New group set up to save Trinkie
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MEMORIES of the golden era of the Trinkie came flooding back this week when a new group was set up with the intention of restoring Wick’s famous outdoor pool to its former glory.
From the reflections, you’d think people were talking of the sun-swept coast of Spain, or – more closely – the holiday camp pools of Butlin’s or the 1980s TV show Hi-de-Hi.
A significant number of Wick residents turned up to the meeting at the Francis Street Club, where it was decided to form the Trinkie Heritage Preservation Group.
A previous group was disbanded earlier this year, blaming a “lack of community support”.
Friends of the Trinkie said it had enjoyed maintaining the outdoor pool at Wick’s South Head over the years, and stressed that it had not been an easy decision.
For years, the lido on the Pulteneytown seafront formed a communal gathering spot, not just where people learned to swim, but also for barbecues, get-togethers and family occasions. Local resident and self-professed “Trinkie lover” Bryan Newlands welcomed the group’s formation, underlining that the pool harboured a lot of memories. “I used to go there a lot... Even though I lived on the other side of town, every summer myself and a friend would go – even when it was raining,” he said. “It was a great place as the town didn’t have an indoor swimming pool until 1994. Many people learned to swim at the Trinkie.”
While a slideshow showed images of how the pool used to look and how much Wickers got from it, other more contemporary images show a dilapidated ruin – a far cry from the hustle, bustle and smiles of yesteryear.
The new group was formed with a mission to “bring the pool back to life” and a number of office-bearers were proposed and elected.
James Bremner was elected chairman with other roles going to William Macdonald (vice-chairman), Catherine Patterson (secretary) and Garance Warburton (treasurer).
Seven committee members were also elected: Fiona Bremner, Trudi Mcalpine, Davina Lyall, Fiona McPhee, Leslie Grant, Roddy Mackay and Councillor Willie Mackay.
Ms Patterson underlined that it was going to be no easy fix as “there are holes in the wall at the deep end, which also has cracks that go right down to the ground”.
“The previous group... had the holes patched up, but they kept reappearing,” she said. “The wall itself is also crumbling and the bridge that divides the deep and shallow ends has had its fixtures corroded. Also the south access road that leads the public to the pool is in poor nick.”
She stressed that volunteers to patch things up and general goodwill is always welcome, “but [often] their help only scratches the surface of what needs to be done”.
She added: “Major investment is needed along with a report from a structural engineer to see how much damage there is, what can and cannot be done, and to get an estimate of how much the restoration will cost”.
Mr Newlands – committee member Ms Lyall’s son – stressed that the Trinkie added tremendous character to Wick.
“Put it this way, with the summer we’ve had, that pool would have been full had it been in use,” he said.
Other memories came from Wick Society chairman Iain Leith. “Going there was a popular pastime in its day with adults and kids from all over Pulteneytown flocking to it,” he said.
“Restoring it could be a big boost to the town’s economy by making it a tourist attraction as well as giving back the town a much-loved landmark.”
Ms Patterson emphasised that the Trinkie had the potential to be an asset to both locals and tourists.
“But we need investment because if nothing gets done the pool is on its way out.”
