd 2007 .

Making Up Lessons

This time of year is our quietest. Pantos, Christmas shopping and winter bugs make this the ideal period for a shutdown. Normally we would close as the schools break up, so it is only an extra week off for most.

All the lessons that you will miss can be made up, either between now and Christmas or in the New Year.

You may start booking double or extra lessons at reception now.

Changing Teachers

Alfie is off again. On and off, Alfie has been with us since he left school. Now expecting his second child, Alfie has taken up a “normal” job to pay for the new nappies etc. The kids will miss him, but they will love Kym who takes over Wednesdays and Fridays. I doubt that this is the last we will see of Alfie. Jane has a new beginners class on a Wednesday at 3.30pm and Kym has started a new class on Wednesdays at 3.30pm .

Questionnaire

Thank you to those who sat and filled out a questionnaire recently. The results are now available to see on the website. Lots of great positive comments about our lesson service, just as many negative comments on the facilities! Our first action in response is to start staggering the starts of lessons. On a Monday the new backstroke classes will start at 4.15pm for 30 minutes. If this works well we will extend this to other classes.

Baby & Toddler

Abbie has starting a new under 5 class on Saturday afternoons at 2.30 and, for the first time, a Parent & Baby Class at 3.00pm .

Dolphins News

A gala has been organized for Saturday November 18 th , at the pool, 5pm – 7pm - Titans V Warriors. All Dolphins are urged to take part and a number of Turtles have been invited as well. Please tick or cross on the notice board to let us know if you are coming.

A new session has started for Dolphins, Saturday 11.00-11.30 Racing starts, 11.30-12.30 Stroke technique session with Brett. All Dolphins must learn to perform a racing dive, this is a fine opportunity.

A squad of youngsters from Shirley Pool competed in a modern Pentathlon Event for the first time on October 7 th . This race involved a swim and a run. Seven children represented the Pool and all came home with medals for second and third places Well done Hannah Musker, Joe Fenton, Andrew Boyes, Jack Perry, Fiona, Martin and Simon Campbell.

Jane has a new beginners class on a Monday at 3.30pm and Kym has a new beginners class on a Wednesday at 3.30pm

New Names

In January classes will have new names. To try and make life simpler the main pool classes will be called by the stroke they are learning. For example Backstroke, Frontcrawl, breaststroke legs.

Thank you for your continued support, your recommendations to friends and family are very important for us.