Opening Ceremony

Photograph courtesy of Miss Sylvia Hammond

The opening ceremony started with Councillor T. Wilfred Waite addressing the guests over a loud speaker:
“It is now eight months ago that our Mayor cut the first sod on this site one beautiful autumn morning and during these months many unforeseen obstacles were encountered which some times seemed insurmountable. But these troubles great as they have been, have not prevented the completion of an open-air swimming pool which is not only one of the largest, but one of the best equipped in the provinces, and we can congratulate ourselves on having an amenity which, considering its size and composition, is in the opinion of those best fitted to judge, of sound economic value. A tribute to the good work of the contractors, Messrs, Jackmann and Co.”

He went on to say: “Now, I doubt that if ever before there has been a council more ready and willing to care for the physical well-being of the youth and young manhood and womanhood of this town by creating increased facilities for sports, recreation and swimming especially. I think the town council may be forgiven a little justifiable pride as they look around at this beautiful scene. They have converted a wilderness into a garden and from an ugly chrysalis has emerged a beautiful butterfly. But unlike the butterfly this beautiful pool will not merely live its little day and be no more. As the years go by and the young trees and shrubs grow up its beauty will be enhanced and its charm increased.”

After the Mayor declared the pool open the Mayoress pressed an electric button that set in action the cascade aerator. The aerator, now referred to as the fountain still stands as a magnificent feature as you enter the grounds. (To start the aerator ‘fountain’ requires a plant engineer to open up several gate valves, therefore we consider that the electronic switch could do no more than to instruct the plant engineer to start the process. An elaborate illusion for the watching crowd.)