The Ashburton Swimming Pool Committee were recently awarded a grant from the Mark Benevolent Fund to help them complete the renovation of the Swimming Pool, and the Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother David Charles Purdie, was pleased to present their cheque on behalf of Mark Grand Lodge and the Mark Benevolent Fund.
The Swimming Pool was opened in 1936 and was originally part of the Golden Lion Hotel. During the Second World War, the hotel became a school for evacuated pupils from the Cambridge area, but sadly, after the war, it was no longer used as a hotel. The hotel agreed to open it to the community, provided they volunteered to maintain it, which they did to great effect. Many years later, the pool remained an integral part of the local community when it came under council ownership, but in 2016, following the threat of closure and a rigorous community campaign, the council again handed the pool back to the community volunteers, which then became a registered charity.
In 2023, several structural issues were identified, and local businesses and individuals came to their aid, assisting with the major rebuild of the pool's deep end. These included the local Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges in Ashburton, donations from the other lodges and orders meeting within the Ashburton temple, and a donation from the Devon Mark Charity Association.
The final and major part of the renovation was to line the pool with a sturdy surface, as leaks were reported to be costing up to £100 per day. The Mark Benevolent Fund was approached and agreed to a grant of £25,000, which enabled the committee to complete the pool renovation in time for its 90th anniversary.
The Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother David Charles Purdie, presented the formal cheque on behalf of the Mark Benevolent Fund to the Chair of the Swimming Pool Committee and Mayor of Ashburton, Councillor Lucy Wood, along with her Treasurer, Chris Waugh, and his wife, Barbara, who is the Secretary. The Provincial Grand Master was accompanied on the day by Worshipful Brother John Betts and Worshipful Brother Garry Kitchen, both representing the Devon Mark Charity Association, together with Worshipful Brother Jon Webber, the Provincial Grand Junior Overseer and Worshipful Master of the Ashburton Lodge of Mark Master Masons 1038.
The committee thanked all involved for this phenomenal donation towards their work, which has allowed the pool to thrive in the community once again, bringing joy and fun to all those who use it. The pool can now look forward to a bright future and will be able to utilise future donations to refurbish the poolside and men’s changing rooms.
For further information, visit their website at - https://ashburtonpool.com