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The author / publisher exercises his right to adapt this text at any time for electronic or paper publishing.
This text is an extract and extracts from a psychology book being written Titled (C) The Cesspool And The Secret Armies, that highlights the phenomenal mental destruction imposed upon the author by the court proceedings and the political psychological battle against the author thereafter.
This book as published on this site is now a stand alone book titled (C) The Fiddle. This text is heavily edited from the main body of text. This internet published book is freeware, please copy and distribute the electronic version freely. Copy right exists, do not sell or modify or print in paper the copy. Please down load this site to read at your leisure.
This publication is for the authors dealings with Ipswich Borough Council regards their harassment of him and others, and for Ipswich Borough Councils lack of public safety control measures principally at the Broom Hill Swimming pool in Sherrington Road Ipswich.
This text is in it's raw state prior to final adaptation for a proof reader to adapt prior to paper or full electronic publication, if the work takes this course.
This is a true account, everybody lies, this practise is epidemic in this society. The author very rarely lies, but was forced in to lying on two occasions through poor mental state, these two events are published in this book. This poor mental state was generated by Ipswich Borough council officers that in the first instance where running a public sports facility in a very dangerous manner. This event mentally disturbed the author who is caring for the welfare of people, particularly children that where endangered. In the second instance a disclosure by the then leader of Ipswich Borough Council in 1996, a Mr. David Ball, that seriously endangered life and caused the author to hit David Ball, and threaten to harm him if he could not stop his councils officers endangering life.
This action resulted in a police prosecution that seriously negated the authors mental state. Ipswich Borough Councils legal department have recently threatened to sue the author and make him bankrupt if he publishes this site. I.B.C.'s legal department state that as the author has lied to the police " this seriously weakens the authors position in a libel case."
In 1993 an I.B.C. officer lied to the author, this lie is recorded in tape recorded conversation. Another I.B.C. officer lied in his police statement in 1993. David Ball lied in his police statement in 1996, Two other I.B.C. officers lied in their police statements in 1996. This practise seems vogue at this point in our evolution. All the lies are recorded in this book.
If the author is prosecuted for libel, the way he sees it is that you do not lie in court, this may be considered contemptuous and perjury. The outcome of this sort of action is always a custodial sentence, you will see in this book that the author does not gamble the possibility of going to prison.
In May 1996 the author went to see the leader of the council a
Mr. David Ball at his home about swimming pool safety matters.
David Ball admitted that he knew safety standards were being
relaxed to kill an unwary member of the Broom Hill pool to close
the pool. The author can be psychopathic: this statement caused
an instant psychopathic rage for the author, there was a heated
exchange, and the author hit and threatened
to petrol bomb the council leaders home if
somebody died in the pool. Note. The author would not petrol bomb
a house, this may hurt innocents.
David Ball filed a complaint with the police, the author was prosecuted by the police and taken to court, there was national interest in this court case, a national government election was to take place just after the court case. ( May 1997 ). This court case could swing the general election. There was extreme mental interest by many agencies, parties. A full court case never materialised, The police and the Crown Prosecution Service did not pursue the prosecution, the court case was considered not to be in the public interest.
The author was so mentally negated by David Balls disclosure to him, and by court hearings and local agency harassment, he was made very suicidal, he did not have the will power to kill himself, it takes a lot of will power to commit suicide. He finally took refuge in a local mental hospital to stop the local harassment that he was getting, the mental hospital did not want to believe his story, their professional assessment was delusion, paranoid schizophrenia, This assessment the author feels was also political collusion. It is up to you the reader to offer your assessment of this whole unbelievable saga. This is a true story, the truth always comes out, it just takes a bit of time !!!
He sees this aspect of " The Fiddle " as a disturbing annus horribilis, the author has suffered from this disturbing anus horribilis for ten years because of local government safety neglect. This is significant, annus horribilis first gained popularity in 1992. Hopefully, this state of mind for the author, also known in England as a, " flat spin, " hopefully, this ten year negative event is now coming to an end.
When the author finds a fiddle that endangers life, he writes
letters to the perpetrator with a reference mark of fiddle. I.E.
The first letter that I ever wrote for safety of swimming pool
concern to Ipswich Borough Council, my reference on the letter
was C:\fiddle\fid9201.txt. As can be seen the middle fiddle
section is the directory / folder, where all of the my
assessment of danger to the public fiddle letters are kept.
92 is the year, 01 is the first letter of correspondence.
There have been about sixty of these letters over ten years to many officers at Ipswich Borough Council, virtually every year since 1992, about swimming pool safety at the Broom Hill outdoor Swimming pool in Sherrington Road Ipswich. There has been another one hundred and forty letters to ten other mostly government department organisations in the same vein. Highlights, relevant points, from these letters and observations, ( assessments ), form a major part of this book. My qualifications for my observations are that, I am an Amateur Swimming Association, registered diving instructor registered 1407. I had used swimming pools in East Anglia almost daily for thirty three years prior to 1992, I only ever saw one dangerous problem, at a pool outside Ipswich, this was rectified within a few minutes by the Colchester lifeguard at my request, " thank you darling, love you lots ". I always thank and address revered by me people of any gender in such a manner. I have never seen a swimming pool that is run so continuously dangerous as the Broom Hill Swimming pool in Ipswich Suffolk that has been run in a dangerous manner since 1992 by the Ipswich Borough Council, under the control of the Chief Executive, James Hehir.
I have lived in Ipswich Suffolk England since 1974. Really good relationships with locals never flourished, I ran businesses, there is the problem of jealousy, plus I moved from Norwich, there is always competition between Norwich and Ipswich. Norwich people are generally not liked as much as others that move in to Ipswich from other areas.
However, the sports facilities where reasonable, I liked to use
the Broom Hill open air swimming pool in Ipswich, I also roller
skated at the council ran sport centres and at private roller
skating rinks in Ipswich Colchester and Bury St. Edmunds. I also
used
other swimming pools in East Anglia that had high board and spring
board diving facilities. I also travelled with friends to Roller
Skating Rinks further afield. I enjoy Trampolining, and I used the
Ipswich Borough Council ran sports halls for this purpose.
1974 to 1991. This period passed without incident, there where no confrontations with people other than people that proved to me to be dishonest that I came across as I ran my business. I soon stopped dealing with these people, however, I often spoke to them if I passed them in the streets.
02 07 92. I was concerned at the dangers at the Broom Hill Swimming Pool, so I wrote to the overall swimming pools manager, a MR. John Ward at the Crown Pools swimming pools complex, ref, 9202.TXT The points of interest that I raised in the letter are as follows.
1. I complained that the top wooden diving board was rotten, a diver had stood at the edge of the board, the rotten wood had given way, and the diver had fell in to the water, the diver was not injured. The top diving board was roped off, removed from public use.
2. I complained about the cafeteria, the food was poor for the amount charged. You could not often get hot drinks. Cold drinks where expensive, and more profitable.
I never received a reply from John Ward.
The cafeteria remained very poor, poor food and expensive, the pools staff, management and attendants would not use the cafeteria because it was so poorly run. The diving board was scaffolded and repairs started. The diving pit and a part of the main swimming pool, the bottom was discolouring, the blue bottom was changing colour to black, I was very alarmed at this. I spoke to the pool attendants and to Andy the supervisor about this new very serious danger.
