Saturday 13 April 6pm main poolside with cabinet member for the environment, Clive Roberts,

and swimmers from the opening of the Aquarena in 1968  - all getting ready to pull the plug!

Come along and have your last swim at the dear old Aquarena on Saturday 13 April before the plug is pulled out (literally) at the end of the last day of swimming.

Yes the time has come for the entrance doors on the 1960’s Aquarena to finally close ready for the opening of the fabulous new £19.7m Splashpoint Leisure Centre next door.

The reinforced concrete framed Aquarena structure was opened on 27 January 1968 by the then Mayor of Worthing councillor J.P. Ross. The building, which boasted at the time, a 33.1/3 metre x 49ft wide main pool (the second only in the country) with a learner pool, spring and diving boards, a café and a 462 spectator gallery all for a contract price of £376,531!

Swimmers paid at that time was 2/6 for adults and juniors under 16 1/3.

A fantastic range of activities is planned for the Aquarena’s final day:

In the main pool there will be…

• Normal programme up until 11am (WSC followed by Aquaschool)
• 11- 3 Public session inc. mats & inflatables
• 3 - 4.30 It’s a Knockout competition for 8-11’s & 12 – 15’s
• 4.30 - 5.45 Adult It’s a Knockout competition
• 5.45 - Final of the It’s a Knockout competition
• 6 -  Swimmers from 1968 Aquarena open day to swim lengths
• 6.15pm– Staff Harlem Shake! (Note times may vary)

And in the teaching pool there will be…

• Aquaschool until 12 midday
• 12- 3 Public session inc. mats & inflatables
• 3 - 4.30 Fun sessions for under 8’s

The Gym is open as usual with gym challenges for those wanting a final test of endurance. The studio will again operate as normal until 11.30 and then until 4 there will be lots of activities such as skittle alley, face painting, photography workshop and lots more!

Worthing cabinet member for environment, Clive Roberts, said: “It is a day of very mixed feelings for me, sadness at closing the Aquarena which has been a major part of my life, and has served Worthing well over the last 45 years; and extreme excitement about moving into Splashpoint with its fantastic modern facilities.”

All details available on www.worthingleisure.co.uk/worthingleisure.

Once the Aquarena has closed on the 13^th there will be a gap until the Splashpoint Leisure Centre on Wednesday 1 May.  During the this time staff will be transferring some equipment into the new facility, carrying out staff training, testing systems to make sure everything is ready for the public.