Pool party is a winner
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Updated: November 19, 2009 2:45 PM
The leisure is back at the former Panorama Leisure Centre.
The new Panorama Recreation Centre pool, offering fun and rehabilitation capabilities, was christened with a birthday party for 90-year-old Darrel Hughes. Hughes won the Ride the Slide contest to hold the first event at the pool before its grand re-opening after being closed for more than a year.
“I haven’t swam in 30 years,” Hughes admitted before heading for his adventure down the slide.
Though the much-anticipated slide may have provided a little more adrenaline than the nanogenerian had hoped for, he came away smiling and laughing; as did the other three generations of the four-generation party — who ranged in age from 10 months to 90 years.
“I was alright, I was just underwater and disoriented,” Hughes said of his finish on the slide. “I spit a bit of water out and then I was okay … My grandson was asking me a couple days ago if I would go again, I said I would.”
The rest of the pool provided entertainment and safety for someone who hadn’t swum in decades. The leisure tank offers warmer water and play features that entice swimmers young and old.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” Hughes said after inching his way through the pressurized water arch.
“I think the pool itself is wonderful, they did a bang up job there,” he added. “There’s lots of things there and the pool being four feet deep is great for older people.”
It likely won’t be another three decades before he hits the water again.
“I used to swim quite a bit, I never was any athlete at it but I forgot completely,” Hughes said. “I’m going to give it another try, I need the exercise for one thing.”
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com