04 08 92. I telephoned a MR. David Trevellion, at Ipswich Borough Councils leisure services dep't at 3:30 PM. Explaining my concern at the pool over the possible loss of life, and his responsibility for this. I also pointed out that the diving boards had been opened for public use this year, and where rotten and dangerous. Nothing was done to improve the dangerous situation over the next few days, in fact the pool had become darker, a greater public danger, so I began to think, should I try to get a police safety officer to view the pool, or should I bring in the local newspaper to view the situation. I decided to call in the local newspaper.
07 08 92. Mike Sewell, a reporter from the Evening Star newspaper attended the Broom Hill swimming pool, Mike Sewell saw the danger of all the bottom of the diving pit being black, and a large black area in the middle of the swimming section. The reporter also saw the dangerous diving boards being repaired, these diving boards were roped off from use with scaffolding erected. The reporter questioned some patrons regards the safety aspect. The following news report was published in the Evening Star Newspaper.
08 08 92.
As the reporter walked through the swimming area he remarked,
nice atmosphere here, I like it, I replied, you want to see it in
full swing, it is great. The numbers at the pool were less
than normal, the diving boards were out of use, and the black
pool bottom had deterred a lot of bathers. John Ward had lied
in his statement in the paper, stating the problem at the pool
was debris, and sunken rubbish. The problem was algae, this was
chemically treated and disappeared within forty eight hours of
the newspaper article. The pool thereafter was in pristine
condition, the best that I had ever seen it.
A full account of this incident is in the book Surrogate Daughter, however, the day after the Evening Star news article, all the divers at the pool where stopped from doing their diving. Freestyle diving had always been allowed at the pool, all diving was stopped and jumping off the boards was only allowed. The new manager, a Mr. Michael Walker, and the pool attendants harassed all of the divers at this public owned swimming pool by not letting them dive, prior: they had always dived and enjoyed their sport.
08 08 92. Went to the pool. The pool looked superb, in pristine condition, the best that I had ever seen it towards the end of the season. There where hardly any people at the pool, there where none of the regular divers there. I noticed the cafe proprietor was talking to a fat man that I did not know, they where casually talking, leaning against the perimeter fence, they kept looking at me, after about twenty minutes, I asked one of the attendants, who is that man over there, talking to the cafe owner ? He replied, that's John Ward Ipswich Borough Councils overall manager of the Ipswich pools, I said, I will go and see him.
I spoke to John Ward and complained about the diving boards, he
replied, " well we got them fixed for you," I thought, you
condescending bastard, I complained about the cafeteria, and the
pool algae. I finished the conversation mentioning the gate cash
control was not professional enough, there could be a fiddle, John
Ward was very displeased at me stating the fiddle. John Ward
quickly added, that many of the patrons jump over the perimeter
fence, and this caused the takings to be less than they should be.
I could not see the relevance of this statement, this is covered
in correspondence, I only swore once as we talked. John had his
little child with him, out of hearing range, the child went in
to the water. About this time one of the attendants told me that
all of the water chemical levels had been increased. Previously
the chemical levels were not correct.
09 08 92. Went to the pool, there was hardly any one there, none of the regular divers where at the pool. There was an attendant that I had not seen before, very aggressive looking. I went up to the top board and set up a dive that is considered dangerous in a crowded pool, a simple seat piked dive. You cannot see below you as you sit on the edge of the board with your piked legs in front of you obstructing the view below. I looked at the attendant, he did not indicate any concern. Just before I entered the water I heard a whistle blow. When I surfaced the attendant gestured for me to go and see him. Forward dives only he said, or else you can leave.
This statement increased my anger, I then shouted to him " you're a fucking stupid cunt, you should be kissing my fucking arse, you lot are very lucky that you are not all in court on fucking manslaughter charges." He remained expressionless, I left the pool.
10 08 92. I went to the Broom Hill pool, forward dives only were allowed, or only jumping off the boards. I Went to see the manager, there was a new manager, he said that his name was Michael Walker, he said, forward dives, or jumps only, no somersault dives, nothing would be changed. I argued that the artistic diving stopped the day after the press article. Walker explained, said that he was a diving instructor at Crystal Palace London level and an Amateur Swimming Association registered safety officer. There was to be no more artistic style diving up to the date the pool closed for the summer season.
I discussed this matter with the remainder of the divers at the pool, I stated that we should contact the press about this new event. My friends stated this will blow over next year, don't approach the press. I argued with Michael walker that there were no restrictive notices on the boards or around the pool stating that artistic diving was banned. Walker was adamant, there would now be no artistic diving, this was now a safety issue. As a safety officer, I thought this man is a purveyor of humour, I thought the safety aspect of the Ipswich Borough Council management this year was a sick joke.
10 08 92. I wrote to Mike Sewell the newspaper reporter, ref,
9202.TXT. To thank him for returning the Broom Hill Swimming Pool
to a pristine condition. I would think this was the best the pool
had looked since it's inaugural opening ceremony.
10 08 92. I wrote to Jamie Cann, My local M.P. ref, FIDDLE.01.TXT. Jamie Cann is X Ipswich Borough Council Labour Party Leader. He was appointed as an M.P. in the spring of 1992. I now realised that I.B.C. where crooked, so I used the title fiddle as reference on all of my letters, I opened a folder titled fiddle. The points of interest and concern that I raised in the letter to Jamie Cann are as follows.
1. Black silted up pool, very dangerous, more so in an outdoor pool where the surface is obscured by wind agitation.
2. The conversation with David Trevellion.
3. The unbelievable lack of concern for patrons at the pool by the management.
4. I had been assured by I.B.C. staff that the boards had received a proper structural survey.
5. That I had spoken to John Ward the Ipswich Borough Councils overall swimming pools manager on the pool side 08 08 92, and discussed the safety matters and my concern for the lack of professionalism of the gate cash control.
6. That I had spoken to Andy, the swimming pools supervisor about my safety concerns.
7. Poor expensive food for youngsters endangers them in cold water. Many youngsters cannot afford the food, and they swim without food, hungry, this is dangerous.
8. The harassment of most of the patrons by management.
9. A list of safety recommendations was made.
27 08 92. I wrote to the Sports Council, ref, 9203.TXT. Appraising the Sports Council of the diving facilities at the Broom Hill Pool, and my interest in seeing the continuance of such use at the pool. I also chronicled most of the listed points of concern.
27 08 92. FIDDLE 4.TXT I wrote to James Hehir, the chief executive
of Ipswich Borough Council. I outlined the usefulness of the pool
in keeping down street crime and keeping youngsters occupied at
the pool, I outlined the poor management, I outlined the
intimidation at the pool, this causing a dramatic drop in
patronage. There was no reply letter.
About this time I had a discussion with David Read, the pools manager that had such an exemplary record of safety until Crown pools management, John Wards lot took over. We discussed the whole situation, we agreed that the overall condition of the diving boards where very poor, The none slip material that covered the stair treads was poor or missing. There was not enough none slip material on the diving boards platforms. There was inadequate safety barriers to stop people falling on to the concrete pool side.
David stated that a child had been severely injured, she had fallen twelve feet to the concrete pool side below in 1990, the child's injuries had included a fractured skull. David said that he was very concerned about this matter, Crown Pools had been advised, but the fault had not been remedied. David said that the report was in the accident book. I then told David that I had telephoned a Mr. James Hunwicks, a local conservative councillor, James was concerned about the safety matters, and was arranging a meeting at executive level at the Ipswich Borough Councils offices for me to attend to get the safety issues addressed.
