Friends of Guildford Lido

Whole Pool Opening

janetta — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:01:00 +0000

The news that every Lido swimmer has been waiting for………
From 28 May (not too long to wait!!) the WHOLE Lido pool, all 10 lanes, 50metres of it, will be fully open, all day every day (excl. private lane hires etc.) for the rest of the season!

How I here you cry….let’s just put it down to common sense from Freedom Leisure.

Opening Weekend – rain, what rain?

janetta — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 10:20:42 +0000

The Opening Day of the 2012 Lido season was loyally supported by many swimmers, old friends and new came along and braved the rather dire weather to enjoy their first swims of the 79th Lido season.

After brief opening speeches from both Rob Price and Mayor Terence Patrick, welcoming swimmers, Lido supporters and Freedom Leisure to the pool, swimmers took the plunge, got out of the cold and enjoyed the heated waters for their swims.

For paddlers to marathon swimmers, young to old, the season got underway.

We hope everyone has a great season of swimming. Happy days.

Join the Friends, Support the Lido

janetta — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:14:29 +0000

After a couple of years of consultation, debate and decisions, Freedom Leisure are now operating the Lido and we are looking forward to working with them. We have lots of great ideas we’d like to help bring to reality at the Lido but we need active support now from people if we are to achieve the best for the Lido.

If you’d like to support our work and the Lido in any way you can, large or small please join the Friends now. It doesn’t cost a penny, all you need do is drop us an email to friends@guildfordlido.com and we’ll add you to our mailing list to keep you up to date with news, plans and developments and you can get involved with anything coming along that takes your fancy…..starting with coming along on Saturday to the Opening Day whatever the weather throws at us.

2012 Season Opening Day

janetta — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:22:54 +0000

The Lido opens this Saturday, 28th April with the traditional 9.30am opening ceremony and swim for Season Ticket holders before opening to the public at 10.30am

There are various taster sessions on offer for FREE all day including Aqua Zumba, Octopush, scuba diving and synchronised swimming.

We’re delighted to see the early morning sessions are on offer again this year, plus the 9am lane sessions at weekends. Details on the timetable and prices, including the choices of Season Tickets can be found on the official Lido website here:http://www.guildfordspectrum.co.uk/content/view/431/307/

We swim with legends

janetta — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 11:59:18 +0000

Next time you’re taking a swim in the Lido (only 10 days of this season left, but hey, who’s counting?) you could well be sharing the pool with a Channel Swimming legend, our very own Jim Boucher. Not only has he crossed it solo once – more than most swimmers can ever dream of doing, it’s not called the Everest of swims for nothing – he’s now done it twice.

A remarkable achievement, read Jim’s account here:

http://www.h2openmagazine.com/readers-swims/jim-bouchers-second-english-channel-crossing.html

AGM & new Working Party

janetta — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 06:46:55 +0000

Whilst we’re waiting for the AGM minutes to be posted (sometime next week when holidays are over & we’re able to get them up) we want to share this.

The main issue concerned the future of FOGL which came into being in its current form against the context of the rethink, by GBC, of the financing of its Leisure Services and, as an extreme case, the possible closure of the Lido. The AGM felt the immediate future of the Lido is now secure, based on communications from GBC and the new operator (Freedom Leisure). FOGL now has an opportunity to re-think its purpose and to re-establish itself as the primary source of consultation with FL and to build a relationship that sees the Lido develop and flourish to the satisfaction of all parties.

The present FOGL committee is now suspending its role and activities in favour of a working party tasked with:
• Meeting with GBC stakeholders
• Deciding upon a meeting agenda and options for discussion with Freedom Leisure
• Communicating with the FOGL members
• Facilitating a presentation by Freedom Leisure to FOGL members, possibly including an end of season event
• Formalising a new structure at an EGM, nominally November 2011 The working group comprises: Janetta Bensouilah, Rebeca Mallard, Philip Griffiths, John Worgan, Jim Boucher. Any FOGL wishing to make inputs and suggestion should contact Janetta via the website

2011 AGM

janetta — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 06:39:13 +0000

The Friends of Guildford Lido are holding the 2011 AGM on Tuesday 9th August at 8pm.

The meeting will be held in a room at Spectrum Leisure Centre. All are welcome to come along.

£30,000 raised for Help for Heroes at the Lido

janetta — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 07:40:44 +0000

I wanted to thank you for all your help with our 2swim4life event at Guildford Lido on 30 April/1st May . We had the most enjoyable time in the fabulous setting of Guildford lido and it was lovely meeting so many people from all professional and swimming disciplines. Your part enabled us to raise a final total of £30,000. 00 for Help For Heroes, which I have asked to be dedicated to Battleback. We were so happy to be associated with you and were pleased that you were able to assist us – we couldn’t have done it without your help .

Best regards, Lesley Zimmerman

2swim4life co-ordinator

New operator announced

janetta — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 07:36:46 +0000

Details of the GBC decision on the new operator can be found here:

http://www.guildford.gov.uk/article/8404/New-operator-for-sports-and-leisure-facilities?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Morning swims

janetta — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 10:02:07 +0000

A quick reminder that there are morning lane sessions on Saturdays & Sundays 9-10am for those who want to enjoy the pool before the public session, especially useful on hot days when the place gets busy.

There are also the fabulous early sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 7.30-10am. There’s no better way to start your day.