About Admiral Swimming Centre
The Brixham Amateur Swimming & Life Saving Society was formed in the late 1920s after local schools began to teach swimming and lifesaving skills at the tidal Shoalstone Seawater Pool.
In the early 70s when it was thought unlikely that Torbay Council would ever provide facilities in Brixham, the Society set out to build its own Indoor Heated Pool that would be open to all when not being used for swimming teaching, training and competition.
Society volunteers took three years to complete a 25m Pool that proudly opened on the 6th January 1975 and was visited by the Duke & Duchess of Kent. The Pool had cost less than £25,000.
For over three decades volunteers successfully ran the Brixham Pool with the enthusiastic support of local residents, visitors, tradesmen and businesses.
All local schools used the Pool, virtually every child in the Port learnt to swim there and Brixham swimmers performed with distinction in County, District, National and even International Championships.
In 1999 major defects were identified and the Society began to explore funding opportunities with the Amateur Swimming Association, Sport England & Torbay Council. A local Development Fund launched in May 2002 received tremendous community support and raised over £120,000.
In September 2004 the Society began an application for funding under the Community Club Development Programme but an independent survey identified a roof safety risk and the Pool was closed in October 2004. It reopened in August 2005 after essential repairs were completed, but other major problems still remained.
Volunteers continued to develop an acceptable refurbishment package. A charitable company was formed to take over the pool management and funding was finally secured with £550,000 (ASA), £350,000 (Torbay Council), £85,000 (Society Development Fund) and £15,000 (Torbay Care Trust). Contractors began the £1,000,000 project in April
2008. A final grant of £30,000 in December 2008 enabled the project to be completed.
The new Brixham Council has donated £25,000 and TCT a further £5,000. Other community events and donations have brought the total raised to over £65,000, with which the building has been secured, the plant and services have been upgraded, the changing rooms and community room modernised and an office extension added.... it never ends.
There are still many improvements that can be implemented, and further funds will be required - and gratefully received.