23 09 92. I had a meeting with Joe Orr, Corporate director for leisure and John Ward Swimming pools manager at the Civic Drive I.B.C. offices. The first thing on the agenda was the way the cafeteria was poorly run. Joe Orr said the caterers normally handled their business in the parks and other leisure facilities. The proprietor for the caterers was coming to his office that afternoon. I pointed out the danger of the possibility of people drifting into unconsciousness with poor food or no food in cold water, and slipping beneath the water surface and drowning. I asked why the service was so poor and why the goods were so overpriced from the cafeteria, Joe Orr replied to the overpricing, that the council due to governmental legislation had to accept the highest bid, both men agreed to this. Joe then said the caterers could not get on with the people at the pool (patrons). and would not be returning.
I then asked Joe Orr how the diving boards could have been opened to the public in such a poor condition, he replied that it was an oversight, and would not happen again. Their maintenance man had been over the boards and had made modifications, Joe Orr then added you have not met our maintenance man, you ought to meet him. I thought I do not wish to meet a maintenance man who allowed the public to be in such danger. John Ward then added, there was additional protection down the sides of the boards, I agreed that this was a minor improvement, but what about the unprotected area at the west facing end of all the diving boards ? there where no side protection rails. I then added that two years previously, a child had fallen off the side of the unprotected area and had collected a fractured skull as a result of this fall.
The child had hit the concrete pool side, there was no protection
against this happening and the child was very lucky not to have
been killed. I then stated that the accident was in the accident
book at the Broom Hill pool. Both officials appeared alarmed at
this. I then added, could something be done to stop the
possibility of a person falling down the almost vertical
stairways, and possibly killing him / herself in the process.
I then added, something could be done in the way of a thin gym
mats to absorb the impact.
Both men spoke on the subject and decided that there was nothing in the safety brief, and it was normal for diving boards to have no protection nationally in these areas. I concluded that nothing would be done. I thought one of these men could have featured in a safety magazine showing the initiative to a safety feature, the lead taken by Ipswich Borough Council, to provide the requisite safety cover for such incidence. We then discussed the poor overall condition of the diving boards, and that I thought all of the wood needed replacing. The reply from Joe Orr was that the wood needs replacing every six years, and at the moment it was not ready to be wholly replaced. I thought, I have used the pool for over ten years and the wood has not been replaced.
The silting up of the pool was discussed, this had caused a large black area to be seen in the middle of the swimming pool section, and most of the diving pit was black and obscured. John Ward said the problem was algae, and was a problem with outside swimming pools because of the sunlight, there was no chemicals at the time to treat it, and they could not get a delivery. It was a problem that in the future would be addressed.
As the meeting was concluded Joe Orr exclaimed, if you have any more problems with the swimming pool, do not send any more letters to members of parliament or any other parties, " look at this pile of paper work ". He pointed to the pile of letters on his desk and exclaimed " why are these letters all titled Fiddle for a reference ? " I then stated that the first letter was in annoyance with the possible perceived fiddle at the Broom Hill pool, due to the lack of professionalism of the cash recording apparatus and the annoyance of the difficulties with all the other problems there. The subsequent letters where held in the same file and were titled as such. Joe Orr then banged his fist down on the desk and said " don,t send out any more letters with fiddle on them to anybody, come to me with a problem ". I did not say anything to this. I shook both men's hands and left.
I did not believe Joe Orrs statement, regards the reason for the
high charges by the caterers. I had written to M.P. Jamie Cann
earlier, and he had stated if I had any further problems to
contact his office. I contacted this office within the Civic Drive
building and after outlining the details, I was told they could
not help. Within a few days I wrote to John Majors P.M.
Department at ten Downing Street to enquire as to whether the
Ipswich Borough Councils officer had in fact told me the truth.
Note. It was useful at the time to write to the P.M. Any
department that is referred to by the P.M's department, quickly
responds.
30 09 92 Letter reference FIDDLE6.DOC. The return letter and a booklet from the department of the environment stated that Joe Orr was not telling the truth. The booklet doe/lg3 specifically states that the Council can accept any level tender as long as there is satisfaction pertinent to service. The accompanying letter stated that the local authority needed to specify and supervise the standard of work being carried out.
DATED 26 09 92 REF FIDDLE06.TXT JOHN MAJOR P.M. THE HOUSES OF
PARLIAMENT LONDON.
Dear John, following a meeting with an Ipswich Council corporate director Joe Orr, he informed me that there was restrictive government legislation regards a council contract tender franchise pertinent to the letting of a cafeteria at a local outdoor swimming pool. The legislation, Joe Orr informs me, allows him to only accept and implement the highest bid. Is there any mechanism of variation of the alleged legislation if it is proved this system is a danger to life ? High retail prices often inhibit the youngsters purchasing food, with no diet these youngsters can become weak in cold water, some of the youngsters are going through puberty and are weak anyway. Fainting in the water if they are unlucky not to be seen, could cause death.
There are tenderers that can offer an excellent service that under this system cannot be used. If the foregoing supposition is true ? If one can use any MP ? To try to change this legislation in such aforementioned instance, can you inform me of your choice. Otherwise, I would be pleased to use Mr. Lord my local member of parliament.
YOURS SINCERELY
TIM MARSH
I received a reply to the letter above from the Department of the Environment. The reply stated that the council should judge their decision as to the services that they provided on service as well as cost.
I spoke to my eldest Daughter about the alleged Fiddle, she used to work for the Council, she replied if there is a fiddle at the swimming pools, that will go right to the top dad. By the top I assumed that she meant executive level.
A female friend of mine used the Crown pools swimming pool with her little boy, the boy slipped over and hit his head. In his mothers estimation the boy needed medical treatment, there was none offered. At the Broom Hill pool all minor accidents where now being recorded. I knew every person at the council wanted the Broom Hill pool closed, more accidents recorded at Broom Hill would make the older pool appear more dangerous. A cash fiddle would make the pool appear less used. Poor recorded attendance figures at the older Broom Hill pool would ensure it's closure.
30 05 93. The Broom Hill pool opened. I went as usual to the Broom Hill Swimming pool, I spoke to some of the divers that were there, my concerns where the cash fiddle, the female cashier that had been at the pool for about ten years had left in the previous year, the manager now operated the till, no receipts were given to patrons. In all the other sports venues in East Anglia that I used there was always receipts issued to patrons. The fellow divers agreed that there could be a serious cash fiddle.
The five grouped diving boards were dangerous, the top diving board, a flat diving platform five metres high above the ground had been painted over with a slippery sealant. Children and divers were slipping over on this platform and near the stair ways. The minuscule fitting of none slip material on the diving boards was in a poor state of repair. The none slip pads that was on the stair treads were very poor, some of the pads were missing, also some of the wooden stair treads were worn, and were very thin. Children and divers where slipping on the stair ways, below them was a hard concrete base. These incidents where very dangerous. I brought this to the pool attendants attention.
All artistic diving was still banned at the Broom Hill pool,
I created an artistic dive from the top five metre diving board,
as I surfaced a pool attendant blew his whistle, I thought I
recognised the man as one of the pool attendants from the year
previous that had intimidated me and other patrons. I swore at him
and carried on diving. The new manager that I did not know came to
see me, he told me to stop artistic diving or he would have me
ejected, I carried on diving. The police arrived, we discussed
the situation, I told the police that the manager had refused to
give me his name, he was a public servant.
