Staff and pool users, past and present, gathered at Ross Swimming Pool last week to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the pool's opening.

Richard Preece, the current General Manager at the pool, said: "Since Ross Swimming Pool officially opened its doors to the public 40 years ago this month, it has really made a difference when it comes to helping local people get fit and active.

"The pool has registered an estimated 2.8 million attendances and we estimate that the combined distance swum during this time will be in the excess of 1.8 million kilometers which is the equivalent of swimming around the globe 46 times."

Many guests to the pool last Thursday, in between the tea and cakes, took the chance to reminisce about days gone by at the pool, and gathered for a picture to the mark the occasion. Gary Evans, who now lives in Gloucester but whose parents still live in Ross, became the first male pool attendant in Ross.

For the full story please see this week's Ross Gazette.