News

If you’re looking to come along for the odd lane swim or attend one of our Aquafit classes, we’ve made booking even easier for you.

Click on this link and login if you’re a member, or register if you’re not. Select the session you want on the calendar, where there’s a space, and book your place and pay online with a credit or debit card buy ‘selecting a package’ for the option you’re choosing (lane swim or Aquafit).

Nice and easy, takes just a few minutes to do.

If lockdown, Covid -19 and socially distanced changing rooms weren’t enough to cope with, throw in a tropical storm. Storm Ellen swept through Shirley yesterday, upending the recently constructed Pool marquee.

Friendly neighbours Jenny and Francis Gallagher were woken by their dog, Odie, as he heard Storm Ellen pick up the pool marquee and send it crashing around the car park. The Gallaghers’ were quickly up and over the road, dismantling the flying tent. “At one point it was in the road and then on the roof of the pool” said Francis, “Who knows what damage it could have caused”

Pool boss Luke Perry was relieved that the damage was limited, ” I’m really grateful for such great neighbours, that marquee takes four men to lift and it was flying around like a Millets play tent by all accounts.There is a big juicy bone on its way to Odie”

The marquee had only been up for a week and was being used as a temperature testing area for children coming to swimming lessons. It also provided a dry waiting area for parents.

“I think that is the end of the party tent. For years it has been used to host the staff party in the garden with bands like Dead freights and The Black Cat Boppers” said Luke, ” We will have to buy some new gazebos. Not sure about the Christmas party …”

The Storm is the latest blow to the popular Shirley Pool as they struggle to cope with re-opening under the strict Covid restrictions. With limited changing room space, lesson sizes have been reduced to just 4 children per teacher, limiting the number of spaces available.

Originally built in 1974, the pool has survived several recessions and been rebuilt twice. ” It is the only purpose built teaching centre of its kind in the country”, said retiring owner Dave Perry, ” We have survived all sorts of turmoil over the years, a little wind won’t bother us”

It’s been great to see so many of you signing up and getting your hands on the new app. As so many of you have started using it, some delays have emerged in processing information and we’ve received a number of enquiries, a few common questions are answered below.

Your Account:

As well as the app, you can log on to your account by using this link once you log on, you may find it easier to navigate to see your schedule. Click here to view some helpful tips on navigating and updating your account. If you forget your password to your account, please let our reception team know and they can email you a link to reset your password. Your username will be what you have chosen when you accepted the invite.

Reporting an absence / booking in a make-up:

Once you have marked yourself as ‘early cancel/reschedule’ it sends a notification to our reception team who then assign you your make up tokens.

You will not be able to re-book the make up session until we have done so. Usually we can action these immediately, but for August we ask that you follow up with an email to request a token as we know not everyone will want to re-book during their holidays.

How to see my class schedules on the app?

When you have downloaded the Memberme+ app, please make sure you have clicked the menu bar on the top left of the page, and in ‘settings’ log in using the username and password that you created. Once logged in, use the menu bar and select ‘bookings’. This will show you the day and time of your upcoming lessons.

How do I see my schedule on the app?

When you download the app please sign in first and you can then see your schedule.

I can’t re-book my lesson for another day?

At the moment we are asking members to report their absence if you are unable to attend in August. If you would like to book into an alternative day/time in August, we will need to issue you a makeup token, once you receive this you can book into an alternative class using up the token. Please email us if you would like to be issued a token as we won’t be automatically issuing everyone one as they may not want one if they are away.

Am I being charged for August?

No, lessons in August are free, your first direct debit is 1st September. If you see an invoice for August on your account, please ignore, these will be removed shortly.

What if I’m not ready to return yet?

Please email us and let us know as we can freeze your account for a couple of months, until such time you wish to return.

I haven’t received an invite?

Please check your inbox, promotions, junk and spam inboxes first. If you still haven’t received an invite please email us and we can check we have your correct details on our system. (We have received a high volume of emails over the past few days so we apologise if there is a delay in responding).

Can I change my class on a permanent basis?

This would need to be done through reception as previously arranged. You can email us your membership details and with your preferred change of class and we can update for you.You can view the classes on your account to get an idea of the spaces available.

Is the price of the lessons changing with class times being reduced?