The police asked the manager to state his name. The manager stated that his name was Steven Huntley. I complained to the police officers about the stopping of the artistic diving, I explained that it was safe to artistic dive, there where not many people in the pool. I explained that I was harassed after the publication of a safety matter by me in the local newspapers the previous year. I complained about the dangerous diving boards. I was told the management wanted me to leave the pool, if I did not agree then I would be arrested, I was escorted off the premises by PC Lewis and PC Smith of the Suffolk Constabulary.
I returned the next day to use the pool I was informed that I was now banned from the premises, I was told not to return. 02 06 93. I wrote to the Chief Executive at Ipswich Borough Council a Mr. James Hehir reference Fiddle 12.txt asking for my use of the Broom Hill Swimming Pool to be reinstated, the following points where raised in the letter,
1. All of the event of 1992 as described in previous text.
2. The fact that the diving boards had been painted with a
slippery sealant, I had fell over and witnessed others doing
the same. The diving boards were dangerous.
3. That I suspected a gate cash fiddle.
4. That I suspected a gate cash fiddle at the main Crown Pools
swimming pool in Ipswich.
5. There was a reference to the meeting with Joe Orr and John Ward
at the councils offices the previous year, and that the pool
had now opened again in 1993 with the diving boards dangerous.
6. I enclosed the book Surrogate Daughter that outlined in detail
all of the previous years event, and stated that this book
would eventually be published.
7. I detailed the fact that the sun bathing terraces had not been
water pressure cleaned, dirt was being collected on skin and
clothes.
8. I enclosed details of the child's accident that resulted in a
fractured skull.
9. I enclosed the fact that the accident was recorded in the
accident book at the Broom Hill pool.
10. I enclosed a drawing showing the hand rail extensions that
where required to stop people falling off the sides of the
high diving boards to the concrete pool side below.
11. I complained that artistic diving was not allowed at Broom
Hill, but still allowed at all the other diving facilities in
East Anglia.
12. I suggested that Hehir used the commercial arm of M15 to
remove the corruption in his council.
I never did receive a reply to my letter or to the safety points
as listed above that where highlighted.
05 06 93 I wrote to John Ward overall swimming pools manager at
the Crown Pools Swimming pools complex in Ipswich. Reference
Fiddle14.txt. The letter illustrates my poor mental state brought
about by the whole saga. The letter is published below.
THE MANAGER CROWN POOLS
MR. JOHN WARD
CROWN POOLS
IPSWICH.
DATED 05 06 93
REF FIDDLE 14
Dear John, Just a reappraisal of the situation myself V yourself & Broom Hill swimming pool. Just a recap in case you have forgotten events last year, ( crass management ). The diving boards where made available for use to the public in a very dangerous condition.
A piece of rotten wood broke away from the west facing edge of the
five metre diving platform under the weight of the man attempting
a dive, fortunately the man was not injured or killed, I have his
mane and address as a witness, he is not very credible, the pool
keeps these people occupied.
The cafeteria was abysmal and unusable by patrons and staff, and presented danger to the youngsters who could not afford the food, all covered in previous correspondence. The chemical store under the complex was left unlocked, some of the patrons entered the area, fortunately they where not killed by misuse of the chemicals, the store should have been secure.
The receipt system for patrons cash and the recording thereof with the poor visibility of the cash visual indicator together with the omission of an audio tone for cash registration and no automatic receipt given was not professional enough for such a major venue.
All of the above I put up with as I like a quiet life, and generally do not make waves apart from diving and swimming. However, the last straw was that the pool was allowed to go black, an algae growth that is chemically controlled. The whole of the diving area was black as was about thirty percent of the swimming area ( large pool ).
This was so dangerous, and as no action was taken by your staff, I had no alternative than to call in the press, this happening as you are well aware was published in the local newspapers. Artistic diving has been allowed at the pool for the fifteen years that I have used it, somersault, back dives, etc. This artistic diving stopped within a day of the newspaper article as retribution, victimisation, and has not been reinstated this year, further victimisation.
I went against the wishes of your manger and staff and decided to do some artistic diving, as you are well aware the police where called and I was told to leave, this I perceived was to my advantage, PC Smith & PC Lewis attended and I agreeably left witnessed also by your supervisor Mr. Steve Huntley. There where less than one hundred patrons in the pool at the time, safe to dive.
The police officers where informed as to the fact as for my ejection, dually recorded by two very credible witnesses. Prior to the police arrival I was abusive to two of your pool attendants.
I cannot even consider calling these two people lifeguards, as
these two persons where at the pool last year, and as a
consequence I have no respect for their behaviour in allowing such
danger in 1992 to the general public.
As you are aware I cannot gain entry back into the pool at the moment until I receive a letter from yourself, I have not checked the legality of this, in that I have used the pool for fifteen years almost daily in the open season without an incident or complaint, or disagreement with staff or managers, until last year.
Steven Huntley will not let me in to the pool without your authority. My character, like yours was un-blemeshed until I fell in love with a young woman principally a surrogate daughter, the circumstances after the pool closed where quite unbelievable.
The happening is now the subject of a book, Surrogate Daughter, The prodigy, to the legacy. The prodigy and the legacy are of course a truth projection, all you can leave behind you is the truth. The book is a detailed account of the love quickly, mutually, generated between myself and the young woman.
The book centres around Broom Hill Swimming Pool, and finishes with a scientific analyses of the brain algorithms ( truth tables ) that brought us together. There is also a full definition of the behavioural patterns and thought calculation. Also graphs of all behavioural program, and estimated weighted percentages of the elements of the truth tables, much of this on my part was subconscious program, waiting to be activated.
There was a court case, no doubt you are aware, and the judge suggested that I stay away from swimming pools. Had the judge been fully appraised of the facts pertinent to the running of the swimming pool I use the most, Broom Hill, and the previous and current danger to the public, and my care and concern, He would have ordered me to use the pool, to constantly access and monitor the safety aspect and care from the management ( yourself ) to the public.
If you remember our meeting at Civic drive last year with yourself and Joe Orr present, the following was discussed, the danger of the diving boards hand rails, and the fact they only protect along eighty points of the board, together with the information that a child fell of the side of the four metre board, hit the two metre board and then hit the ground causing head injuries two years ago as recorded in the accident book at Broom Hill.
You both stated this dangerous situation would be addressed, this
has not happened, this is further criminal neglect in that the
diving boards have been opened to the public again and this week,
the public has been predominately children. Yourself and Jo Orr
are in this instance criminally negligent.
The woodwork around the East facing end of the three metre diving board was very rotten, and I suggested all the woodwork needs replacing, this has not happened, hopefully nobody falls through the woodwork, hopefully you have pressure readings and full certification for the whole structure carried out by someone qualified, with the art.
Please see attached drawing extracted from Surrogate Daughter, and is part of the extensive council file with recommendations. I am familiar with most diving venues in East Anglia. There are no diving restrictions and somersault diving is allowed at the following pools, I checked Thursday 03 06 93.
Norwich. St. Augustines, 0603 620164 5 metre restricted if the pool is very busy, integrated length lanes. Bedford. Robinson Centre. 0234 212479 5 metre All diving allowed head first entry. Chelmsford. Riverside. Boards out of action, being repaired. Whitham. Bramston. Legal depth problem. Suspended moving floor. Colchester. 1 metre legal requirement, problem, forward divers can hit a boom. Luton. 0582 20621 5 metre Wardown leisure centre, no restrictions. Southend, 0702 464445 5 metre no restrictions.
