The old swimming pools down just down the Harryford Road, just under the old bridge. That was in in Latin to the actual base of the old canal. And I was one of 3 lads who was the last to swim in there.

Very late in the year.

A chap called Bertie Badham worked for the council and he lived in the wooden bungalow right next to it, which isn't there now. And he kept it open on the last night.

We all walked in a bit of bravado, really.

It's the last swim in it, Mr. Badam. You must be mad boys.

We dived in and broke the ice.

Good God. And it was very thin.

And as we went up the pool, there wasn't so much ice. We got out and we immediately got dressed.

And then another lad came in, he's long gone now, very super fit sort of chap.

You used to see him walking around the town regularly stripped to the waist, and he had a really muscular body, lovely body on him. And he said, What's it like, lads? So I said, not bad.

And he dived in, he swam the head, and he got out, he said, You bloody liar.