No, the lesson prices remain the same. We have redesigned our lesson structure with more focused practices and shorter play times whilst still maintaining the play element essential to a child’s learning. This means we are able to deliver the same consistent and high-quality lesson in a 20 minute period. These changes will make your time at the pool shorter, with social distancing easy to maintain, without compromising the quality of the lessons. If you feel that you want more time and attention for your child, enquire about private, one to one lessons.

My Instructor has changed / I can’t find out regular Instructor on the app?

A couple of our Instructors aren’t coming back until September (AJ & Jess) so we have some of our other Instructors covering their classes. This may mean that your usual Instructor may be covering their classes so for a couple of weeks can not cover their own. Babs will be back teaching Beginners from September but will be covering P&C Tue PM instead and Finlay, our weekend Instructor, will be covering Beginners for a couple of weeks. The P&C classes on a Tuesday afternoon will go back to Jess from September as AJ was covering her maternity leave last year. All classes will have the Instructor listed so you can always see who is teaching. There is the potential that your Instructor may have changed due to the change of our lesson schedules, however we have done out best to retain you in your previous class with your Instructor, however this has not always been possible. To find out more about your Instructor you can visit our website ‘Our Team’.

How I book for Lane Swimming?

If you are a direct debit Lane swimmer, you will have been issued some tokens on your account for August, you can use these to book in where there are spaces. If you would like to book a lane swim as a one off, please call Reception to pay and book in. We are continuing to work on our new software and soon you will be able to pay online for individual lane swimming.

We hope this additional information helps and thank you for your continued support and patience.

Our reception team will be more than happy to help on

02380 781901 from 10am-6pm Monday to Friday.

Alternatively, email info@shirleyswimmingpool.co.uk and we will respond as soon as we can.

One of Shirley Pools most loyal customers, Sarah Mintram, was delighted with her swim today, “Best swim ever” she said as she left the pool in her swim robe. The reason for today, other than any other day being the best ever – no “spalshy” swimmers!

Sarah is not the only one donning a robe to get to and from the pool. Lane swimmer Karon can be seen pedalling home after her swim, just with her towelling robe thrown over her costume. On yer bike Karon!

The pool is open for lane swimming Monday to Friday, booking available on 02380 781901.

Don’t forget, lessons restart August 17th, more details here

Children, parents and pensioners are all beaming after their first swims back at Shirley Pool.

“The water is so clear and everything seems new”, said Kate Baxter after her swim. Kate learnt to swim at Shirley as a child and went on to become an England Champion. Her current club can’t access training times as most pools remain closed, so she has been keeping her strokes together at Shirley. ” I’ve swum here a few times now, it’s good to be back” .

There were many other votes of confidence in the new design,

” It’s like a brand new pool” said Val Perry, original owner of the family business built back in 1974 .

Regular lane swimmers Deborah and Marion have been using the pool for over twenty years and have swum everyday since re-opening,

” The pool is wonderful, we are all so grateful. I feel safer here than the supermarket. It lends itself so well to the changes, no clutter, no doors, just straight into the pool”

Watch a series of short videos walking through the new designed pool.

Retiring owner Dave Perry is pleased with the response but cautious,
 ” This pool is unique. To my knowledge it is the only privately owned, purpose built teaching centre in the UK , but the circumstances could not be any more testing.We have survived the 1970’s oil crisis, several major recessions and two rebuilds, I’m confident we can safely fully reopen with the highest quality of teaching.  But we need parents to come and try the pool for themselves to see how safe and clean it is.”

” Being independent gives us huge flexibility to adapt quickly. There is no way we can return to the huge numbers of swimmers that we had before. At one time there were over 2,000 babies, children and adults in classes every week. With only 4 in each class now, that number is going to be much smaller.”

Starting on Monday August 17th, customers are invited to try their new times for classes with the direct debits not restarting till September 1st.

The new Shirley Swimming Pool app will enable customers to confirm their swimming time and day.

Karon Bricknell The water really was perfect today. A great swim at lunchtime too 

Samantha WilliamsMy daughter did a crash course last week, can’t believe the progress she made. You’ve made the pool feel safe as well, was very happy 

Peter John Boustred Excellent set up, good work guys. So efficient and perhaps some of the changes may make sense in longer term

Becky Ward Yep. Can second this. It’s been brilliant for my daughter to get back in the pool and the care and thought to make it safe has been outstanding.

