Above: Postcard of Brockwell Lido the year after it opened (1938)
Above: Midwinter
I subscribe to a Yahoo Group called Lidos, which concentrates on British open air swimming pools (Lidos), and the battle for their preservation.
Recently I received this message:
"Hello, I thought other group members might be interested in knowing about this:
Midwinter Swim at Brockwell Lido – Come on in, the water's lovely!
Woolly hats or swimming caps essential.
Saturday December 20th
Swim from 12.00pm - 1.00pm
Activities/Refreshments from 11.45am - 1.15pm
Last year we had 73 swimmers and a water temperature of 3.2 degrees Celsius. This year we're hoping for over 100 swimmers but with the cold setting in the water temperature could drop even further so be prepared and bring a woolly hat or a swimming cap – or both!
If you don't fancy taking the plunge come and cheer the swimmers on – bring a hot towel to wrap them in and while you're waiting for them you can have a hot drink and a mince pie and learn about the history of winter swimming at Brockwell with BLU (Brockwell Lido Users).
Whether you're a swimmer or a supporter you can have a go at the art activity and customise a woolly hat for the swim or for wearing afterwards to warm up. We'll have some hats but do bring your own and any you have spare will be very much appreciated.
The entry fee is a suggested £1 minimum donation to Age Concern Lambeth; thousands of older people die each minter from cold related illnesses – help Age Concern to Fight the Freeze and keep them safe and warm.Also, at the midwinter swim BLU will be selling books and t-shirts and Elena Tognoli, August's artist in residence, will be there to launch her book "A Step-By-Step Users Manual To Brockwell Lido For People Who Don't Like Water" which she created in collaboration with Lido Users this summer, so as well as an invigorating swim you'll get the chance to do some Christmas shopping!
Hope to see some of you there... "
These people are hardier than I !! I wonder if the Bondi Icebergs and the Brockwell Icicles ever had an exchange program?
Brockwell Lido is in the London suburb of Herne Hill.
Official website of Brockwell Lido
Brockwell Lido Users Group - a group dedicated to maintaining and extending the facilities and services of the Lido.
London Pools Campaign
HAVE A GREAT SWIM!!!
That's a great posting. It's sad but we have no open air pools left in the North East now. All gone!
ReplyDeleteI learned to swim in one that was a huge one with the water heated by the local coal mine at Dawdon.
There is a Boxing Day swim however but it's in the sea! Like this it's for charity.