Parents and pupils save Hove school swimming pool

Parents, pupils and local firms have raised £30,000 to save the swimming pool used by two Hove schools.

The 45-year-old pool needed vital repairs so last year parent Sarah Whiffen started a fundraising appeal with a target of £27,500.

The pool is used by pupils at West Hove Junior School and West Hove Infant School in Portland Road.

Sarah Whiffen said: “It’s incredible. We exceeded our target by £2,500 but more importantly we have guaranteed the future of the swimming pool.

“Works will be completed by Easter and the schools will be able to continue to provide children with the opportunity to learn to swim.”

She said that the pool was built in 1968 and thousands of children had learnt to swim in it. But 45 years of regular lessons had taken their toll and it had fallen into disrepair.

Since January last year supporters had organised sponsored swims, runs, cake sales, discos and workplace match funding.

Local companies and individuals, including past and present pupils and their families, helped boost the fund, with help ranging from raffle gifts to donations of several hundreds of pounds.

A cheque for £30,000 is due to be handed over to Wendy Harkness, the head teacher of West Hove Infant School, at 9.30am next Wednesday (23 October).