Zoe Birtle I felt very safe at adult lane swimming too

Click here to complete the online declaration form

This weekend Shirley Pool is inviting staff families and friends to come swimming to test our plans and iron out any issues. We think the pools are ready to go, all our ducks are in a line, Covid compliant.

From Monday it will be your chance to swim: School age children classes are taking place everyday for the next two weeks in Crash Courses. There is a class for every level from beginners to swim club. Check the Crash Course page to see availability.

In between, three times a day adults can swim in lanes, but spaces are going fast as only 7 spaces are available in the ladies, 5 in the mens. Yes, you can do butterfly if you really want to and no, you don’t have to go home with a soggy costume on. Check the times here

There will be several obvious changes when you visit, one being the compulsory removal of all lockers. In their place on the pool side there are three dry areas for bags and towels to be stored while swimming.

A large open sided marque has been installed in the area outside to act as a waiting area before lessons start. A member of staff will meet each class 15 minutes before the start to check attendance and explain changing procedures.

Meanwhile, the robot that cleans the pool overnight is roaming freely at the moment, keeping the water sparkling. Bumbling around in a seemingly random manner, climbing walls, doing U turns, going backwards, sideways and sucking up all the time, the staff have nicknamed him – BORIS!

The hottest place in town? Maybe – the water in the small pool is up to 32 degrees. Could be the only place in town that is open for children’s swimming lessons this summer.

A great effort from the team and a big helping hand from Polish Maids to scrub the floors, benches and walls means the pool is well on it’s way to opening on the 27th July.

Monday will see the first Adult lane swimming sessions since March and the start of summer crash courses in small classes, socially distanced. The main pool will be 29 degrees.

The super new UV and constantly monitored water levels offer crystal clear water, killing any potential threat from Covid-19.

Parent & Child, toddler lessons and after school stroke technique classes will restart in September with smaller classes.

There is still time to book – reception staff are on duty 10am-4pm Thursday and Friday. Call on 02380781901

The pools open on Monday 27th July.

During the summer there will be a special timetable for Crash Course Swimming Lessons and Adult Lane Swimming.

Crash Courses and Lane Swimming can be booked and prepaid by telephone from 10 am – 4pm from Monday 20th July on 02380 781901 option 2, or drop an email to info@shirleyswimmingpool.co.uk

Crash Courses for Children

Adult Lane Swimming

The next direct debit payment for customers will be on September 1st when the full lesson programme resumes.

Current customers will be allocated their lessons and times to restart in September.

At least someone is swimming! Shirley Pool’s star pupil Chris Cole is swimming the English Channel, setting off at 4.52am this morning, Tuesday July 14th.

It is a remarkable story of determination and resilience to reach this point. Unable to swim ten years ago, the Hythe GP took his first steps to learning how to swim, aged 39. In the small learner pool at Shirley, Chris began by blowing bubbles, immersing his face for the first time. Under the careful guidance of the swim teachers, Chris’s confidence grew and he soon mastered the fundamentals of breathing in the water

Like many other adults today, Chris had never experienced lessons as a child and was determined to ensure his children were safe in water. Research shows as many as one in three adults cannot swim properly.

The first steps are always the most difficult, as Chris explains ““ I knew the pool had a good reputation and yet the thought of swimming filled me with anxiety and embarrassment”

It wasn’t long before Chris progressed to the main pool to develop his strokes and stamina.

The link below shows the current progress of Chris’s solo attempt:

https://www.channelswimmingassociation.com/pilots/sea-leopard

On the boat today supporting is Ashley Christopher, a teacher from Shirley Pool and a close friend . A successful solo Channel swimmer himself, it was Ash who first introduced Chris to sea swimming and helped with that tricky transition to colder, murkier waters.

The pair can be found early on most Sunday mornings, throughout the year, training on Bournemouth Beach with the Durley Sea Swimmers.

In 2019 the pair formed a relay team from Shirley Pool and made a successful crossing of the Channel, raising £10,000 for local charities.

Chris has funded all the costs of todays Channel crossing himself and has started a Just Giving page to raise money for a small charity that is close to his heart and is well on the way to raising his £5,000 target.

Live reports from the deck of the pilot ship Sea Leopard can be found on Chris’s facebook page