I have all the necessary witnesses to alleged intimidation, and victimisation and turn all the relevant documentation over to my solicitor for his perusal to pending prosecution against individuals, there will be no out of court settlements.
Diving at Broom Hill needs to be at own risk, many other sports venues do this, roller, skating particularly, parents must be present at young age ? whatever. It must be reasonable to do artistic diving any time the schools are in use, with the last hour of the day, any day allowed for the progression of the art.
The only other un-professionalism under your control is that the sunbathing terraces have not been pressure jetted and are very dirty, the dirt comes off on to clothing and skin. With the cheap cafeteria, you will be attracting classier older people before the school holidays, good revenue.
The top five metre board is very slippery and a child fell over near the stairway. Clean terraces will increase revenue, I would imagine your paranoid concern. Artistic diving also increases revenue with people participating as well as spectating.
I will hand all my paper work over to a solicitor for his perusal
to consider possible prosecution for vindictiveness,
victimisation, there may possibly be the mechanism for prosecution
for under utilisation of a major sports venue. All sports venues
like to increase their offer of sports.
( All the rail protection along the sides of the boards need extending westward by one metre to effect safety barrier.) This can be simply arranged with lightweight aluminium tubing affixed with lightweight clamps as shown in the attached drawing.
The problem of the side safety barriers on the diving boards as discussed with Joe Orr and John Ward at the meeting in September 1992 should have been addressed by the time the pool opens. A simple barrier as shown below can be fixed in place with extruded aluminium fifty millimetre tubing clamped as shown at positions A to D. A gradual bend through one hundred and eighty degrees forming a semi-circle, can be effected in the western direction.
Mr. Steve Huntley, broom hill, for his own protection,
supervisors are always the fall guys ? I saw the last one go
down.
Other perceived interested parties Mr. Kevin Williams head teacher
Westbourne high school. Danger ! Please circulate to other
schools.
My solicitor, Name withheld.
I am,
YOURS SINCERELY
TIM MARSH.
I received a reply from John Ward, I had also been in telephone conversation with him. Our letters crossed in the post, I received John Wards letter 06 06 93. John ward was adamant that the artistic diving would not be resumed, he told me that there had been changes in the safety brief by the Health and Safety Executive, the ruling safety body for England, this was now law that artistic diving was banned in swimming pools such as the type of the Broom Hill pool. I was instructed in that I could use the Broom Hill pool as long as I carried out the instructions of the lifeguards.
Note. The diving restrictions where not law, artistic diving restrictions where not recommended by H.S.E. / Sport England until 1999.
I telephoned Steven Huntley the manager of the Broom Hill pool, and I asked him if I could artistic dive at the Broom Hill pool, Huntley said that the children copied artistic diving, and this was dangerous. I pointed out to Huntley that the children where at school for the next six weeks during the day, I asked if I and the other divers could artistic dive when the children where not at the pool. Huntley's reply was no to this reasonable request.
I used the pool and continuously complained to Huntley about the dangerous state of the diving boards and the poor cash recording apparatus. One of the divers at the pool told me that the gate cash recording till was often switched off, The money was just thrown in the open till drawer. I questioned one of the lifeguards about this matter, he replied that the till interfered at times with their mobile phones, this is why it was sometimes switched off. I thought that this statement was dry humour and an insult to my intelligence.
In conversation with the life guards I found out that the head lifeguard was a man called Peter Smith, Peter agreed with me that the diving boards where dangerous and he was very concerned about this, Peter stated that his hands where tied, there was nothing he could do to improve the safety of the diving boards. This safety area was managements concern and was under the control of John Ward.
I had great respect for Peter Smith, there where six lifeguards
including himself. Four lifeguards where placed around the large
water tank, one lifeguard was placed around the small children's
tank. These lifeguards where rotated every fifteen minutes so
that they obtained a fifteen minute break every hour and fifteen
minutes. Peter had instructed the lifeguards not to talk to
patrons when they where working, their attention was to be
continuously on the pools. Peter was at the pool in 1993 and 1994,
this was the only time period that such professional care for the
general public was ever in place.
I wrote to five bodies in June 1993 about the poor state of the
safety of the diving boards and the overall public harassment.
1. Fiddle 16. To John Ward Swimming pools manager I.B.C.
2. Fiddle 17. To Joe Orr Corporate director I.B.C.
3. Fiddle 18. To Mr. Lord Conservative M.P. for Suffolk.
4. Fiddle 19. To Mr. Hamonton Bland Amateur Swimming Association
pool consultant.
5. Fiddle 20. To Mr. Hamonton Bland Amateur Swimming Association
pool consultant.
I did not receive replies from the two high ranking Ipswich Borough Council officers. Mr. Lord wrote and stated that as I lived in Ipswich I had to communicate with the Ipswich M.P. Mr. Jamie Cann, Mr. Lord had sent my letter to Jamie Cann. Mr. Hamonton Bland was not in a position to help either, his help had to be commissioned by I.B.C.
I continuously complained to Steven Huntley the manager of the Broom Hill pool about the poor deteriorating state of the grouped diving boards.
About this time Steven Huntley began to harass me, other divers where doing simple artistic dives. Steven Huntley stood on the pool side and watched every dive that I did. This was dangerous for me, you need absolute concentration when high board diving. I copied the simple artistic dive that I had seen others do, Steven Huntley blew his whistle and beckoned for me to go and see him, " straight dives only he said," I complained that others were doing such simple dives, Huntley said " we have different rules for you Tim, you follow our rules or you can leave the pool." I conformed to Huntley's wishes, he still watched every dive that I did.
11 07 93 Fiddle 23. I wrote to Steven Huntley at the Broom Hill
pool. I sent a copy to James He,hir the Chief Executive of I.B.C.,
I asked for a receipt. I raised the following points,
1. I complained about my harassment.
2. I complained about the tills being switched off some of the
time highlighting the humour of the radio transmitters
interfering with the tills.
3. I complained about the poor deteriorating state of the diving
boards, quoting that a few hundred pounds would fix them.
4. I asked for a letter explaining why freestyle diving could not be allowed in the last hour of the day when the pool was hardly used.
I never received a reply from Steven Huntley or James Hehir.
I telephoned John Ward the overall pools manager, amongst all of the complaints, I stated that I was very concerned at the diving boards that where deteriorating quickly. I asked John Ward if the Broom Hill pool was supervised by the relevant safety inspectorates ? Ward replied yes to this question.
14 07 93. Fiddle25.txt. I wrote to Catherine Lister a reporter with the News Of The World newspaper, we had conversed on the telephone, I had outlined the whole sorry saga to Catherine, I now waited for further instruction from the News Of The World.
End July 1993. By the end of July I was getting angered at my harassment by Steven Huntley, I did some artistic diving and I was banned from the Broom Hill pool, this was what Huntley, the management of I.B.C. to the chief executive wanted. I received a ban letter. I was not allowed in to the Broom Hill pool,
07 08 93 Saturday. Went to the Broom Hill swimming pool, to see if the dangerous state of the diving boards had been rectified and to do a protest dive against my ban for allegedly diving in a dangerous manner, and allegedly threatening to attack the management, presumably by telephone or mental telepathy. I also wanted to see if there had been any accidents of patrons through the poor state of the diving boards.
