Welcome and thank you for attending this evening.
Firstly, I would like to start by thanking our committee, our helpers and members for their continued support in keeping the pool running successfully for another year!
Apart from a glorious start to the season, the weather has let us down again this year. However, in terms of membership, it's been a successful year. (277 family memberships, up from 229 last year). We need to continue to build on this and make sure that the pool is well publicised in the local papers and newsletters leading up to the start of the season.
The most significant improvement to the pool this year has been the replacement of the pool boilers, which was long overdue. This has made a big difference to maintaining a more comfortable temperature and has already achieved some energy savings. Funding has been achieved partly from our reserves and partly from the generous support of the following organisations, without whom, this project couldn't have progressed. (Polehampton Trustees, Twyford Parish Council, Ruscombe Parish Council, Tubelines Community Fund, and Polehampton Junior School.) Thanks also to Dave Barks and Peter Brigham for the extensive research carried out prior to this project.
I am delighted to say that the £1200 grant we received last year from the Sport's Development Council at Wokingham Borough Council has been used to purchase swim jackets, new floats, safety signage and some wonderful new toys! The toys have made a huge difference, especially to the under five's and family sessions.
There are further improvements planned for next year, including a new footbath and wall and possibly the purchase of a new pool vax.
It's been a busy year! As usual the pool has been available to a number of charities/groups including the Chernobyl Children's Life Line and the local Brownies. Both groups thoroughly enjoyed their visits! Last summer, we were also privileged to be chosen as the location for an episode of a new pre school series, produced by Scrumptious House and starring Justin Fletcher. Filming took place in July and we are eagerly waiting to see the finished episode!
At the start of the school holidays we also ran a very successful swim school under the instruction of our new coach, Keith Lester. All of the children had a great time and we had very positive feedback from all of the parents. We ran four classes for varying ages/standards, taught 31 children during the week and made in the region of £350 after costs.
Although supervision went well this year, as usual it's been a real struggle to find enough people who are willing to help on a regular basis. I would like to thank all of our helpers but especially Colin, Christian, Karen, Sally and Vanessa for all their hard work in keeping the pool open this year and also thanks to all of our under five's helpers, who again ran a successful rota between them. We need to recruit new volunteers as soon as possible in order to avoid supervision problems next season. I will again put an appeal in the school newsletter early In the New year.
There are numerous people who make a significant contribution in terms of giving up their time for the Association, not least of all, our hard working committee! I am very grateful for your help and couldn't manage without you! The fences have been painted this year by Colin and Vanessa and look great! Thank you to both of you! Thanks also to Lester Ellis and John James for managing the web site, to Kate for the excellent job she does with the cleaning and finally, my thanks to Shirley Newman (Charvil Parish Council) and to Kathy Peck (Twyford Parish Council) for all their help and for letting us advertise in their respective newsletters.
We are continuing to negotiate the lease with Wokingham Borough Council to ensure that we get the best deal for the Association. We are hopeful to have the final point, which relates to our insurance, resolved shortly. I would like to thank Willmett and Co for continuing to represent us, and John Jarvis for assisting with the negotiations.
I am looking forward to serving as Chairperson for another year but especially because we have a very exciting year ahead. It is our 40th birthday year and what better way to mark it than a party and by potentially seeing our pool on the television?
Sharon Searle
Chairperson PSA
