Our appeal enables a club to stay afloat

SWIMMERS have inundated a club with calls after the Dunmow Broadcast ran an appeal for new members to save it from closure.

The group, which was established in 2000 and meet at Great Dunmow Sports Centre every Wednesday night had consisted of just 15 members aged 16 upwards.

They were in desperate need of more members to get the club out of hot water and ensure its survival.

The Broadcast can report that since printing the Dunmow Master's pleas the club has now had a positive response from newcomers.

Claire Newman, club treasurer, said: "We had four or five new swimmers turn up last week, which was great. We are really thrilled with the response the Broadcast has gotten us.

"We've never had such a response before, it's definitely helped and given us more enquiries and newcomers than we have ever had."

Mrs Newman said the sports centre had been very good to the club but fees have to be paid.

"We just couldn't exist with our existing 15 members, we needed a total of 19 to break even on the pool hire costs. Since printing our story in the Broadcast things are looking good.

"We're hoping we can retain this and to welcome more new members to our club when people have finished their holidays and are ready to commit to something new again."

The swimming group, who are registered with the national governing body of swimming and diving Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) also take part in many nation-wide competitions and enjoy the full use of their 25 metre pool, diving blocks, flags, and anti-turbulent ropes during their weekly training sessions which will be continuing uninterrupted throughout the whole of the summer holidays.

Sessions cost between £4 to £5 and are paid in 10-weekly blocks, with students having the options of paying each week as they go along.

For more information call Claire Newman on 01371 870656.