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BBC News
14-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Memories of Droitwich Spa Lido that was more like a youth club
"We all went to the lido and that was where we let off our steam. We let off our energy. We went swimming. We went on the boards, went down the chute. We met girls."In 1962, connection between the young people of Droitwich Spa happened in physical space, where IRL was IPP - in a public pool. The town's lido was like a youth club, then... just a wet one. These were the days before tech tailored to toes. There was no heating. And at the centre of this cold water world was David Sparkes; a 13-year-old earning two shillings and ninepence an hour - about £2.88 in today's been sharing his memories. Milestones bring it on. The restored art deco attraction is celebrating its 90th year. Let's go back some of that way in Worcestershire, where young David has moved on from the "hanger room" (in which people used to hang up the clothes). He's become a lifeguard. And it was an offer he could not refuse - not at an extra threepence a week. In the summer, queues were "unbelievable", Mr Sparkes recalled of earning his money. "Sometimes we had to stop letting people in."Things were nippy, though. "In those days there was no heating," he said. "It was a cold pool. [The water] was literally out of the tap."He stayed there until 1973, qualified as a swimming teacher, and eventually became chief executive of British Swimming and the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) – now known as Swim England. A typical day at the lido in the 1960s and 70s started at 08:00 when staff tided up and wiped down tables, before things opened at 10:00. Swimmers were in the pool until about 20:00 in the summer, with the site staying open until those days, workers used a brass instrument to measure density of the water and how much salt was in it, and they added enough brine to replicate sea water."There was a pipe that came in from the brine pumping station which was at the back of the high street in those days, there still is, I think," Mr Sparkes said. It was while teaching that Mr Sparkes felt a pull towards more advanced roles within the field."I decided I wanted to become a coach so went to Birmingham University... got into coaching and moved away from teaching kids."Eventually I got more into regional swimming which landed me on to the ASA Committee."But now, in the summer of 2025, the focus is more on the Lido's opening of 1935. And it would be unfair to let things pass without making a splash. The anniversary is being marked with a summer of water-centred celebration, running from June to August. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Scottish Sun
01-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
Five affordable ways to take the plunge and get into swimming
Plus, find out where to replace your old toothbrush for less SUN SAVERS Five affordable ways to take the plunge and get into swimming WITH temperatures rising, you may fancy a cooling dip. Swimmers are 4.3 per cent happier than the rest of us, according to a study by Swim England. Advertisement 7 Swimmers are 4.3 per cent happier than the rest of us Credit: Getty Here's tips for affordable ways to take the plunge . . . KIT HITS: If you really want to reap the exercise benefits of swimming, you need a proper swimming costume or trunks. has a range of big-brand discounted kit, with Speedo swimsuits RRP £31.99, starting at £12. Or try for Nabaiji men's swimming trunks reduced from £16.99 to £14.99. MEMBERSHIP MAGIC: Check if your local leisure centre offers off-peak memberships, which are often around 30 per cent less than full-price peak memberships. Advertisement Many leisure centres also now offer 'swim only' memberships. At Active4today centres, over-60s can get an unlimited swimming membership from £20 per month. At selected Better Leisure centres across the UK, there are also budget options such as flex memberships for £10 per month which offer one free swim (or fitness session) per month plus 30 per cent off any other activities. TIME IT RIGHT: Look out for early-bird booking slots at your local pool throughout the week, typically before 4pm on weekdays, where swimming sessions can be up to half price. Weekend prices tend to be higher as this is when family swim rates apply. GO WILD: Wild or outdoor swimming is a great way to blow away the cobwebs now the warmer weather is here. Advertisement You can find a full list of outdoor swimming pools and venues at — and pay-as-you-go pricing means you can try it before committing to a big monthly spend. SMART THINKING: Avoid costly extras by making sure you bring your own locker padlock and your own shampoo and conditioner. Nationwide £100 Bonus, Tesco Clubcard Voucher Deadline, and EDF Free Energy Returns – Money News Today It's also a good idea to invest in a waterproof phone case if you're going to leave your bag poolside. You can snap up two best-selling Yosh ones for £7.64 at Advertisement All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability Deal of the day 7 This Oral-B Vitality Pro electric toothbrush is half price at Argos Credit: Supplied REPLACE your old toothbrush with the Oral-B Vitality Pro electric one – usually £50, is now £25 at SAVE: £25 Cheap treat 7 Tubs of Ben & Jerry's ice cream are reduced at Asda Credit: Supplied Advertisement SCOOP up a deal at Asda – tubs of Ben & Jerry's ice cream were £5.74, now £3.74 for a limited time. SAVE: £2 What's new? IF you collect Virgin Points, you can now book Virgin Voyages cruises using your points, with every itinerary available to book through