THE 30th anniversary on Monday of the opening of Settle Swimming Pool and the formation of Settle Seals Swimming Club is being celebrated with a host of activities.

The pool opened on June 23 1975 after almost nine years of fund raising by a dedicated committee, some of whom are sadly no longer alive.

The anniversary is being celebrated with an organised visit to the pool on June 30 by Steve Parry, who won bronze in the swimming competitions at the Athens Olympics last year.

During the same week the pool opened its doors, the swimming club Settle Seals, formed with 300 adults and children becoming members on the club's opening day of June 27 1975.

Today there are still 100 children who are members and swim regularly on Mondays and Thursdays. The rest of the week is taken up with regular swimmers and visitors who make full use of the pool's facilities.

When it first opened the cost for a swim was 20p for adults and 10p for children during the week and five pence more each at weekends.

And while the prices were not able to remain the same - now at £2.40 and £1.20 respectively - enthusiasm for the non-profit making facility remains as high and the committee continues to fund-raise throughout the year to pay for the upkeep and refurbishment of the pool and building.

Around £85,000 a year is needed to run the pool. A significant proportion of that is met through parish and district council grants as well as around £13,000 being raised annually by the waste paper collection service in the car park.

Around 12 years ago the pool was refurbished at a cost of £100,000. Since then it has faced a few crises, such as needing drivers to haul the waste paper trailer, have seen the community pull together. The most recent refurbishment costing £35,000 was carried out in November during the annual maintenance. This included re-tiling and the installation of a hoist for disabled swimmers.

Members continue to organise sponsored events with a swimming marathon being held last August.

Events which are being planned to celebrate the anniversary include a family disco organised by the Settle Seals for past and present members. It is being held at the Rugby Club on June 18 from 7pm. Tickets from Annette Metcalf on 01729 840096.

Pool manager Jane Blinkhorn, who is also in training for her sponsored swim over the length of Lake Windermere said: "It is nice to be able to continue the work of founder members in preserving this worthwhile facility in Settle. We are all also looking forward to welcoming Steve Parry who will be an inspiration to our young swimmers.