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-   -   How many RAF stations have swimming pools? (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/649617-how-many-raf-stations-have-swimming-pools.html)

Baldeep Inminj 1st Nov 2022 10:14

Scampton certainly had one in the early 90’s.

I could never understand why Shawbury and Valley don’t have them, being huge multi-service training bases.

Herod 1st Nov 2022 10:16

This is all making me nostalgic (and old). Tarshyne, Nicosia, Masirah, Changi.

XN593 1st Nov 2022 10:51

There was one here in 1974, but where was here?
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....9e4c38cbe8.jpg

Wigglyamps 1st Nov 2022 11:22

Ascension in the late 80's had a tiled EWS and a diving board.

Fitter2 1st Nov 2022 11:49

As someone mentioned earlier, Tengah had an excellent one, near 'the stables' (transit accommodation where I spent 3 weeks on my way to Kuching) and JCs curry stall opposite the main gate.

I was put off learning to swim by the squalid municipal pools we were taken to while at school, but as swimming was the only sensible form of exercise in Singapore humidity, quickly learned, and that was very useful later.

Red Line Entry 1st Nov 2022 12:03

Not a dig, but an observation. The question was: How many RAF stations have swimming pools? Cue a host of posts regaling us with stories of closed stations that had swimming pools. This place should really be renamed the 'Retired Military Aviation' forum. I wonder what percentage of posters on this forum are currently serving...even Bob V's now an old codger! :p

Bob Viking 1st Nov 2022 13:09

RLE
 
You’re absolutely correct (well retired anyway but not necessarily old). Which is why I will be at pains to only comment on stuff I actually understand from here on in. And I promise not to flood the forum with stories of how ‘it was so much better in my day’!

BV

Jazzyg 1st Nov 2022 13:21

Bruggen defo had outdoor pool in 1990 ...

Ninthace 1st Nov 2022 13:37


Originally Posted by Jazzyg (Post 11323702)
Bruggen defo had outdoor pool in 1990 ...

Not on paper it didn't := , unless the MOD adopted it post 89.

Jazzyg 1st Nov 2022 13:44

It was certainly there as I used it a couple of times...outdoor and very pleasant it was too. I will see if any of my old muckas have phots. I even took the croc for a bask in the sunshine..(dont ask...was looking after it whilst my next door neighbour in the block was on fitters course.

Ninthace 1st Nov 2022 13:49


Originally Posted by Jazzyg (Post 11323721)
It was certainly there as I used it a couple of times...outdoor and very pleasant it was too. I will see if any of my old muckas have phots. I even took the croc for a bask in the sunshine..(dont ask...was looking after it whilst my next door neighbour in the block was on fitters course.

See posts #14 and #30 for explanation. Failing that try getting OC SSS or PSA to fix it when it broke

Minnie Burner 1st Nov 2022 13:59

STILL has!
 

Originally Posted by Red Line Entry (Post 11323655)
Not a dig, but an observation. The question was: How many RAF stations have swimming pools? Cue a host of posts regaling us with stories of closed stations that had swimming pools. This place should really be renamed the 'Retired Military Aviation' forum. I wonder what percentage of posters on this forum are currently serving...even Bob V's now an old codger! :p

Wildernrath STILL has a pool, just sweet FA else. Apart from asylum seekers. And a big train set.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....412fd8805f.jpg


brakedwell 1st Nov 2022 14:24


Originally Posted by Red Line Entry (Post 11323655)
Not a dig, but an observation. The question was: How many RAF stations have swimming pools? Cue a host of posts regaling us with stories of closed stations that had swimming pools. This place should really be renamed the 'Retired Military Aviation' forum. I wonder what percentage of posters on this forum are currently serving...even Bob V's now an old codger! :p

More pertinent, how many RAF Stations are there now. Not many I am afraid.

Mrmungus 1st Nov 2022 14:25

Wattisham had an outdoor pool but I believe the Army filled it in and built another indoor pool on the other side of the Car Park.

teeteringhead 1st Nov 2022 15:24


I could never understand why Shawbury and Valley don’t have them, being huge multi-service training bases.
Can't speak for Y Fali, but Shawbs always used to use Cosford - only about 30 mins away and excellent bacon butties at the caff by the Station (BR not RAF) afterwards.

And Langar pool .... some tales to tell of that one from Syerston days ........ and I think it was RCAF built.

Union Jack 1st Nov 2022 15:33


Originally Posted by Ninthace (Post 11323563)
If you want a deep pool, try the one at Fort Blockhouse, Gosport, formerly HMS Dolphin. The widths are short but it is 100ft deep. I did the obligatory 2x30ft, 1x60ft and 1x100ft runs through it. Heady stuff at the time.

Sadly, the "Tank" ceased to be used, even on a reduced basis, by the Submarine Service in 2020, but it was kids' stuff compared with being first out doing a voluntary run from 300 feet when exercising with the "Swim Boys" off the West Coast of Scotland! A very deep pool indeed, and no restraints there like in the Tank.....:eek:

Jack

NutLoose 1st Nov 2022 15:35

Surprised Brize never had one, though it did have a bowling alley, but you had to be a Civi to get a lane ;)

Ninthace 1st Nov 2022 15:45


Originally Posted by Union Jack (Post 11323781)
Sadly, the "Tank" ceased to be used, even on a reduced basis, by the Submarine Service in 2020, but it was kids' stuff compared with being first out doing a voluntary run from 300 feet when exercising with the "Swim Boys" off the West Coast of Scotland! A very deep pool indeed, and no restraints there like in the Tank.....:eek:

Jack

I did my last RAF tour at Blockhouse. My office was in the old submarine school that I had passed through some 20 years previously while in training for SSNs. I am surprised the tank lasted that long. Nothing like being sealed into a chamber slowly filling with water while being able to look out at the car park 60ft below. One of life's more surreal experiences.

MENELAUS 1st Nov 2022 16:29


Originally Posted by Ninthace (Post 11323789)
I did my last RAF tour at Blockhouse. My office was in the old submarine school that I had passed through some 20 years previously while in training for SSNs. I am surprised the tank lasted that long. Nothing like being sealed into a chamber slowly filling with water while being able to look out at the car park 60ft below. One of life's more surreal experiences.

Whilst the divers gently punch you in the abdomen if they think that you’re not breathing out on the way up.
Actually once you got over the panic of being flooded whilst trapped in the chamber the escape trainer was quite good fun. The dunker ( initially at Vernon then VL) less so. !!!
No idea why the submarine service stopped it. Seemed like vital training to me.

Roland Pulfrew 1st Nov 2022 18:02


Originally Posted by NutLoose (Post 11323783)
Surprised Brize never had one, though it did have a bowling alley, but you had to be a Civi to get a lane ;)

Brize did have one, assume that is it still has (it's even marked on Google Maps), so maybe one of the few stations pertinent to OPs question.


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