News

A huge congratulations to the learners who completed their STA Level 2 Award in Swimming Teaching, over the October half term.

All passed with flying colours, with two of the candidates passing with a 100% result on their exam! This goes into the books as another course with a perfect 100% pass rate for the tutor David.

A huge well done to all of the swimmers who took part, all achieving amazing progress throughout the week.

The next course will be February half term, so if you’d like a crash course for your child which provides incredible value for money, keep an eye on our website and Facebook pages for more coming information. More information on our crash courses here.

“A massive thank you to all the Shirley Pool customers who sponsored my recent swim in aid of Mountbatten Cancer Hospice. We raised an amazing £2,000, double the original target. 

The cross continental swim in Istanbul was a fantastic event, 2,600 swimmers from 79 countries were loaded on three boats and shipped 6.5k upstream to the start in Kanlıca.on the Asian side of Istanbul.

All shipping was stopped for two hours as competitors leapt from the ships into the fast flowing Bosphorus where a  powerful current from the Black Sea swept down towards Kuruçeşme on the European side of the river.

My swim was going to plan and I was moving so fast with the current, I thought I was going to break all records in my age group. However, the excitement got the better of me and I ended up too far left in the river, pushed down by the powerful flow. That meant a horrible swim across the flow to make the finish line and avoid being swept under the bridge towards the med. 

Completely exhausted, I could hardly haul myself up the ladders to the timing mat and I was grateful for a strong arm of a lifeguard as the blood flowed back to my cramping legs.

The best news of the day was when I accessed the results. Looking at the history of the swim and pictures of previous swimmers displayed at the event, I noticed that Ian Thorpe and one of my boyhood heroes, Mark Spitz, had previously completed the swim, in 2012. Spitz, who was 60 at the time, swam the race in one hour eleven  minutes. 

My official time, even with disastrous navigation: 64:32!

Happy Days”

David, landlord and long time director of Shirley Swimming Pool, hasn’t hung up his trunks since retiring.

Early morning lane swimmers may have seen him training at the pool over the past few months, as he gets ready for his biggest swim to date; the Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race.

David and his wife, Viv, are driving to Istanbul, Turkey, to take part in this annual race to raise money for Mountbatten Hospice; a wonderful charity that has been invaluable in the care of both of David’s parents.

Read more and donate here

Crash Course Week over the half term week just gone, was another roaring success with the children involved achieving badges and improvements in their skills and water safety.

It was also  a big hit with the parents at £20 a head for five days of teaching. The swimmers were led by the latest young students working towards their first level of swimming teachers qualification. the STA Award. 

Under the close eye of STA Tutor David Perry, the students underwent 50 hours of theory and practical tuition followed by a final examination. All six passed with flying colours and four have been hired to start teaching at Shirley Pool. 

Shirley Pool  is an Approved Training Centre for the Swimming Teachers Association and has a 100% success rate with Award and Certificate Courses.

The next Award course is scheduled for the October half term. Crash courses for the children will take place this summer.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this Sunday 11th June, our Public Swim is Cancelled 10am-12pm

We hope to have it back the week after but they are still on during the morning weekday sessions

Small Pool lessons and Adult Lane Swimming will still be on this Sunday

We apologise for any inconvenience caused but we are required to close the Pool today from 6 pm.

Our gas has been isolated due to a small leak outside the building which will result in the pools, showers, and heating to become very cold.

Anyone who has a lesson or attending Aqua or swimming tonight will be able to contact Reception at a future date to book in a make-up session.

Thank you

Luke and family regretfully announce the passing of Valerie Perry who, alongside Frank, built the original Shirley Swimming Pool in 1974.

Val (88) died peacefully at home on Christmas Day 2022 with David and Ruth at her bedside. Val had been diagnosed with cancer in 2020.

A memorial service will be held at St.Joseph’s Church, Bugle Street Southampton on Wednesday January 25th 11.30am. Friends and colleagues and all welcome.

Read more on the history of the pool here

We’re having a great time at the pool and so are our members!

Christmas tunes on the speakers, 15ft inflatable in the pool. Free mince pies and biscuits for everyone and fancy dress too – what’s to like more?!

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in our sponsored swim to reach the same distance as the English Channel – you all did a fabulous job! 🙂

We’re still receiving our swimmer’s sponsorship monies so do not have a total yet but we are well into 3 figures!

Here are a few snapshots of some of our swimmers who participated.