Virgin Red. You can also earn points for every Virgin Voyage booking. Top swap 7 Try the the cult Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Shimmering Multi-Purpose Dry Oil Credit: Supplied 7 Or grab this Sunkissed Body Shimmer Highlighter for less Credit: Supplied Advertisement FAKE a summer glow with the cult Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Shimmering Multi-Purpose Dry Oil 50ml, £22, from Or try the Sunkissed Body Shimmer Highlighter 100ml, £3.99 at Savers. SAVE: £18.01 Little helper OUT now, download the brand-new Club Prezzo app and get exclusive access to Prezzo Italian's 99p pasta and pizza deal, plus claim a free dessert of doughnut balls with Nutella. Shop & save 7 This Disney Frozen Elsa doll is now reduced Credit: Supplied Advertisement FANS of Disney's Frozen need to head to Home Bargains to get the Disney Frozen Elsa doll, usually £10.99 and now £6.99. SAVE: £4 Hot right now GET 50 per cent off a huge range of womenswear at Matalan, with summer dresses reduced to as little as £5. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 Join thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle Advertisement JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket. The more codes you enter, the more tickets you'll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!
The Sun
01-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Five affordable ways to take the plunge and get into swimming
WITH temperatures rising, you may fancy a cooling dip. Swimmers are 4.3 per cent happier than the rest of us, according to a study by Swim England. 7 Here's tips for affordable ways to take the plunge . . . KIT HITS: If you really want to reap the exercise benefits of swimming, you need a proper swimming costume or trunks. has a range of big-brand discounted kit, with Speedo swimsuits RRP £31.99, starting at £12. Or try for Nabaiji men's swimming trunks reduced from £16.99 to £14.99. MEMBERSHIP MAGIC: Check if your local leisure centre offers off-peak memberships, which are often around 30 per cent less than full-price peak memberships. Many leisure centres also now offer 'swim only' memberships. At Active4today centres, over-60s can get an unlimited swimming membership from £20 per month. At selected Better Leisure centres across the UK, there are also budget options such as flex memberships for £10 per month which offer one free swim (or fitness session) per month plus 30 per cent off any other activities. TIME IT RIGHT: Look out for early-bird booking slots at your local pool throughout the week, typically before 4pm on weekdays, where swimming sessions can be up to half price. Weekend prices tend to be higher as this is when family swim rates apply. GO WILD: Wild or outdoor swimming is a great way to blow away the cobwebs now the warmer weather is here. You can find a full list of outdoor swimming pools and venues at — and pay-as-you-go pricing means you can try it before committing to a big monthly spend. SMART THINKING: Avoid costly extras by making sure you bring your own locker padlock and your own shampoo and conditioner. Nationwide £100 Bonus, Tesco Clubcard Voucher Deadline, and EDF Free Energy Returns – Money News Today It's also a good idea to invest in a waterproof phone case if you're going to leave your bag poolside. You can snap up two best-selling Yosh ones for £7.64 at All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability Deal of the day REPLACE your old toothbrush with the Oral-B Vitality Pro electric one – usually £50, is now £25 at Cheap treat SCOOP up a deal at Asda – tubs of Ben & Jerry's ice cream were £5.74, now £3.74 for a limited time. Top swap 7 FAKE a summer glow with the cult Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Shimmering Multi-Purpose Dry Oil 50ml, £22, from Or try the Sunkissed Body Shimmer Highlighter 100ml, £3.99 at Savers. Shop & save FANS of Disney's Frozen need to head to Home Bargains to get the Disney Frozen Elsa doll, usually £10.99 and now £6.99. Hot right now GET 50 per cent off a huge range of womenswear at Matalan, with summer dresses reduced to as little as £5. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
BBC News
01-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
RNLI holds young adult water safety course for Plymouth students
The University of Plymouth has collaborated with the RNLI, Swim England and Plymouth Active Leisure to teach students how to stay safe in the RNLI held a young adult water safety programme in May teaching students how to call for help correctly and how to use a was followed up by an open water swimming session at Tinside Cove which was run by Swim England and Plymouth Active Chhadva, a postgraduate student who cannot swim, said: "I loved it and definitely feel more confident and I would like to learn how to swim now." Digital and social media student Grace Uwe added: "I felt it was essential to have some experience and know the basics of saving myself in the water."I feel like I've learnt how to stay safe and I'm planning to do more swimming lessons now." Associate director of student support at the University of Plymouth Steve Gaskin said the sessions had been important to teach students "how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe" in the water."This event was an exciting opportunity for students of all swimming abilities to learn more about the open water and we are very grateful to the RNLI, Swim England and Plymouth Active Leisure for their support in delivering it," he single piece of advice which the RNLI has urged the students and the wider public to remember and share is: "If you find yourself struggling in water, float to live".