As I entered the arena, one of the pool attendants said that I was not allowed in, I had already paid, the attendant added you have had a letter, I replied I have not seen any letter. I laughed and then said, " I know you lot are on the fiddle, you know that I know this, this is the reason for keeping me out, as well as the fact the management run a dangerous swimming pool. I proceeded to dive off the diving boards, I was told that the police had been called and was also told this by one of the staff, I am friendly with most of the staff, one of the lifeguards said " we have been told to keep you out Tim, we don,t want to lose our jobs." The police arrived, I was asked to leave, my entrance fee was refunded by Steven Huntley the manager, I said if you are not charging me, I will see you tomorrow.
I explained some of the problems to the two police officers, they
said if I wanted to protest, to use my local M.P. Jamie Cann, I
explained that this course was futile, he was I.B.C. collusive, I
left the pool.
08 08 93 Sunday. I went to Ipswich police station to talk to an officer about the suspected cash fiddle at the pool, possibly pools, and other venues. I saw D.C. Amos, we talked about forty five minutes, he said there was little he could do without definite proof.
I left the police station and went to the pool. I sat outside for about thirty minutes to see if I could see any people that I knew, to see if there had been any recent accidents pertinent to the diving boards, Steven Huntley arrived, presumably one of the staff had telephoned him to say that I was outside the pool. I asked a few people that where leaving the pool as to how many numbers where in the pool the replies varied from fifty to a hundred people using the pool. Huntley remained in the pool entrance, I wanted to have a really good look at the diving boards, to see the current deteriorated state, I had not thoroughly looked the day before.
I climbed over the perimeter fence on the Southern side, as I jumped to the ground I saw Steven Huntley coming towards me. I said " Hello Steven " I have been coming here for twenty years and you crooked lot are not going to keep me out. Huntley did not ask for an entrance fee, I walked passed him, he said " you know what I am going to do," and walked off. I proceeded to walk to the pool side, and walked in an easterly direction along the pool side to the diving boards. I passed an attendant that I did not know, he said why do you keep coming here, I replied " the pool is dangerous and I know you lot are on the fiddle, I am not being dictated to by a lot of crooks. I have come here as always to practise my dives and I will do so.
I spoke to other lifeguards that I know, I apologised, and hoped my actions would not cause them trouble. I looked around the pool, there where about forty patrons in the area. I proceeded to walk up the steps of the boards, I did some of my dives and inspected all of the boards that had deteriorated to a very poor condition, and in my estimation, these boards where very unsafe, and not suitable for the public to use. The steps, where there was no non slip surface, where very slippery, I was alarmed, particularly as a high percentage of youngsters say ninety percent of usage use this diving structure with a concrete floor to fall on.
As I carried on diving Huntley stood by the diving structure, I
complained bitterly about the state of the diving boards that was
a management responsibility. I stated that I had seen children
slip on the diving boards and down the stair ways, I had seen
these children hurt, the diving boards where very dangerous, a
child could be seriously hurt. I said to Huntley, " when the police
arrive get them to arrest me, get this in to court, I wanted the
whole harassing saga recorded in court with the assumption that
the local news paper would publish the case. I was aware of two
police officers on the pool side, and one of the officers spoke to
me and asked me what the situation was. I explained that I was
being victimised by the pools management and outlined the
situation. I pointed to the diving boards stairways stating they
where in very poor condition, this was apparent. Huntley said to
the police officer, " this bloke is always coming here and
complaining that the diving boards are unsafe. "
The police officer then said, " that from the information given to him and for my action in the past, further information had been given to him, he was going to arrest me and take me to the police station. Would I please accompany him and his fellow officer to the police station. " The officer then placed his index finger and thumb in a circle around my wrist as a handcuff, and said, " we have a policy in Suffolk of firm but friendly, " and then proceeded to lead me to the car, I was amused by the humour, I was escort driven to the police station, not much was said in the car.
We arrived in the police station, I was searched, personal effects removed and placed in an envelope and then booked in, and led to a cell. At no time whilst in the sight of the police officers at the pool or in their charge did I show any sign of emotion or anger, or agitation. I was asked if I wanted to make a phone call, I explained there was no point, I live alone, I would not be missed for a day or two. After about forty minutes I was asked if I wanted a communication with my solicitor, I explained, my solicitor Eric Blakey had not been well, and I did not want to disturb him on a Sunday, a duty solicitor would do.
Within a few minutes I spoke to a duty solicitor by phone, he had spoken to the police officer and confirmed that there was no aggression, I re-confirmed this, the solicitor stated that I seemed calm. The solicitor asked me if I was all right, I said that I was ok. I outlined the circumstance, the solicitor then asked to speak again with the arresting officer. Within a few minutes the arresting officer asked if I would agree to a taped interview, I agreed to this. We proceeded to an interview room where the taped interview took place. The taped interview outlined the whole saga.
At no time that I was in the police station was there any
unpleasantness from any of the officers, the body search was
carried out in a professional manner and was not provocative or
intimidating. After the taped interview, I left the police
station. The arresting officer P.C. Mark Boost 381 came outside
the police station with me, we talked for a while, mark seemed
sympathetic to the situation, I said goodbye, and I thanked him
for his pleasantness, we then shook hands, he wished me all the
best, I then left the area. I went to the Broom Hill Swimming pool
to collect my bicycle, it was secured to the perimeter fence, both
tyres where deflated, I pushed the bike past the entrance to the
pool and past Steven Huntley who was standing in the entrance
smirking at me, this action did not bother me, neither did the
deflated tyres. When I arrived home I was in a part tearful mood
at the whole event, this presumably was shock, I was surprised
that I had been arrested, I had panicked, and in a poor mental
state lied over the ban letter, and receipt of the letter had been
acknowledged in correspondence. I was not happy with the whole
event.
The following week I spoke again with D.C. Amos by telephone, he stated that he had been to the Broom Hill pool with officers to question the management and staff about the alleged cash fiddle. D.C. Amos stated there had been no disclosure, ( no confession ). There could be no police prosecution.
I was giving considerable thought to the Broom Hill Swimming pool diving boards, I began to think, realise that the boards where in such a poor state that these diving boards could not be supervised by the Health and Safety Executive, this is the supervisory safety body for England. I enquired at the H.S.E. office in Chelmsford, they told me that control for the Ipswich Swimming pools, the office was in Pottergate Norwich, The responsible officer was the principle, a Mr. John Claxton.
I was able to speak to John Claxton on the telephone, John stated that he was familiar with the Ipswich Pools, but had never heard of the Broom Hill swimming pool. I told John Claxton that the Broom Hill pool was a fifty by twenty five metres large tank pool with a fifteen foot deep end and there where five grouped diving boards from one metre height to five metres height, I stated that there was also a youngsters paddling pool, I stated that this is a large swimming pool complex. I outlined to John Claxton, the poor state of the diving boards and the difficulties that I had encountered at the pool to make it safe.
I told John Claxton that I was a registered Amateur Swimming
Association diving instructor, and that I had never seen such
dangerous diving boards in many of the pools that I had visited
in East Anglia. I told John Claxton of the saga with John Ward
the swimming pools manager and I.B.C. John Claxton said that he
knew John Ward, they had sat on swimming pool safety committee
meetings. I suggested that I sent John Claxton a letter outlining
my concerns and the difficulties, John Claxton agreed that this
was the best course of action.
