|
When the carnivals restarted in 1953, the main aim was to raise funds for a new open-air swimming pool. It took some years to arrange, but the pool was built near the new
Priory estate and opened in 1964 under the chairmanship of Mrs Becky Kennedy. The Trustees were Col Jackie Ward (of Chilton Lodge), Jack Williams, Philip Spackman and Dr Humphrey Hope. With the exception
of the first few months, it was run for its whole duration by Mr & Mrs Ken and Liz Hall.
The aerial photograph shows (from left to right) the football ground, the children's playground, the War Memorial Avenue and the swimming-pool. At the extreme top edge of the
photograph are the tennis court and the edge of the cycle speedway track.
The popularity of the swimming-pool varied according to the weather, but on good days it was enjoyed by very large numbers of children and adults. In addition to the main pool
with a small diving platform, there was a small toddlers' pool, and later on a large area of grass was made available for sunbathing or playing ball games and table tennis.
The Hungerford Swimming Club was very popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They ran a series of very successful "Water Carnivals", starting in 1966, an event that featured the "Bath Tub Race"!
In 1967 there was the "Tyre Race", and in 1968 "regardless of cost or risk to life and limb" they held the "Bicycle Race in water", and "the Perils of the Greasy Pole" and
"the horrifying, death defying Pranks on a Plank"!
Click the adjacent links to open the many programmes and press reports of these events.
The pool closed in 1997 and the land used for a skateboard park.
|
