The Worcester Citizens Swimming Bath Association was set up in 1962 as a not for profit, charitable organisation by the residents of Worcester with the aim of raising funds to build Worcester’s first indoor swimming pool. Over a twelve year period the Association raised £30,000 through public donations, raffles & coffee mornings etc. Further grants were obtained of £10,000 from the West Midlands Sports Council, £2,600 from Hereford and Worcester County Council and £880 Worcester City Council. The original site for the pool was to be placed on Cripple Gate Park, close to the river, but due to the water table was deemed unsuitable. The Lowerwick site was then leased to the association over 99 years, at peppercorn rent, donated by Mr John Bennett MBE. The City Council had agreed to allow methane gas to be tapped from the adjacent sewage works to heat the pool. That facility was withdrawn by Severn Trent in 2004 which in turn increased the energy costs by £30,000 per annum. This has had a substantial impact on the day to day running costs and overall funds to maintain and improve the facility. In 1984 a small Fitness Gym was added and in 1991 the Health Hydro facilities opened. In recent years the pool has had a number of large improvements including a complete electrical rewire, a new roof (part funded by National Lottery and Worcester City Council), New Circulation Pumps to name but a few. We are currently giving 600 children swimming lessons each week. During the week, in term time, we are visited by children from 18 schools. In total we estimate that we have taught in excess of 100,000 children to swim in over the last 40 years, we feel this is an impressive achievement.
