UPPER Wharfedale Swimming Club is still in desperate need of new recruits to keep it afloat.

Twelve months ago the Herald ran a story revealing how the Threshfield-based club was just managing to keep its head above water in order to pay its increasing rents bill.

The article stated that the group was in need of new members, and despite almost a year passing, the club's membership has remained static at 140.

Further adding to concerns about the club's long-term future is the fact that its three main committee members are to step down from their positions at the annual general meeting in April.

They are Peter Gains, who has been treasurer for more than 25 years, Trevor Shepherd, chairman and Andrew Armstrong, secretary, who have both been members for several years.

They are hoping that volunteers will come forward to fill the vacant positions.

Mr Gains was involved at the very beginning before the pool was even built. He came to Grassington as police sergeant in 1966 when the pool, adjacent to Upper Wharfedale School was just a hole in the ground.

The committee raised money for the pool, which was initially open air and heated through the school's boilers. Later fencing was put round it and later still it became covered.

The club hired the pool rent-free until 1974 when the management of schools came in.

Speaking to the Herald this week, Mr Gains, said it had been local organisations and friends of the club who had kept it going for the last year by staging various fundraising events.

He said: "We've just managed to survive this year and will be starting a fresh year after Easter. What we do need desperately is new members as this year we've had to rely on a lot of fundraising to enable us to pay the rent.

"We would really like to be able to pay our rent through the money we receive from membership, but obviously we would also like some money set aside to organise swimming galas with trophies."

Mr Gains added: "It's not that the club is not feasible. It is, but a lot of people come on a casual basis when we would sooner they came as members.

"It's really good value for money and we've a qualified teacher starting soon who will be teaching children free of charge."

Mr Shepherd said the club was in a bit of an awkward situation. If it put membership fees up, the move could discourage people to join, but if the charges were left as they were, they would still have to rely heavily on fundraising.

Many people already take advantage of the club with people travelling from as far as Buckden and Cray to enjoy a weekly swim. Ideally membership numbers have to increase to 200 for costs to be met comfortably.