Highgate Men's Pond Association

Our first meeting for the Highgate Men's Pond Association was a roaring success the other night, we had twenty or so turn up, and thanks to Jean's heroic recruiting we now have a list of seventy two potential members, and that's without taking advantage of crowds on a sunny day. 

Thanks to Gavin we have photographic evidence of our first meeting, so in one hundred years time when our names our legendary in pond history, swimmers of the future will know our faces as well!
If you're interested in joining us please email me at benmenashe*at*hotmail*dot*com

Pond meeting tonight

For any swimmers who are interested, we are having a meeting tonight to set up a new association for the men's pond on Hampstead Heath. The meeting will be fairly short and sweet, we aim to discuss membership, a presence on the Heath's Swimming Facilities Forum, a chairman and any other titled positions that people feel are necessary.

We're meeting at The Woodman in Highgate at 8:15pm, and we'll be outside in the garden, hopefully it'll be fairly easy to spot us even if you don't know everyone's faces.

Apologies if this is the first you're hearing about it, there's been a lot of chat about it at the pond, and a few emails flying around, but it's generally been amongst the morning swimmers. We'll be updating anyone who's interested after the meeting, and continuing to collect members. Until we have something more permanent set up, you can email me at benmenashe "at" hotmail "dot" com

Just pics

I've been giving the photos a bit of break so that the post about the new Men's Pond group stayed at the top, but I think the word is getting around and when we've got sunny mornings then I feel I should make the most of them.

Men's pond swimming group

On Friday night some swimmers from the men's pond had a meeting with Jane Shallice and other members of the Kenwood Ladies Pond Association. Under discussion, amongst other things was the proposed work on the dams and potential compulsory charges being bought in when the work is done. One of the other points discussed was the formation of an official Men's Swimming Association, so that we are organised and can represent our members views clearly should the time come when we want to have our say on any of the major decisions at the pond.

As I understand it, in addition to the KLPA and the Mixed Pond Swimmers group, we also have the United Swimmers Association which is concerned with all three ponds and the lido, but we don't have a dedicated men's pond group. This is something I (and others at the meeting on Friday) would like to rectify. I think we would all welcome advice and help from the USA in doing this, but initially (over the next week or so if possible) I would like to collect the names and contact details of anyone interested in becoming a member of the new group. I have a list of some of the men who were at the meeting, who I feel sure share the views that the work on the dams is undesirable, and compulsory charging equally unwanted, but I'm very keen to add to the list. If you want to join the new group and would like to air your views about the pond (whatever they may be) please email me your name and phone number. Once we have a decent number of people interested we can arrange a meeting and discuss our first steps (chairmen, structure of the group, our aims etc).

The new dams would presumably result in the removal of some of the six trees at the far end of the pond and dramatically change the view below. If that's something you feel strongly about please get in touch.

Thanks,

Ben  

benmenashe*at*hotmail.com

The asterisks and missing @ sign are a (probably failed) attempt to avoid spam!