Westleigh County Primary School swimming pool,

opened by Mr Jeremy Thorpe, MP for North Devon, has virtually been paid for.

Yet the idea to provde a pool was mooted only in January. The total cost - including a filtration plant - exceeds £300. A grant of half that amount is made by the County Council. When Mr Thorpe opened the pool the parish had raised about £120 by various events. A fete that followed the opening ceremony raised nearly £50 towards the cost of the filtration plant.

The secret of the success achieved was revealed by the headmaster, Mr R D Robbins. "We have not so far spent a penny on labour. It has all been done voluntarily."

There are 29 pupils at the school, which is believed to be the smallest County Primary School in Devon to have acquired its own swimming pool. Some of the children, who will be taught to swim by the headmaster, defied the cold to take the plunge.

Mr Robbins thanked Mr Thorpe, and Susan Blight presented him with an inscribed pen and bookmark.

Miss Gladys Fulford, chairman of the School Managers, thanked those responsible for raising the money and particularly the swimming pool committee - Mr Alan Dark, Mr Robbins, Mrs I Braund, Mrs E Towl, Mrs Eastman and Mr John Honey.

Gazette article 20 May 1966