Summer 2023 Newsletter
Welcome to Summer at Shoalstone!
The pool is looking welcoming and buzzing with activity on the sunny days. Swim lessons, lane swimming, there are lots of new activities on the go as we gear up to our busiest time of the year – the school holidays.
Our thanks to Mark Bell, a local artist, and his wife Sarah who have painted our bright new Compass.
They wanted to support Shoalstone in a creative way and have brought vivid colour to the deck, it glows even on the greyest days.
Mark says “This is such a stunning location and to paint here was a joy, despite being distracted by the dolphins!
I was really pleased to be able to work on the compass and meet many of the Shoalstone volunteers all trying so hard to keep this gem of Brixham afloat.
I hope everyone who loves Shoalstone will enjoy it this season”.
Thanks to the dedicated band of pool clean volunteers the pool is being scrubbed and cleaned on a regular basis whenever the tides allow.
This vital maintenance work removes all the sand and silt that comes in over the top at every high tide and makes the pool fresh and welcoming for all of us.
Save Shoalstone from the Waves:
Structural problems at the pool keep raising their heads. In addition to the compromised northwest buttress, the tides continue to create voids beneath the pool leading to cracks in the base and the deck where funnelled water can spout through.
This has caused issues with the water levels, as we struggle to control the correct depth for safe swimming, and meant we had to delay the opening of the pool in May.
David Thomas, our Pool Operations Manager, has been working around the clock to try to capture dry moments to repair cracks and stop the flow. Lucky for us Dave is a man who relishes a challenge.
Major structural works are crucial to save Shoalstone, and once these are underway these problems will become a thing of the past.
The Save Shoalstone from the Waves fundraising campaign was launched back in March.
There is a crowdfunding page and
we are also making major grant applications towards Stage 1 & 2 of our engineering
programme. Stage 1 is the repair to the northwest buttress, which will cost in
the region of £500K. Stage 2 – fixing the voids – will be a further £350K.
Visit our Go Fund Me page:
To be successful with these grant applications we need to prove that the people of Brixham want the pool to survive, and that means demonstrating that the community is involved in helping to save the pool. So our thanks go to all those who have already donated on the crowdfunding page, and also to those who are stepping up to help in the coming months including:
· Marilyn’s Garden Cream Tea (15 August),
· Rugby Club collections,
· Breakwater Bistro coffee purchase donations: 15pence per cup – please get down to the Bistro and up your caffeine intake!
· Yacht Club Quiz Night – (June night raised £467)
· The Queens Arms have made us their charity for their popular December Beerfest
· The Soroptimists are dedicating this year’s Brixham Harbour Santa Run to Shoalstone.
For the latest details on these and much more please check out the facebook page. If you have an event or activity that you could use to fundraise for Shoalstone – just let us know.
Events:
Annual Twilight Swim, 9 August – come down for a swim or just coffee and cake!
Polynesian Fundraising Gala – 15 September, 7pm, at the Berry Head Hotel. Supper and fundraising auction and optional grass skirts!
Tickets are selling fast, so contact us soon for tickets or to join the reserve list.
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Contact Us
Shoalstone Pool, Berry Head Road, Brixham,TQ5 9FT
- 01803 302024
- info@shoalstonepool.com
Further Information
We are always keen to hear your views and feedback. If you have something to tell us please do get in touch. New Volunteers are always welcome. We’re busy maintaining and improving the pool all year round.
