Today saw the start of a three day festival better known as the Hethersett Open Weekend - a vast number of events for all ages and tastes with very much a sporty theme.
So it was up early and down to the Junior School for the start of a 24 hour swimathon which was celebrating three things - the 40th anniversary of the pool, the start of the open weekend and the life of teaching assistant Lorraine Hedges who died last year from cancer. The school's first ever swimming teacher Jo Hill was guest of honour and started everything off.
I have fond memories of the swimming pool for a number of reasons. Firstly it's where I lost my fear of the water at the age of 40 and learnt to swim. My wife bought me a serious of one on one sessions with the swimming teacher Jane Newstead in a charity auction. I had always had a huge hatred of swimming and the water probably from a day as a very young boy when I had run into the sea in Great Yarmouth and suddenly found myself out of my depth and struggling and getting a mouthful of horrible seawater. I panicked and ended up with a lifelong dread of the water and a horrid memory.
Anyway I always said that if I could just put my head under the water I would be able to swim. It wasn't quite as simple as that. I was soon happily sitting on the bottom of the pool but learning to swim was still slightly difficult but eventually I made it. Now I am very far from being even a competent swimmer but at least I know that I will float and not sink to the bottom. Jane is still swimming teacher at the school and organised the swimathon.
My other big memory of the pool is being very proud to play a part in saving it when I was chair of governors of what was then Hethersett Middle School. The pool was on the point of being condemned when a group of us decided to fight for it and with the support of the county council we managed to get enough grants to at least make it sound. Today it's a very high tech pool and very modern and safe. Jo Hill told stories of the first few years when she had to liberate frogs every morning before swimming could start. How things have changed over 40 years. The swimming marathon got underway and I returned home to put some photos and copy on my village web site before going to Easton College for their end of year prize presentations, another very enjoyable event. I was there is my capacity as chairman of Hethersett Athletic Football Club - we use the excellent facilities at the college.
During the afternoon went to my second Open Weekend event - the three day flower festival in Hethersett Parish Church. Again it was excellent, as were the coffee and cakes. Again took a load of photos and returned home to put them online.
The evening was spent at the third annual Hethersett's Got Talent competition in the village hall. A good evening of entertainment and yet more photos. For me the winner Bonnie Holmes was miles ahead of the other young contestants. Bonnie took part in last year's event and was unplaced, which just shows how much she has improved in a year. By the time I got to bed I was already very tired and there's still two days to go!!
So it was up early and down to the Junior School for the start of a 24 hour swimathon which was celebrating three things - the 40th anniversary of the pool, the start of the open weekend and the life of teaching assistant Lorraine Hedges who died last year from cancer. The school's first ever swimming teacher Jo Hill was guest of honour and started everything off.
I have fond memories of the swimming pool for a number of reasons. Firstly it's where I lost my fear of the water at the age of 40 and learnt to swim. My wife bought me a serious of one on one sessions with the swimming teacher Jane Newstead in a charity auction. I had always had a huge hatred of swimming and the water probably from a day as a very young boy when I had run into the sea in Great Yarmouth and suddenly found myself out of my depth and struggling and getting a mouthful of horrible seawater. I panicked and ended up with a lifelong dread of the water and a horrid memory.
Anyway I always said that if I could just put my head under the water I would be able to swim. It wasn't quite as simple as that. I was soon happily sitting on the bottom of the pool but learning to swim was still slightly difficult but eventually I made it. Now I am very far from being even a competent swimmer but at least I know that I will float and not sink to the bottom. Jane is still swimming teacher at the school and organised the swimathon.
My other big memory of the pool is being very proud to play a part in saving it when I was chair of governors of what was then Hethersett Middle School. The pool was on the point of being condemned when a group of us decided to fight for it and with the support of the county council we managed to get enough grants to at least make it sound. Today it's a very high tech pool and very modern and safe. Jo Hill told stories of the first few years when she had to liberate frogs every morning before swimming could start. How things have changed over 40 years. The swimming marathon got underway and I returned home to put some photos and copy on my village web site before going to Easton College for their end of year prize presentations, another very enjoyable event. I was there is my capacity as chairman of Hethersett Athletic Football Club - we use the excellent facilities at the college.
During the afternoon went to my second Open Weekend event - the three day flower festival in Hethersett Parish Church. Again it was excellent, as were the coffee and cakes. Again took a load of photos and returned home to put them online.
The evening was spent at the third annual Hethersett's Got Talent competition in the village hall. A good evening of entertainment and yet more photos. For me the winner Bonnie Holmes was miles ahead of the other young contestants. Bonnie took part in last year's event and was unplaced, which just shows how much she has improved in a year. By the time I got to bed I was already very tired and there's still two days to go!!
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