Fund Raising Begins First Stage Fund raising has begun in earnest. The goal is £5000 for our first stage. The Organisation has Charitable Aims. A marathon from then on is before us.
The Public Views the Baths for the First Time in 35 Years
The Public were allowed a peep of the Baths during the Reading Cider and Beer Festival - 29th April - 2nd May '10
"Wow!" "how wonderful" "It's beautiful" "it's so pretty" "What a wonderful site" "it's GOT to restored" "It's fantastic" "I just didn''t know this was here" I thought it was a cricket pavilion" "I thought it was an old hall" ""I thought it was covered over" "I didn't know it was an open air pool - it's fabulous"....just some of the words that flowed from the flood of people who had the privilege of a peep of the Edwardian Baths for the first time. Silence, facial expressions mixed with emotion said all there was to say.One person came and said "I've just come to see what all the fuss is all about in the papers" Her jaw dropped, there was silence as she looked around. An amazed look coupled with silent wonderment followed, then... a very expressive slow, "I now know what all the fuss has been about - it's glorious and has GOT to be restored. We can't lose this." These were the Baths in the flesh - pictures cannot exude the ambience. This 108 year old building including 35 years of abandonment still stands solidly, and proud, and with the help of the people of Reading we'll do all we can to maintain and restore its majesty.
Bob O'Neill ((L) Lead Campaigner) presents Steve Ward (Head of Parks and Leisure)with his "T" Shirt!(at the Scrutiny Meeting 24th March 2010) Steve is leaving us for the more relaxing pursuit of clubbing..................(Golf)
Last night's meeting at Rivermead with Reading Borough Council signalled a good sign in respect to the King's Meadow Baths and an acceptance of KMC's hard work in preparing its project. Progress and planning for fundraising was briefly mentioned and Councillors raised no objections to the project being undertaken in more bite sized stages such as a Phase 1 and Phase 2. Councillors are being realistic and recognise funds being short across all fields of preservation in Reading.
We ended our reporting with the presentation of the first of our King's Meadow t shirts to the outgoing Head of Sports and Leisure, Steve Ward.
We now continue confident on fundraising through spring to summer. We are growing our list of partners and investigating all methods for lining up voluntary help. Where it is feasible, we want you to help- hands-on. One of our aims is to widen the social benefits of the project into helping those that are N ot in E mployment E ducation or T raining to find a métier. English Heritage is very encouraging in this respect and Reading Council have tough targets to meet against which we offer potential to meet these targets.
We have the fundamental framework prepared to support a sizeable NEETs project. Support is available from both the national and local level through the Government Future Jobs Fund. Ideally, secondees and retired craftsmen contribute to the pool of experienced hands-on help -essentially to guide the young and inexperienced.
Materials are almost as important as money. Has anyone suggestions for aiding our materials needs- are you, or do you know, a builders' merchant who might help.....???
Bob O'Neill Chairman, King's Meadow Baths
Press Articles
30/03/10 -"Pool campaigners in at the deep end" Reading Midweek Chronicle
31/03/10 "Kings Meadow baths Revamp Not Forgotten" getreading
02/04/10 "Win a meal for Two" (Star Letter) getreading
10/05/10 " How to Rescue a Ruin" Readers Digest Article
Recap of Situation During the 1990s, the Reading Dive Club took a lease on the premises and have established a non-swimming meeting place. The outside of the building has been graffitied, vandalised and has fallen into disrepair. Building History. Reading Borough Council invited proposals for the future of the site and, in April 2009, developers Askett Hawk were given permission to build a hotel at the site.
In September 2009, the council rejected the proposal to grant a 250-year lease to Askett Hawk and decided to give a local campaign group the opportunity to develop a scheme to restore the pool for public use.
