2007 Annual General Meeting Report

We decided to make some changes to our AGM this year to make the event more enjoyable and to attract more members along. So we held it mid-week instead of on a Friday evening, and organised a buffet supper and drink for people to socialise over afterwards.

About 70 people came – more than usual. In addition to the formal business of the evening - hearing the Club’s president review the last season (in all its wetness!), adopting the Annual and Financial Reports, re-electing our hard-working officers and executive committee members, there was no shortage of ideas and suggestions from those attending on ways to improve what the Lake offers us all in the future.

Simon McLoughlin and Helen Calascione suggested that it might be a good idea to install a sauna at the Lake, both to help people warm up after swimming when the water temperature was low and to encourage people to use the Lake even when they weren’t going swimming. Different people had different ideas about the idea, which raises a whole range of issues like safety, insurance, costs etc. So a handful of people agreed to form a working group to explore the idea in more detail and report back with costs and proposals.

It’s the Club’s 90th anniversary in 2009. Rebecca Johnson Marshall proposed at the AGM that she produce a sculpture as part of our anniversary celebrations, possibly in the form of a diver dressed in 1920s style swimwear. The idea received an enthusiastic response from members at the meeting so Rebecca was given the go-ahead to proceed!

There was also some discussion about the possibility of allowing elderly guests to visit the Lake with swimming members at a reduced fee, perhaps during our less busy periods, say before 4.0pm on weekdays. It was agreed in principle that this was a nice idea. The committee agreed to work out the exact details.

Finally, it was agreed that the changing bench outside the Ladies shower could do with being a bit longer. So it will be extended this season.

Thanks to everyone who made the AGM and supper afterwards such a success, including all those who brought along food to share and everyone who attended. We have already taken note that we need to hire a bigger hall next year so we don’t have another situation of standing room only!

Linda Ward, Club Secretary

Diving Stage Painted and Refurbished

The newly painted diving stage (October 2007)

The diving stages have had their once every decade refurbishment and painting. The paint used had to be environmentally safe; so that there would be no danger to the fish or water quality. It is the same paint used to paint Brighton pier.

’The Henleaze Lake Story’ book launched at the Lake on the 23rd June 2007

The book ’The Henleaze Lake Story’ published by Redcliffe Press was launched at the Lake on 23rd June 2007. Written by Derek and Joyce Klemperer, it is an account of Henleaze Lake and Henleaze Swimming Club from the earliest quarrying days (1800s) through to the beginning of the 21st Century. Derek and Joyce tell the story of a magical place, warts and all, and include the immediate surroundings of the Lake property where this is relevant. The book has over 100 illustrations that have been collected over many years. The price is £5,

Tthe book is available at the Lake or from the authors at 25 Rockside Drive, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4NU. For postal orders add £1.00 for postage and packing. Cheques should be made payable to ’Henleaze Swimming Club’.

Derek and Joyce Klemperer sign copies of ’The Henleaze Lake Story’ at the mid-summers day event.

The Lake floods for the first time since 2001

Lake flooded (photograph taken after two days of pumping to bring the water level down)

The Lake has flooded for the first time since 2001. This can only be good for the water quality and beauty of the Lake. The pump had to be used to bring the water level down as the angling boardwalks and the pontoon were in danger of floating away.

More rain is forecast but we will not be pumping again unless we absolutely have to!