Month: December 2022

The Ladies’ Pond will close early on Monday 19 December 2022 so that Heath staff, including lifeguards, can attend the staff Christmas lunch at the Guildhall.

Last entry to the water will be 10.45 am and vacate water time will be 11 am.  Swimmers will be asked to leave site by 11.15 am so that staff have time to change and travel to the Guildhall.  Please help to ensure that they are able to do so on the day, by vacating in good time.

The Ladies’ Pond will be open as normal on Tuesday morning (weather permitting!) at 7.30 am.  Full details of current opening times and Christmas Day arrangements can be seen here.

There is one more opportunity to purchase KLPA mugs, hats and books before Christmas, on Sunday 18 December 2022 between 9 and 11 am.

Mugs and knitted hats are £10 each or can be bought in sets of four for £35 (including mix and match).  The Wild Swimming Walks book is available at the reduced price of £10, instead of the retail price of £14.99.  We still have a limited number of silicon hats for £5.

This will be the last stall of 2022, so please do come along if you still have some last minute presents to buy.

NEW YEAR’S DAY

Unfortunately it has not been possible to co-ordinate an organised event for New Year’s Day this year.  We are now unable to operate, as in pre-pandemic years, from the rear window of the lifeguards’ office, which causes difficulties with keeping an urn boiling and topped up in a safe location.  There are not enough committee members available on the day to operate safely from the more recently used location near to the stewards’ hut.

We hope to be able to organise an alternative event early in 2023. In the meantime if you do swim on New Year’s Day, we hope you have a very enjoyable visit to the pond and urge all members to share good wishes with the lifeguards for 2023.

The KLPA would like to wish all members a peaceful end to 2022 and a Happy New Year for 2023.

We are writing to let you know about the swimming arrangements at the Ladies’ Pond and Men’s Pond on Christmas Day.  Both ponds will close earlier than normal, as is the usual practice, in order to allow lifeguards to get away home on Christmas Day:

Ladies’ Pond

• Open at 7.30 am
• Last entry into water 11.15 am
• Vacate Water 11.30 am
• Ladies’ Pond closed for day from midday

Men’s Pond

• Open 7.30 am
• Last entry into water 10.15 am
• Vacate water 10.30 am
• Includes mixed dip for men and women 8.30 am to 10.30 am
• Pond will then close to the public so that the Lifebuoys race can take place at 11 am.
• No other races will take place at the Men’s Pond this year.

We are currently discussing with the City of London options for an event on New Year’s Day at the Ladies’ Pond, and will update members accordingly.

Please join us in thanking the lifeguards for their hard work throughout 2022, and assist them in being able to close on time on Christmas Day. 

ENJOY YOUR SWIM BUT DON’T OVERDO IT!

Recent press coverage of hypothermia incidents at Parliament Hill Lido; swimmers advised to shorten their time in the water as temperatures drop:

BBC London
Camden New Journal
Ham and High

Please enjoy your swim, heed the lifeguards’ advice and look out for your fellow swimmers.