COME on in, the water’s lovely! That was the message in Wiveliscombe when recently revamped Wivey Pool opened its gates last Saturday (April 25) for the official start of the new season, writes Sue Mitchinson.

From the very, very young to the very, very old, the pool, which opened almost 100 years ago, is a joyful part of summer, and this year will see schoolchildren not only from Wiveliscombe’s primary and secondary schools coming for lessons as usual, but also from Oake and Milverton.

“We are very excited,” said Liz Hurry, chair. “Not only is it a lovely facility but a lot of children can’t swim, so the earlier they start learning the safer.”

As well as trying to do as much as they can for children, with crash courses in the holidays, and water polo for after school, adults are all set to enjoy various activities from lane swimming to water aerobics, plus the new pool house this year, a warm space to have a coffee and chat.

It was paid for from numerous donations and grants, as well as fundraising organised by the Wivey Pool committee.

The swimming is all made possible by the work of volunteers, including those who work as volunteer lifeguards alongside the seven paid ones.

Lifeguards range in age from a 16-year-old to a 71-year-old, and they train once a month and requalify every two years.

For lifeguard Julie Christian, who works on both a voluntary and paid basis, it’s the best job she ever had, and fits in well with her other work as a carer.

“I like to make sure everyone is safe and protected, but for me it’s about the community.

“It’s so good for the soul, you get in that water and everything goes – you breathe, you swim, and you get a lovely tan!”