Swim star Mark launches new pool and diving centre

 

 

 

And the former World 50-metre butterfly and freestyle champion gave the stunning new facilities at the centre in Garon Park a big 'thumbs up' after enjoying a trial dip.

Former Southend schoolboy Mark teamed up with The Worshipful The Mayor of Southend, Councillor Ann Holland, to unveil a plaque commemorating the new pool's official opening.

He then delighted an audience of invited guests by donning his trunks and going through his entire repertoire of swimming strokes as they watched from the spectator gallery.

But former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Mark, 40, politely declined an invitation to try out the centre's world class dive tower, saying he would leave that honour to Tom Daley.

Teenage prodigy Tom and fellow members of Great Britain 's diving squad are due at the centre later this week for a pre-Olympic assessment camp.

After swimming a few lengths in the new pool an impressed Mark said: "I was delighted to have been asked to officially open this fantastic new facility for Southend.

"My family live here, I went to school in the town and I learned to swim at Warriors Swim Centre so Southend means a lot to me.

"The new pool is fantastic and Tom Daley and his team-mates from the GB diving squad are going to love the diving facilities.

"I hope as many people as possible take the opportunity to take their children to the new pool and get them to learn to swim.

"It's so important, not just from a safety point of view but also from a health perspective. Swimming is fun and facilities like this are a real asset to the community."

Councillor Derek Jarvis, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Culture, said: "It was fantastic to have someone of Mark Foster's stature to officially open the new pool.

"He has strong links to Southend and it was very fitting that he should be the person to help the Mayor unveil the plaque. It was clear to see how impressed he was with the new facilities."

Before unveiling a plaque commemorating the official opening of the new pool Mark bumped into a group of schoolchildren who were especially delighted to see him.

The six youngsters from Thorpe Hall School , who helped dig the first footings for the new pool two years ago, happened to be enjoying a swimming lesson just as Mark arrived.

As a special treat their teacher allowed them to stay on at the centre after their lesson so they could watch the official opening.

And they were thrilled when the celebrity took time out to have a chat with them and ask them how they were getting on with their swimming.

The state-of-the-art pool, which was part-funded by Sport England, offers fantastic facilities to residents and visitors alike.

They include a 25m eight-lane competition pool and a world class dive pool with fixed platforms at 1m, 3m, 5m, 7.5m and 10m, two springboards at 1m and a further springboard at 3m.

It also boasts a moveable floor to enable swimming lessons and exercise classes to take place, as well as a water agitation and air cushion system.

Other features of the new pool include

• a dry-diving training facility complete with harness and trampolines
• 374 tiered seats, including 22 wheelchair spaces, and
• a small fun pool with water slide

The British Olympic diving team has already announced its intention to use the new centre as a pre-games training camp prior to London 2012.

It will be holding its annual 5m and 1m assessment camps at SSDC this weekend and again in November 2011.

Transport links to the new pool have been improved by extending the operating hours of the 27 and 2 bus services which run to Garon Park from Southend town centre.

For details please visit the timetable section of http://www.firstgroup.com/