Weird weather made me go off the deep end

9:09am Friday 31st August 2007

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I DROVE hundreds of miles a week ago to try to swim in the sea, but found myself lashed by rain whenever I stepped into the surf thanks to a terrible run of weather during my holidays.

So, this week, I was peeved to say the least when I returned to High Wycombe from Cornwall and Devon and found the sun shining.

I'd spent near on a grand trying to have a swim on my hols and had even bought a wetsuit in Devon in order to at least get into the water. But it poured constantly during my week away.

Back in Wycombe, therefore, I was dancing with fury on the Bank Holiday weekend as the sunny weather mocked my ruined holiday.

Then Mrs Editor's Chair had a bright idea. If I really wanted to swim in the open air, why not walk to The Rye, just five minutes from our house, and go to the Holywell Mead open air pool?

Er, hadn't thought of that. We bought our house four years ago near the park with the specific intention of using the pool. And then we'd just forgotten it was there.

Well, okay, I hadn't forgotten; I just don't like the thought of open air pools. It dates back to childhood when I used to go to a horrid one near my home in North London.

There were always yobs by the poolside and I was bullied by a group of thugs on the way home once.

So, despite having lived in High Wycombe for 16 years, I had never to my shame used Holywell Mead.

On Sunday, we decided to change history by metaphorically and literally taking the plunge. But it wasn't so easy.

To my shock, a large queue greeted us when we reached the pool. Happily, there was an absence of yobs in the queue, but it still stunned me I had to wait in line to swim in a park.

It turned out we were among 250 swimmers who flocked to Holywell Mead in the sweltering conditions. Strangely, the pool was not full, because it can actually hold 300.

Thankfully, it didn't take us long to get in, and I was delighted that the water was warm. The swim was great, even though I was ticked off by a lifeguard for going into the deep end with my son who uses armbands.

It's a lovely environment and I felt embarrassed it was my first visit. I wonder how many other locals are in the same boat, or should I say the same swimsuit.

The pool was built in the 1950s and is one of the town's greatest assets. Over the years, it has faced various threats but has stayed open.

If it one day closes, it will be down to apathetic townsfolk such as me, so I've vowed to change my ways and use it more in the future.

Another reason for my visit on Sunday was that I was cajoled into going by Star reader Nelly Turner.

The 56-year-old from Downley wrote to me a while ago and said: "I am a regular reader of your weekly column in the Star newspaper.

"I agree with most of your grumbles.

"Now I wonder if you like to publish some GOOD news.

"Would you please visit the outdoor swimming pool on The Rye and have also a swim. I believe not many people are aware how warm the water is.

"It is heated up to 28-29degrees. No matter how cold or rainy it is outside, in the pool it feels like having a bath."

She added: "I fear that the pool might close if attendances do not increase.

"Would you please publish this fact in one of your next articles."

Originally, I said not on your nelly, Nelly. But I changed my mind and realised that swimming paradise is closer to home than driving to the coast 240 miles away.

And there was another advantage for me. In both Cornwall and Devon I was recognised by readers who came up to me at odd moments - once even in the sea.

At Holywell Mead in my own backyard, no one knew me - probably because they weren't from Wycombe.

So listen to Nelly about Holywell Mead and use it - or one day, you may lose it.