Departed Swimmers

Memories recovered.

Last week, a few of the regular Lido swimmers were interview  by Keely Mills, Peterborough’s Poet, and the Lido’s Poet in Residence. She is producing a series of programs for BBC Cambridgeshire. One of the questions  our interviewer asked us was ‘Who could we remember from the past who is no longer swimming’. We all responded in unison ‘Walter’. 

The Interview with Keely

Walter was not a born and bred Peterborian. He came Peterborough after escapeing from  Latvia as a 14 year old during the war. He was an eccentric. A body building, strong man and a Lifeguard at the Lido for many years. He taught many of the young tearaway teenagers to swim. Most of his zany antics were done for charity. Most were reported in the local press and some made the BBC television. So over the years Walter became a local celebrity. 

Later thinking about this question I realised, No, Walter wasn’t the only Lido swimmer who is no longer with us who we remember fondly. There were actually quite a few.

There was Marion and Ken, Great Cathedral supporters and organisers. Their exodus from Peterborough was to move North to be closer to family. Marion, a retired school teacher, organised our impromptus lunch time picnics. Before the advent of Vivacity there wes no morning coffee to be had at the pool. The Cafe had closed years before. So we’d walk into the City and have coffee and toast at the little Sundays cafe off Cathedral Square. Often she would organise a lunch at her home in Stanground. When they moved Jeanne and I decided we should keep the lunches going as well as organising the Christmas dinner outing.

Maggie, John, Marian & Ken

Then there was Dot, a strong willed octogenarian, who raced up to the lido on her mobility scooter. Dot believed her scooter gave her the right of way and heaven help you if you got in her way! She started swimming in the Lido back in 1965. As she reached her 80’s she didn’t actually swim much but she got in the water whatever the weather and temperature and ‘pedalled’ her way to the deep end where she would pedal back and forth to exercise he damaged legs. Once out she would shower then one of us, would  dash out of the pool to help her to get dried and dressed. Later when she could no longer manage the pool we would arrange a gathering for a little lunch or tea, first at her home then later in her care Home until she died.

John, Marian & Dot.

Russel was another swimmer He was well known at the Lido from a young 9 year old lad until his eighties. He was a great one for chatting to the Ladies. He could swim the length of the pool underwater. If he was behind you, you just knew at any moment if you looked down there he would be overtaking you by swimming under you. He arrived on his bike one morning to be told it was closed It was June 8th 1940 and a pavilion had been the target of a Luftwaffe bomb. After his wife died he spent more and more time at the pool. He was always at our picnics, and lunches. A mild stroke slowed him for a while but not for long he fought his way back to health but was banned from any more underwater swimming. A couple of years later we began to notice his health deteriorating. Janet began to look out and care for him more and more. Two weeks after a diagnosis of Motor Neurone disease he sadly died. 

iris ,Russel Coe and John Reynolds

Big Russel  or Russel Hunter Rowe was another keen Lido swimmer for over 15  years who became ill and left us. The wooden bench outside the mens changing area where they would sit and dry off, was loosing its personalities. The Ladies the table at other end of the pool had christened the Bench ‘The Last of the Summer Wine Bench’ after the long running television program. Its still there today  and still used as a drying perch for those not so agile swimmers.

Most recently there was Chris, a tall good looking fit 60plus year old, With a head of silver curly hair he was to be seen swimming his 32 length, mile most mornings. Then at the end of a Lido season s few years ago we heard he’d been diagnosed with cancer.  The disease progressed so quickly and  he died at the new Year. Chris’s sudden demise shocked us all badly.

A  Lido End of Season Picnic.