Harry Smith makes birthday splash as he reopens Castleton Leisure Centre Date published: 20 April 2021
Harry Smith, with facility manager Jo Potts
Castleton Leisure Centre has officially re-opened for use now further restrictions have ended – and who better to declare the pool open than its oldest swimmer, Harry Smith, on his 88th birthday?
Mr Smith, who turned 88 on Friday (16 April), cut a special banner declaring the pool re-open, before jumping into the water for a long-overdue swim.
The Castleton resident had been swimming up to 40 lengths before lockdown, and he is aiming to build up back to this.
“I’ve been swimming here for years,” Mr Smith, a former president of the Rochdale Cricket and Lacrosse Club, beamed. “As soon as I’m in the water, I don’t notice my arthritis, and I can move my arms.”