A PETERSFIELD grandmother is urging families and children to donate to the open air pool’s £150,000 fundraisisng drive to ensure it can open next season.
The pool dates from the 1960s and needs extensive renovation if it is to open in the spring.
Sandra Sands, of Bepton Down, remembers collecting pennies for the original fundraising drive to build the popular attraction in the Festival Hall car park.
She said: “ I remember when the pool was just a dream for Petersfield, and when I was in junior school, I think I remember collecting pennies for the pool fund.
“I remember a big jar in school for them, and I am sure Petersfield folk then put their hands in their pockets, whatever their financial situation, and everyone gave a little for this very exciting dream.
“Sad to say, the summer the pool opened, I was nine years old, and I had moved to Portsmouth.
“I am now 67 and I returned to Petersfield 13 years ago, and have only recently entered the pool with my grandchildren.
“It is an amazing resource that many other towns would love, and occasionally there is standing room only on very hot days.
“I imagine many people would put their hands in their pockets and children would be excited to see their small amounts of money mount up to rescue our pool – what about all those pesky 5p, 2p and 1p pieces, could children and their families be encouraged to donate these – and may be some bigger coins too?”
To donate visit the JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/poasp?utm_term=WyEe5Jd9v
Cheques can be made payable to Supporters of Open Air Pool, SOAP, Petersfield.
For more information, and to suggest fundraising ideas, email [email protected]
For details about the pool visit the website at www.petersfieldpool.org