Grostenquin France

Extracts from 2 Wing Historical Reports Pertaining to the Swimming Pool

5 Nov 53

All structural steel erection has been completed on the Swimming Pool building. Excellent progress has been made, the erection having been done by an English firm.

20 Jul 54

Swimming pool is progressing slowly towards completion.

11 Apr 56

The Pool was the battleground for hostilities with Dinghy Races (two men to a One man dinghy) and small naval battles being staged complete with human submarines.

3 Aug 56

In conjunction with the Red Cross Water Safety course held at this unit, an examiner was brought in to give examinations in the Royal Life Saving Tests and a number of personnel were passed out with their Bronze Awards.

19 Aug 56

The Air Div Swimming Championships were held in the Station Pool with representative teams entered from 1, 2, 3 & 4 Wings. There were 12 events competed for and at the end of the evening 2 Wing had a total of 79 points followed by 3 Wing with 50, then 1 Wing and 4 Wing in that order. The team was coached by F/O Bill Wilson who also won the 1 Metre diving competition. LAW "Scotty" McGregor won the Women's High Aggregate trophy for scoring the most points (2 Wing) and LAC Neville (3 Wing) took the High Aggregate for the men.

30 Aug 56

The winding up of the children's summer program, under the guidance of Miss Charlotte Keens, took the form of a swimming meeting the afternoon, and wiener roast in the evening, with the various swimming awards for the Red Cross Water Safety Course, Royal Life Saving Course and the Swimming Meet being presented to the winners. There were over 400 kids in attendance plus about 75 of the parents, and so it wound up as a very successful summer for all concerned.

10 Sep 56

The second and last Red Cross Water Safety Instructors Course was started at this unit under the direction of Miss Charlotte Keens, with personnel participating from all the Wings (16 total in the class) and ran through to 14 Sep 56.

25 Dec 56

The Rec. Centre open on Christmas Day from 1330 to 1700 hours with all facilities available for use with exception of swimming pool, which has been closed since middle of November because of heating fuel shortage due to Suez situation.

2 Feb 57

The children's swimming classes started again after the pool was re-opened and the heating situation had eased up. Approximately 165 children are attending these classes which are run on the Red Cross system of teaching and testing.

5 May 57

The 2 Wing Sgts. Mess played host to the 3 Wing Sgts. Mess in a sports competition involving Ladies Bowling and Water Sports for the men. The feature events consisted of water polo, dinghy races and an over-the-pool tug of war. A dance was held in the home Mess that evening with suitable awards presented to the visiting 3 Wing Mess for their athletic prowess.

18 Jun 57

The Station Water Polo team held its first practice and meeting to prepare for the summer activities with other teams in the area.

2 Jul 57

Hundreds of eager children, under the supervision of Miss Sally Davis commenced the first phase of the summer "Sink or Swim" programme.

14 Aug 57

Air Div dependents swim meet at 2 Wing this evening. Of the inter-wing youth swim meet held at 2 Wing our teenagers swept the meet with 48 points. Following closely was 4 Wing 47, 1 Wing 44, 3 Wing 38½, Air Div 15½.

15 Aug 57

The inter-section swim meet held was won by W/HQ with a total of 37 points. 423 Squadron participants were runners up with 30 points and 430 Squadron held down third place scoring 15 points. The Diving competition was won by F/C Smith of W/HQ in competition with LAC Brau of 423, 165.3 to 164.7. Previous years' records were broken in several of the events.

4 Nov 57

A Red Cross swim course from 4 to 8 Nov inclusive commenced at 1 Wing to qualify prospective instructors.