The pool was granted charitable status on 1st February 1971 and trustees appointed to administer its use under the terms laid down by the West Riding County Council.

As the pool was to be sited in the centre of the school buildings, it was not built to public use standards but that of a good quality learner pool.

It would be uses by schools in term time, and out of school and in evenings and holidays to groups approved by further education and for the trustees.

When Rotherham Council took over they made their intentions clear – that they wished to use it as a public pool in line with those within Rotherham under the amenities and recreation department.

This was resisted by the head, who was due to leave to another post, and by the newly-appointed head – but in 1978 the council threatened to withdraw all financial aid to the pool.

During 1978, local planning school head teachers received a letter to the effect that in the near future their school would no longer receive instruction at the pool, but would be informed shortly to which alternate baths they would be transported.

Questions were asked, since the time children would be out of school would be greatly affected - the pool at Dinnington would be empty for two days each week and parents and headteachers had not been consulted.

This was clearly a threat to the future of the pool and as other threats were made, the new head handed over the pool and the trust was disbanded.

The pool could easily have been closed in 1978. As it is, primary school swimming has been continued up to the present day and it is a great pity that the Friends at Dinnington Pool were not formed in 1971 to support the trustees and that Rotherham Council did not approach the situation by co-operating with parents when they first took over from West Riding.

Judge for yourselves whether they were democratic or autocratic, respectful or disrespectful.

The biggest losers are going to be the children from homes unwilling or incapable of taking their children swimming - and it was these children who were uppermost in the minds of the head teachers who launched the project.

J. W. SLACK
Chairman of Dinnington High Schools
Pyramid Group 1969-1974.