MP pledges portion of charity skydive funds to pool facility

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

STEPPING STONE: The £10,000 cheque from Axe Vale Festival is formally presented by MP Neil Parish. In the photo are (l-r) Jane Broom, Steve Buxton, Richard Peacock, Neil Parish, Claire Morgan, Liz Stonex, Diana Church and Shirley Parris

AN MP has pledged a third of the money from a charity skydive to the Flamingo Pool’s Liner Appeal in Axminster.
Tiverton and Honiton MP Neil Parish officially launched the appeal when he visited Axminster on Friday, June 22nd.
His visit came only a day after the announcement that Axe Vale Festival, which has pumped in more than £185,000 to Flamingo Pool over the years, had been cancelled because of the wet weather.
The appeal needs to raise approximately £55,000.
When opened in 1998 after a huge community effort and Sport England grant, the pool was one of only a few stainless steel pools in the country.
The pool is lined and not tiled, but the liner needs replacing.
Flamingo manager Steve Buxton said the plan is to shut for about two weeks around Christmas and do the replacing then.
The appeal had a great start when Axe Vale Festival announced only a few weeks ago that it would make a £10,000 donation to the appeal.
The cheque was presented during Friday’s launch and, all in all, the appeal stood at about £10,570.
MP Parish said he is about to make a skydive in aid of two other worthy causes in the constituency, and decided to include the Flamingo Pool’s appeal for a slice of the takings.
He uses the pool from time to time, and said: “I come in sometimes incognito and swim in the pool.”
About the festival cancellation, he said: “It must be a great shame for you all. “Hopefully you can make up for it next year.”
Axminster mayor Andrew Moulding attended the launch in a non-official capacity.
Having recently had knee surgery, he has used the hydrotherapy pool as part of his rehab.
He asked people to support the appeal and said: “I feel the town should get right behind the appeal, just like it did when the pool was created.”
Members of the public can support the appeal in a number of ways.
More information is available from the pool reception.

Email: pulmans@tindlenews.co.uk

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