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Olympic gold medalist speaks out about how top UK swim coach's regime left her 'broken'
Left: Rūta Meilutytė and Right: Jon Rudd/ Image: Instagram/Linkedin Olympic gold medalist Rūta Meilutytė has revealed to BBC Panorama how she was emotionally and mentally shattered by the harsh coaching methods of Jon Rudd , a highly regarded figure in British swimming. Meilutytė, who made history at the 2012 London Olympics as the youngest swimmer to win gold in the 100m breaststroke, described Rudd's focus on strict dieting and body image as a key factor in the eating disorder and depression that nearly broke her. Her experience is just one of many in the wake of Rudd's 28-year tenure as head coach of Plymouth Leander , where multiple swimmers have come forward to share stories of bullying, toxic training environments, and a controlling food culture. The Coach's legacy and allegations Jon Rudd, who coached at Plymouth Leander from 1989 to 2017, was instrumental in building the club's reputation for producing Olympic champions. However, according to 12 former swimmers, the coaching regime under Rudd was far from nurturing. These swimmers have accused Rudd of bullying and verbal abuse, contributing to severe mental health struggles. One of the most harrowing testimonies came from Meilutytė herself, who recalled incidents where Rudd made cruel comments about her weight, even laughing when she confided in him about making herself sick after meals to control her weight. "Well, at least you get the calories out," he allegedly said. Meilutytė, now 28, reflected on how Rudd's regime 'made me for a while and then it broke me.' She explained that his comments, including telling her at the age of 16 that her "ass was fat," left lasting scars. Despite these harmful experiences, she acknowledged that Rudd did attempt to offer help once he realized the impact of his words, though the damage was already done. Swim England 's response and failures The BBC investigation uncovered that Swim England, the governing body for swimming, failed to take action despite a 2012 investigation that concluded Rudd should be suspended for four months, after hearing from 17 witnesses. The investigation had been kept secret, only coming to light after a tip-off in 2023. Swim England's current CEO, Andy Salmon, expressed deep regret for the oversight, admitting that he did not understand why Rudd had not been suspended. He said, "I am deeply, deeply sorry for any harm caused by the failure to act." Rudd's reputation continued to grow after leaving Plymouth Leander, with him taking up roles including Swim Ireland's Director of Performance Swimming. He is currently slated to become the high-performance director of Saudi Arabia's Olympic swimming team. Rudd did not respond to the BBC's requests for comment. The wider impact and other allegations Meilutytė's story is not unique. Olympic bronze medalist Cassie Patten shared with the BBC how Rudd pressured her to train with a shoulder injury, a decision she believes ultimately ended her career. Commonwealth Youth gold medalist Phoebe Lenderyou also revealed that Rudd's regime worsened her struggle with an eating disorder. The allegations against Rudd were part of a broader pattern of mistreatment at Plymouth Leander, including the case of swimmer Antony James, who represented Team GB at the 2012 Olympics but was later convicted of sexually abusing two young girls. Some sources suggest that Rudd should have been aware of James's inappropriate behavior, given his long tenure as James's coach. Swim England is now reviewing over 1,500 safeguarding cases after the failures exposed in this investigation. The governing body is also conducting a broader inquiry into all aquatic sports in the wake of Panorama's findings, with a focus on the toxic culture that has plagued British swimming for years. Institutional failures and accountability Plymouth Leander has since distanced itself from Rudd, stating that the club has undergone significant changes in its safeguarding practices. They emphasized that Rudd's employer, Plymouth College, was responsible for overseeing his actions. The college, now under different ownership, also expressed deep concern over the testimonies shared by former swimmers, terminating its partnership with the club in 2024. Meanwhile, another investigation by Panorama found ongoing allegations of bullying at the Royal Wolverhampton School Swimming Club, where coach David Painter was accused of forcing swimmers to prioritize training over their academic commitments. Despite complaints from parents, Swim England took no formal action, asking the school to resolve the issues independently. Painter, who left to coach in Canada, denied all allegations, calling them "untrue" and defamatory. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
