CELEBRATIONS went with a splash at the 96th anniversary party at a town swimming pool on Friday evening (August 4).

There was plenty of cake and glow sticks as swimmers, lifeguards and supporters from across the community joined in the fun at Wivey Pool as the sun set and night fell.

Among the revellers in Wiveliscombe were Asta Myram and Susannah Rook, who are waiting for the weather to clear with their team mates who are swimming the English Channel, raising money for the pool to help secure its future for another century of swimming.

On August 4, 1927, Wivey Pool opened its gates for the first time and is one of the oldest pools in Somerset.

Around 200 people assembled on the opening day and enjoyed the pool’s refreshing water.

In those days swimming wasn’t allowed on a Sunday morning or when an evening church service was in progress.

The cold-water pool pulled water from the reservoirs at Withycombe and Coate, meaning it often became green and murky.

More high tech now, the pool is heated by solar energy with a brand new air source heat pump and its waters partly kept clean by UV filters which lessen the need for chlorine.