12 08 93 Fiddle29. To John Claxton. The following points where
raised in this letter,
1. I was very concerned at the safety at the Broom Hill pool.
2. That John Ward was corrupt in all aspects of the running of
Ipswich Swimming pools.
3. The desire of I.B.C. to close the Broom Hill pool.
4. I realised the pool could not be H.S.E. supervised, my reason for
contacting the H.S.E.
5. The side hand rails do not extend on the diving boards in line
with the pool side.
6. There are no treads on the stair ways including the top
diving platform.
7. All of the treads are worn and are slippery.
8. The rear half of the top platform is very slippery when wet.
9. Is there now a recommendation for soft material at the bottom
of the almost vertical stair ways ?
Note. The following people are aware of my concerns, this is
covered in receipted correspondence. James He,Hir chief executive.
Joe Orr, recreation executive. John Ward, swimming pools general
manager. David Read, manager. Michael Walker, manager, safety
officer, as stated to me. Steven Huntley, manager. Peter the
chief lifeguard at Broom Hill is aware and has read letters.
I stated that I am friendly with all the lifeguards, But at loggerheads with all the management. I have presently been banned from the pool for allegedly using abusive and threatening behaviour. I will presently organise a body of organised people, the friends of Broom Hill, to act as a safety and promotional body with an active interest in the pools safety and continuance.
I am,
YOURS SINCERELY
TIM MARSH.
20 August 1993. I received a letter from John Claxton stating that
he had inspected the Broom Hill pool on Wednesday 18 August, and
that he had issued a remedial notice to correct the following,
1. There needs to be adequate hand railing provided.
2. Non-slip surfaces must be applied to the full length of the static diving boards, and on the stair treads.
3. There are other matters concerning the diving boards which require attention, I have served an Improvement notice on Ipswich Borough Council, requiring them to effect action.
I spoke to John Claxton when he returned from his annual holiday 14th September 1993. We discussed his work, and I thanked him for making the Broom Hill swimming pool safer, and I stated that I looked forward to an even safer pool in the 1994 season after all of the modifications had been made.
I had been in further communication with the News Of The World regards further action against I.B.C. The news of the world where made aware of the remedial notice confirming my fears. The News of The World wanted me to do some nude artistic diving to promote the article to negate I.B.C. The news of the world wanted photographs of the diving boards, we discussed the similarity of the scaffolded diving boards and a building site where I.B.C. Building inspectors would close a building site down if there where such apparent dangers. The News of the World Newspaper was very interested in promoting a publication.
I now realised that any news publication was Sub Judicial to the pending court case, The news of the world agreed this, there would now not be any supportive national news coverage. This was now a further disappointment to me. On the positive side I now had three safety items in my favour to take to court. 1. The 1992 local news paper article, Murky pool danger, and 2. The H.S.E. Remedial notice served on I.B.C. and 3. The photographs of the disgusting state of the diving boards that where mostly used by children. I felt that Steven Huntley and I.B.C. where going to be destroyed in court, I was happy with this evidence, I felt that there would be good local news coverage, and If I could raise the money, sue I.B.C. officers for their harassment of me.
I wrote to Jamie Cann the collusive I.B.C. M.P. About my ban and the
circumstances, the reply letter stated that Cann could not help
until after the court case.
03 09 93. I spoke to Mike Tracey a news editor at the local newspaper, the Evening Star, about the whole Broom Hill saga, I also wrote to him, re, Fiddle41.txt. He was not interested in a publication.
I circulated a leaflet about the whole saga, I put one thousand leaflets on cars in car parks near the council offices, I called for a meeting to be held outside I.B.C. Head office in Civic Drive Ipswich on the 3rd day of September 1993. Only three people turned up, I spoke to them briefly, and then left the area. There where more police there than interested parties.
I received a letter from a Mrs. P. Morron, 03 Sept 93 The senior solicitor for Ipswich Borough Council, concerning the meeting.
The points of interest are,
1. That I defamed hard working I.B.C. officers that carry out their
duties fairly and efficiently.
2. The contents of my leaflet where scurrilous and defamatory.
3. The protest must be carried out peacefully and within the law.
4. The councils auditors and district auditors monitor the Broom
Hill swimming pool.
5. I was urged not to repeat the statements pertinent to alleged
cash fiddling.
I was concerned that Ipswich Borough council would now remove the
diving boards at Broom Hill, so I wrote to, The Amateur Swimming
Association, and The Sports Council.
I had several meetings with Eric Blakey my solicitor regards the now pending court case before the end of 1993. Eric questioned me continuously as to had I been abusive to Ipswich Borough Council officers. I finally admitted that I could have called Steven Huntley a wanker in heated safety fault and intimidation discussion. Eric immediately said, " you will have to plead guilty in this case." Eric had asked for pertinent letters regards my safety concerns at the Broom Hill pool. I asked to sight the Steven Huntley police statement. Eric asked, " what would I wear at court for the case ? " I replied that I would wear nice sports clothes, a sports track suit and white trainers, we agreed that this attire was suitable.
There where several lies in Steven Huntleys statement.
1. That artistic Diving had been banned for years at Broom Hill.
2. That I had been threatening to staff at Broom Hill.
3. That I wrote abusive threatening and strange letters to
council officers at Broom Hill, Crown Pools, and I.B.C. H.Q.
Eric stated the whole event to the Judges, he stated my credentials as a certified Amateur Swimming Association diving instructor, and passed the judges the ten disgusting photographs of the diving boards, the Judges went off to a side room to discuss the event and to look at the photographs. The Judges returned, and Eric started to read my written mitigation to the court. The Judges looked concerned and not very happy with what they had just heard and seen.
I considered that the food in the cafeteria was of poor quality
and was over priced and not of the standard and reasonably cheap
prices which had been available in previous years. I wrote and
complained about that to the Borough Council.
The chlorine and other chemicals that was stored at the pool for use in the pool was not in my view kept under strict enough regulations because children could gain access to the store where these chemicals where kept and that of course would be a dangerous matter as far as they where concerned. Under previous management there had been no question of children or youths being able to obtain access to this store. I therefore complained verbally to the council pools supervisor.
Between 15 July and 8 August 1992 because the pool was not being treated properly so far as the chemicals where concerned the area of the pool by the diving board went black and a third of the swimming area of the pool went black. I spoke to the management on site about this matter and complained to David Trevellion ( leisure manager ) at Civic Drive about this and as there was no improvement, I called in the press to see the position. After the press had seen the swimming pool they wrote an article in the Evening Star on the 6 August 1992. This article was very critical of the Borough Council and I now produce a copy of that article.
Because of the publication of that article people where banned from using the pool for artistic diving and there would have been between 6 and 20 who would want to undertake this sort of sport on poor weather days and up to 300 people on a fine day. This artistic diving was banned until the end of the season that is until the 8th of September 1992. During this period of time until October 1992 I wrote quite a number of letters to swimming associations and others who would be interested in the ban which had been imposed.
Round about the 10th or 12th of August 1992 I was practising a simple piked seat dive from the top board that was fifteen feet from the water. This consists of putting your head forward and leaning over and diving down in the correct manner and it could be dangerous because you wouldn't necessarily see who was beneath you. At that time however there was nobody in the pool in the deep tank area where I was diving. I was just entering the water when I heard the whistle go, as I surfaced a new attendant I had not seen before beckoned me to go and see him he exclaimed " that is a banned dive if you do that again you will have to get out ". I then criticised him in round terms for banning artistic diving. I then left the pool.
