Following his first visit to the Lido on Saturday, new FOGL member, Andrew Smith, Lifeguard at Hillingdon Pool, sent in this idea for discussion:
“Following the success of my debut swim on Saturday 1st May, during which I did 50 lengths and having seen the location of the 2 fountains, I would like to propose that when funding permits a phased restoration of the fountains to their original glory and splendour be undertaken as I was informed that they are fully restorable as all the original pipework is still in situ. Although the bases remain nothing of the fountains themselves remains, and replicas of the originals would have to be made.
It would be interesting if anyone has any photos of the original fountains, which is essential if exact replicas are to be reconstructed. Regarding materials it can be done the traditional way in stone (as a new replica fountain was made in this way for TINSIDE LIDO PLYMOUTH. The other alternative (which is less expensive) is for replica fountains to be reconstructed in FLUME QUALITY GRP (the material from which waterslides are made) as this has been used to replicate architectural features to great effect the standard being so good it is impossible to tell it is not real stone!
Regarding the Heritage aspect of this idea, the changing huts appear to be original 1930s and what about the shelter opposite the playground? Is this 1930s? And what of the pool itself, this appears to be original?
I know this is quite an undertaking but it could be done, this is something we could raise funds for throughout the year with sponsored swims etc! We could begin THE GUILDFORD LIDO FOUNTAIN RESTORATION APPEAL. “
The fountains at Guildford Lido were made by “F BRADFORD AND CO” ANGEL ROAD EDMONTON N18 circa 1933 and are similar to the restored fountains at UXBRIDGE LIDO (which are of the same manafacture!) therefore to restore the fountains at Guildford Lido replicas of the uxbridge lido fountains could be made!
| May 10, 2010 @ 11:46 am
The difference between a flume and a slide is that a slide is dry and a flume has waterflowing on its surface! The ex Bricket wood flume would fit nicely beside the lido on the entrance side could exit in 1metre of water or better still could be fitted with an AQUACATCH/RUNOUT like the flumes in the spectrum over the road!
| May 9, 2010 @ 9:38 am
The Bricket wood flume is a complete self contained unit complete with stairs etc.It is in excellent condition is 20metres in length is straight run,except for a small bend in the middle section.Regarding waterdepth as is normal it needs at least 1 metre at the bottom end,but could be converted to an AQUACATCH/RUNOUT so it need not go into the pool at all! this is how the restored WOOD GREEN LIDO FLUME in BANBURY now functions! as indeed do the flumes at the mighty spectrum over the road!A new flume of this size would cost around £15.000 but i do not know what a second hand one of this size 20 years old excellent condition would go for!
| May 9, 2010 @ 9:33 am
Flume King, sounds like you know quite a bit about the swimming business. What about the dreaded HSE, what do they say about pool safety when there are slides or flumes.
Guildford Lido is big enough to have them. Just supposing somebody paid to transport this unwanted flume to Guildford, how would it be installed, what depth of water do you need at the bottom end?
What is the difference between a flume and a slide?
| May 7, 2010 @ 7:16 pm
Someone made a small error in that i am a lifeguard at uxbridge lido! please correct it to:i am a lifeguard in HILLINGDON at HIGHGROVE POOL (which is GREENWICH LEISURE LTD!) Uxbridge Lido is managed by their rival organisation FUSION (and not GREENWICH LEISURE LTD!) please correct this! I saw someone suggested putting a flume in here! And to this effect i know of one that is now redundant and could enjoy a new lease of life at guildford lido! In feburary this year BRICKET WOOD SPORTS CENTRE closed.among the popular features at this centre was a 20 metre flume made by the famous english flumemaker “DAVENPORT” (serial no 15) installed in 1986 this is ony one of a handful of small 20 metre flumes made by this famous maker and despite being over 20 years old is in excellent condition! i myself in my younger days did some remarkable performances on this very flume of over 50 descents in an hour! and i would be saddened to see it consigned to the scrapheap as the owners of the site HSBC want to dispose of it and if they are that desperate may even give it away for nothing! St albans city and district council have no further use for it and i myself think it would be wonderful for FOGL to acquire the ex BRICKET WOOD flume for installation at GUILDFORD LIDO where this much loved flume would enjoy a new lease of life in a wonderful setting where it would be loved and cared for,and i myself could relive some wonderful on flume moments,as this is one flume i have truly made my mark on! http://www.stalbans.gov.uk
| May 7, 2010 @ 1:35 pm
The Lido pool has been refurbished recently, its length has been changed from imperial measurements to metric to make it a 50 metre length. But its basically the same hole in the ground.
The tiles are new, previously it was some type of non-slip rendered finish.
| May 6, 2010 @ 8:26 pm
I Think it would be nice to re-introduce the slides at the Lido. I think a lot of kids and adults would enjoy a couple of slides and I am sure would help to attract more swimmers to the Lido.
| May 6, 2010 @ 8:22 pm
Thanks for your interest in the Lido Andrew, I’m sure the pavillion is original, not sure about the pool itself, I believe it has been retiled in recent years, maybe others might be able to provide more details. I remember the fountains from my childhood days at the Lido, agree it would be nice to see them in action again but it could be quite an undertaking for one reason and another. Hope you manage to get back again this season to enjoy more 50m swims!
| May 6, 2010 @ 5:44 pm