This well patronised open air lido was a white tiled pool with channeling of soft white stone.
Families treasured the wide open spaces around. There were playing fields a stones throw away.
As well as while away time with fun, and excitement, it was valued as a great asset in many ways. Many children must be filled with memories of learning to swim in this delightful lido. They must remember splashing around wildly within the confines of its 55 yard by 25 yard capacity.
The pool held 400,000 gallons, turned around in 6 hours.
The 3 metre firm board, 3 metre springboard with two 1 metre springboards facilitated children to learn to plunge into the 8 ft. 6 inches deep sparkling water. In those days, the pool would have met the criteria for staging serious diving competitions. The bathing pool had a heating plant but due to high costs and extremely high heat losses, the heating unit was not used following the war! As well as a social venue, the cafe was always there to provide a hot cupper on the chillier occasions It could be hired out for private functions.!
OUTCOME:
Swimmers were asked to make the most of it during 1978, as the pool would be closing for good. Not all bad news as it would be replaced by an indoor complex. One particular “regular” was a little unhappy at the thought of losing her therapeutic dips twice a day. Another concern was that the new pool would be half the size of the old one, and would have to accommodate the same number of Vale Farm users. However, despite protesting letters, the council saw there was not the demand for an open-air pool used for just 5 months of the year, where as an indoor pool would be open all year round.
After a life of 46 years and many reflections, Vale Farm closed, but... the reminiscing remains.