The pool opened again on Sunday the 29th of May 1993. All artistic
diving had been banned and was not allowed. The excuse that was
offered was that the children had been copying the artistic diving
and could be injured. On the opening of the pool in 1993 I noticed
that the platform of the top diving board and other diving
platforms had been painted over with a red sealant which became
slippery when wet and the children had been slipping off this and
hurting themselves. I told the staff and Manager Steven Huntley
that this was very dangerous. However no notice was taken of me
no action was taken by management to make the diving boards safe.
Steven Huntley the manager banned me from going to the pool shortly after it opened in 1993 and I also had a letter from the manager of Ipswich swimming pools John Ward. This banned me from the complex because of using allegedly abusive behaviour. I then threatened to sue the pools management or the Ipswich Borough Council and I wrote various letters to them. After a week or two weeks I was allowed back at Broom Hill swimming pool. I went along with a witness to the pool about fourteen days after it opened and was allowed in then. I complained to the Borough Council about banning artistic diving and apparently keeping perhaps 200 children per day out of the pool and I felt they where trying to run down the pool and close it.
Up to the period of mid July of 1993 I was still banned from doing artistic diving allegedly because it was now said to be dangerous for children who would copy me and others and they could be hurt. At a time when there where no children in the pool and before the children had their summer holiday I was still banned from artistic diving in to the pool and this could not have been for any other reason other than vindictiveness on the part of the management. In a telephone conversation with John Ward in June of 1993 he told me that he was going to start a diving club at the pool. He said it would definitely start in 1993 but it never did. I complained about them not bringing back the diving. I complained about the state of the diving boards themselves that they were very slippery and that the treads were worn, I complained about the rails not being sufficiently extended past the pool side " that they could kill somebody ".
After I had been banned from the pool I found out the safety body for swimming pools was the Health And Safety Executive based at Norwich and Chelmsford. Their swimming pools inspector who was a Mr. John Claxton was surprised, he had never heard of Broom Hill swimming pool. This Mr. Claxton went to the pool inspected it and the diving boards. After doing so he served an improvement notice on the Borough Council dealing with about seven points, five of which I had already raised unsuccessfully with the managers of the pool. This remedial order requires the council to do certain work within a statutory period. So far as I am aware all of this work has not been carried out.
08 08 93. I climbed over the fence at Broom Hill swimming pool to
have a look at it to see if it was safe. Steven Huntley saw me as
I jumped over the fence and said " you know what I am now going to
do ", and he walked away. I took my trousers off I had my bathing
trunks underneath I walked up on to the diving platform and
checked all the diving boards by diving in. They where unsafe. I
didn't go through the normal entrance because I knew Mr. Huntley
came over and I probably did use some abusive language to him but
I indicated to him that the diving boards were still in a
dangerous condition and that he had deliberately stopped artistic
diving. I may have called him a wanker which in my determination
of this slang terminology is a person who projects untruth. The
persons who where nearby and who could hear what I said were five or
six pool attendants who are friendly with me. There were also people
nearby who could have heard what I was saying. I was probably
angry at the time and was shouting at him mainly because children
had been diving off the boards and the boards were very dangerous.
The police officer in this case was PC Boost. PC Boost said to me after he had come over towards me " Huntley has complained that you are always coming here complaining about the state of the diving boards ". I accepted that was so. My complaints were subsequently justified by the action which was taken and the notice which was served on the Borough Council. There is one thing which I want to say that Peter Smith the head life guard was very much concerned that artistic diving had been stopped. His reason for the concern was there were people who were back at night time climbing over the fence and doing artistic diving from the top boards which were still then in a dangerous condition. Peter came back voluntarily at night to make certain nobody was hurt.
Before I was banned whenever I came to the pool Steven Huntley would watch my every dive and ban even the simplest dives. When I complained he merely said " we have different rules here for you Tim ". Mr. Hehir, chief executive Mr. Steven Huntley were all written to before I was banned and told that the diving boards were dangerous with illustrated drawings. No notice was taken of these letters. There was a meeting at the Borough Council offices in September 1992 arranged by me to discuss the dangers of the boards and other problems at Broom Hill with Joe Orr leisure director present with John Ward pools general manager. The safety problems where never addressed.
In 1992 David Read the Broom Hill Manager for fifteen years who I
had a very good relationship with was not often at the pool. Andy
was supervisor. After 10 August the new supervisor that enforced
the no artistic diving was Mr. Michael Walker he introduced
himself as " an A.S.A. registered diving instructor of high
esteem with A.S.A. swimming pools safety qualifications. Prior to
the pool opening in 1993 I did a survey, I chatted with some of
the local residents near the pool. The feedback obtained was that
they where pleased the pool was there " it keeps down the street
crime and shop crime in the town we like to see the kids going to
the pool ". I am now by registered qualification the most
qualified swimming pool safety officer in the locality, and I
cannot gain access to any of the three local swimming pools.
I was not happy with Eric Blakey, He could see that I.B.C. had harassed me over the serious public safety issue. The public safety issue in my mind was the priority. I felt that Eric could have made an exception and not forced the case to a plea of guilty, I could have brought witnesses to the court that knew that there was harassment, we could have won this case. I.B.C. had now won a further point to keep me out of the Broom Hill pool. My action and hostility towards I.B.C. was the direct product of their un-professionalism and harassment, I had been mentally destabilised through the concern for public safety and the managements harassment.
Just after the court case I heard there had been a pertinent article in the Evening Star News Paper, I researched the small news article that had been published by Chris Pryke prior to the case.
A Health And Safety Executive officer visited Broom Hill pool last
August after a complaint about dangerous facilities there.
The inspector found there where inadequate hand railings, and that
none slip surfaces needed to be provided on the diving boards and
on the steps leading up to them.
Recommendations where made about safety improvements at the pool
and all the necessary work should have been completed by the time
it reopens in May.
John Claxton principal inspector of factories for the H.S.E. said some of the improvements had already been made. " Part of them where carried out the following day or within a couple of days of the inspection, " he said.
The only outstanding matter was the fitting of more adequate handrailing, but special permission had been given to allow more time for the work to be done. " The improvement notice has been extended to permit the engineering work to take place, " he went on.
" When I hear from the borough Council, or when I'm told the work has taken place, whichever comes first, then I will revisit for another inspection." Said Mr. Claxton. John Ward, swimming centres manager for the council, said: " The H.S.E. appreciate the fact that the pool is closed across the winter. "
" The work that had been needed was fairly minor, like new step
treads, " he added. " It's not serious stuff at all. If it where,
they would have closed the pool down. "
The council was originally given until November to complete the
work but that had been extended because the pool was closed until
May. End Article.
I discussed the case with Eric Blakey when it had finished and Eric stated that he was pleased that the Broom Hill swimming pool was safer, he further stated " usually somebody is killed before remedial action is taken, fortunately, this did not happen," I agreed this wholeheartedly with Eric.
I wrote to Eric Blakey after the court case, I thanked Eric for representing me, I asked Eric to apply to Ipswich Borough Council for my permission to use the Broom Hill Pool, this was a mistake. I.B.C. banned me from their sports centres for life.
06 November 1994. A young boy died in the Crown pools swimming pool, if there was any neglect by lifeguards or management, this would have been well covered up.
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