THEY are a luxury most of us associate with sizzling, sun-kissed holidays abroad, or within the back yards of the rich and famous.

But 40 years ago this week, children and adults set foot in an outdoor swimming pool at Haltwhistle, and have been making a splash ever since.

Its creation had nothing to do with climate change. Global warming was never an agenda item for Haltwhistle Parish Council and other local people involved in its inception.

Instead, two unrelated yet overriding factors led to the opening of the district’s only open air pool at the end of June, 1975.

One was the need for a swimming facility. For generations, youngsters would populate local rivers during the summer months, but two drowning tragedies in the early 1970s led civic leaders to consider a new amenity which was fit for purpose.

David Stobbart, the man who managed the pool with distinction from the very beginning until his retirement in 2007, said finance was the other big issue.

He said: “An indoor pool needs to be run, heated, maintained and staffed all year round, and there wasn’t the money for that.

“A community the size of Haltwhistle, with a population of around 3,500 at that time, just wasn’t big enough to support a 12-month operation.

“An outdoor pool was the most viable option. It would be available for use during the best weather with minimal costs. We just needed a pool and a changing room block, and that’s how it started.”

The story of the outdoor pool, which eventually became Haltwhistle Swimming and Leisure Centre, is a remarkable one.

And with celebrations already under way to celebrate its 40th birthday, staff and volunteers past and present are reflecting on a community-led project which has evolved through the generations.

When David first became involved with the initiative in the early 1970s, he was a qualified electrician. He was also one of the youngest-ever members of Haltwhistle Parish Council and chairman of the town’s youth council.

He explained: “I was a member of the Labour Party, which was very strong in the town at that time. I was asked to outline what the young people wanted, and I said they wanted a swimming pool.

“Different sites were explored by the town council, and the old cinema building on Westgate, which is now the library, was considered before it was decided to go for an outdoor pool.”

The ideal location was soon identified. The ever-changing economic climate meant the old Miners’ Welfare building and bowling green at Greencroft was no longer required for its original use.

The trustees of the welfare donated the site, which was to become an important part of Haltwhistle’s future, as well as a lasting memorial the area’s rich mining history.

The creation of an outdoor pool was criticised by one prominent Hexham politician of the day, but Haltwhistle residents got behind a major community-led initiative to open a self-sustaining swimming outlet.

A trust fund was set up. Dances took place at Holy Cross Church Hall, on Main Street, to raise money, while door-to-door collections were conducted by volunteers.

David explained: “A lot of people would pay sixpence a week. I don’t know how much was raised in total, but there was a lot of enthusiasm in the town, and a lot of money was generated for the cause.

“We also did plenty of of research, and visited the likes of Lazonby Pool near Penrith to see how a similar set up was run by volunteers.”

The centre opened to much fanfare, with David appointed as manager by Coun. Muriel Fleming, who was at the heart of the pool campaign alongside her sister, Millie Birkett.

He said: “We worked hard to get the pool open and established. I remember a day during the heatwave of 1976 when we had 1,090 people in the pool. They were queuing all the way around Greencroft, and we were letting 20 swimmers in every time the same number went out.”

Many volunteers have been involved over the years. David pointed out that now-retired councillor Lawrence Thompson is the only surviving member of the original swimming pool committee.

Unsung heroes and heroines, such as Jessie Robinson and Peggy Fleming, would spend hours baking delicious cakes, pies, scones and rock buns, before selling them at the on-site cafe to raise money for the centre.

Despite its popularity and successful swimming galas, the facility was always looking to develop its leisure offering.

With funding from the former Tynedale Council, squash courts opened in 1987 and five years later, a tennis court opened at the centre as a thank you gift to Haltwhistle for accommodating the nearby Plenmeller opencast mine.

The new Millennium saw further improvements and in 2003, football legend Peter Beardsley opened the centre’s £2.25m leisure centre, offering a sports hall for football, badminton, netball and basketball, as well as a fitness studio, new cafe and disabled toilets.

With the support of Leisure Tynedale chief John Maude, the ambitious scheme received capital funding from Government grants body Sport England to complement a whopping £600,000 raised from within the local community.

Local organisations, such as the Smith Charitable Trust, also played a significant role.

Now an established all-year-round facility, the centre was able to beef-up its offering by opening up the new sports hall as a venue for concerts and other functions.

TV presenter Michael Aspel filmed an episode of The Antiques Roadshow there in 2004 and in November 2005, American soul singers The Drifters made a special appearance.

The centre has overcome financial challenges over the years to offer everything from children’s soft play to a pool-side water flume. In 2013, a £70,000 refurbishment programme included the creation of a multi-use function room.

David added: “Tynedale is well served by three very different swimming pools, with two others at Hexham, which opened before ours in 1973, and at Prudhoe Waterworld.

“The developments which have seen the centre evolve have changed its appearance, but hopefully it is set up for the next 40 years and beyond.”

Anniversary celebrations are under way at Haltwhistle Swimming and Leisure Centre.

An afternoon tea last week raised £250, while a teddy bears’ picnic and junior disco also took place.

An ‘It‘s a Knockout’ competition and fun night was set to take place for five-13 year-olds from 5.30pm yesterday evening.

On Sunday the public are invited to the centre’s summer fair, which will include afternoon teas, stalls, raffle, tombola and bouncy castle from 1.30pm, and a gala involving around 100 young people from 3.30pm.