While keeping cosy and safe indoors this very cold February, the FoBSP team are already making plans for the summer season.

An advert for Summer Pool Staff went out in the Post in early February to employ an additional five part-time pool staff, starting in time for the Easter holidays. We are looking forward to meeting the candidates, selecting the 2021 team and getting plans underway for the coming warmer months.

Thank you to those Friends who joined our first virtual Annual General Meeting. Hosted by our treasurer, Sarah Moore, this webinar included trustees’ reports and Friends voting on resolutions and went as smoothly as we could have hoped. The AGM kept to the impressive goal of 45 minutes, making it short and sweet, as well as informative. The recording is live on our website for active members. Please email [email protected] with your member details to access the passcode. The recording will be available online until March 6.

Since the AGM, Frances Faulkner, longstanding trustee and committee member, has resigned. Frances has undertaken many roles and given many hours to FoBSP during this time, including being FoBSP Volunteer Manager. Paul Tilzey, FoBSP chair, offers his thanks on behalf of FoBSP for her service, saying: “…we are delighted that Frances still intends to be an active volunteer at the pool and appreciate all her efforts over the years.”

FoBSP are delighted to announce Julie Barlow has stepped in already as the new Volunteer Manager. She will be liaising with volunteers to set rotas, keeping in touch with the FoBSP team and organising monthly coffee mornings and social events when we’re all allowed to once more. As well as having worked with charities and volunteers in a professional capacity, Julie is a regular all year-round swimmer, a member of BOWS, and a regular member of the FoBSP Winter Maintenance crew. FoBSP is very lucky to have Julie join the team, as without volunteers the pool simply couldn’t exist in its current capacity. For any questions about how to get involved, please contact Julie at [email protected].

FoBSP is currently seeking help from members of the local community who would be willing to hand-deliver this year’s Annual Handbook in late March/early April. Hand deliveries make a huge cost-saving to FoBSP, as we distribute approximately 1,000 handbooks locally that would otherwise need to be sent via the Royal Mail. We are particularly interested in expanding our volunteer deliveries to the following three areas:

- Bideford, Welcome and Hartland;

- Woolsery, Bradworthy and surrounding areas;

- Marhamchurch, Widemouth, Poundstock and Jacobstow.

If you can help, please contact Fay at admin@budesea

pool.org

And a final call-out… do you have the skills and experience to coach the Bude Sea Pool Water Polo Club? Five years ago, FoBSP was successful in receiving a grant from Sport England to start a Water Polo Club at Bude Sea Pool. FoBSP had to jump through many hoops (and goals) to get this grant. While last year the club could not play at all due to COVID restrictions and the lack of a coach, the BSP Water Polo Club are hopeful for 2021. If you’re interested in this paid role, please get in touch with Fay in the first instance at