Thurso Swimming Pool celebrates 50th birthday

Thurso Swimming Pool celebrates its 50th birthday today as the pool first opened to the public on May 20 1967.

Here is how the John O'Groat Journal reported it half a century ago.

Saturday was a historic day for Thurso. On that day the Burgh’s new municipal swimming pool was opened by Robert Maclennan MP for Caithness and Sutherland.

Apart from being the most modern in Scotland the pool is historic as it is the first one in the country to be built to metric measurements.

This is the only pool of its kind in the north, and no finer one can be found in the country in a community of this size.

Externally and internally it is most attractive.

It will prove to be a great asset not only to Thurso and its immediate area but to the whole of Caithness. It will be a special attraction of course for visitors and will be a great tourist draw for Thurso.

At the official ceremony all the main speakers gave due tribute to these who initiated the scheme, to the council for carrying it out and to all concerned with the planning and construction.

Millbank Road was deliberately chosen as the site because it now forms part of the group of the town’s other sporting amenities – the boating pond, playing fields, tennis courts and bowling green.

The building was designed to integrate into the general background of the other buildings nearby. It has a white roughcast finish on the walls.

It is most attractive from the outside and so designed that as one approaches the main door the whole interior comes into view.

The building is formed of a pool hall, with a tiled pitched roof, surrounded on two sides by a single storey portion which contains the entrance hall, changing rooms, and boiler house.

The construction of the pool hall is on the basis of reinforced concrete portal frames, with infill panels of either block work or glass areas. Double glazing has been used throughout in the fool hall.

The pool is 25 meters long - this allows it to be used for competitive events and is 30 feet wide. The water is kept at 76 degrees Fahrenheit and in the hall and changerooms is at 78 degrees.

There are three separate heating systems, one to heat the water, one to circulate hot air around the pool hall, entrance room and changerooms, and the third is hot water pipes laid immediately behind the ceiling covers for the whole length of the roof.

It cost just over £50,000 – “The Council think it is a good buy in anybody’s language,” commented Swimming Pool Committee chairman Donald Dyer on the opening day.

The credit for a very successful architectural job goes to a local firm Messrs Sinclair MacDonald and Sons and particularly to James Campbell of that firm who had primary responsibility for the pool.

The main contractor was J B Swanson, Castletown and John Swanson took a personal interest in the project.

A number of local and other firms had sub-contracts and specialist work was carried out by South firms.

“We are all proud of those farsighted and public spirited people who have made a reality of what seemed nine years ago to be a visionary project.”

In these words Robert MacLennan MP for Caithness and Sutherland summed up the magnificent effort of the community of Thurso when he performed the opening ceremony of the town’s £50,000 indoor swimming pool at Millbank.

The first part of the ceremony outside the building took place in favourable weather and was watched by a large number of people including guests from Wick and most parts of the county,

A plaque on the wall of the building commemorating the occasion was unveiled by Mr Maclennan after a dedication prayer by Caithness Presbytery clerk Rev A F Andrew.

On doing so the MP was presented with a key by James Campnell who represented the architects Messers Sinclair Macdonald, Thurso and went on to open the main door of the building.

The invited guests followed and took their seats for the second part of the ceremony.

Provost Sutherland said: “This is a very happy and auspicious occasion for all of us. This opening of the Thurso Swimming Pool is the culmination of the voluntary efforts and drive of the people of Thurso.

Mr Maclennan said: “We are all proud of those farsighted and public spirited people who have made a reality of what must seem nine years ago to be a visionary project.

“Since 1958, when the Swimming Pool Association was formed, at least 54 citizens, old and young, have taken an active part in the work of the committee, - businessmen, lorry drivers, housewives, engineers - all have bent their energies to this splendid project.”

Thurso Town Council and the planning sub-committee had visited swimming pools all over the British Isles and Germany to see what was most up to date and fitting for the town.

“As a result,” said Mr MacLennan, “Thurso can boast of an indoor swimming pool of the most modern type of which we can all be proud.

“The inspiration which has prompted the public has been the desire to have first class physical recreation in a town in which the long winter and the inclement weather have sometimes handicapped our style.

“The future of Thurso is Thurso's youth and it is right and fitting that they should be provided for in this particular field.”

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