News

Participating in and raising funds to support certain charities and good causes in the community fits in with our corporate ethos and business – promoting a healthy leisure and lifestyle.

Pool & Spa Industry
- Pool "Oscars" 2013 - we win 7 awards!
  We are absolutely delighted to have received a record seven design awards at the annual SPATA - Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association ceremony at the Grand Hotel in Brighton on 3rd February. We received the various titles in a mixture of categories, including three Golds, three Silvers and a Bronze. Particularly pleasing was to win the top award for Special Requirements Pools and in the section for Domestic Spa and Health Pools section we claimed the first and second prize. For images and details of the winning projects please either access the Portfolio or use the links in the Awards area.
- Kevin McCloud & Co - 8th May 2013
  Further to an exclusive invite to exhibit at Grand Designs, Excel Docklands, next Wednesday, we are pleased to invite you to visit us at our stand G21 in the Garden Section to discuss all your swimming pool and spa enquiries. In the meantime, enjoy a swim this May Bank Holiday Weekend!
- Moving floor pool in Kensington stars in TV show "Cool Pools" on HGTV, Dallas on 8th February
  In December we were delighted to be contacted by a film production company on behalf of HGTV, a North-American TV channel specialising in home and property shows, wishing to include one of our moving floor pools in "Cool Pools" - a programme to be aired on Friday 8th February 9pm local US time. The film crew flew into London without delay and the shoot took a whole day as the producer conducted in depth interviews with one of our directors and our client/property developer - please see details about the project in the Portfolio. The genius of a moving pool floor was captured on film by a combination of diving and lap swimming by some gorgeous young things with the floor lowered and of salsa dancing taking place on top of the floor in the raised position whilst Latin-American tunes filled the subterranean leisure area. This type of versatile yet luxurious multi-purpose exercise and entertainment area is increasingly popular in the capital where building extensions may invariably only take place within the footprint of the property below ground.
- Grand Designs Live 2012
  We again very much enjoyed exhibiting at this iconic show to do with homes and lifestyle at Excel, Docklands on 11th and 12th May. We showed and discussed recent projects with architects, landscape designers and private individuals planning on constructing pools in their properties. Of particular interest was our most recent moving floor pool in Kensington - please visit the Portfolio section for photos and details.
- We exhibited at the Luxury Lifestyle and Supercar Showcase, London Boatshow on 6-8 January
  As part of this year's Boatshow, we were delighted to receive an exclusive invite to participate in the Luxury Lifestyle and Supercar Showcase. We enjoyed three days of discussing plans for new indoor and outdoor pools including refurbishments and servicing with many prospective clients, architects and construction professionals. We already look forward to exhibiting again at Grand Designs in May, also at ExCel, where we can give you individual attention to do with your pool or spa project.
- Awards at Pool Oscars in Brighton on 6th February 2011
  We are proud to have been awarded another three desgn titles for our work at the annual SPATA ceremony. The winning projects are located in Holland Park, Wimbledon and Oxshott, Surrey across the categories of Health Pools, Residential Pools between £75,000 and £150,000 and Refurbishments.
- Grand Designs Live 6th/7th May
  We very much enjoyed participating in this exciting show at Excel, Docklands on 6th and 7th May together with SPATA - Swimming Pool & Allied Trades Association. We showed images of our latest pools and discussed severeral interesting new projects.
- A hat trick at the SPATA Awards on 7th February 2010
  Some of our latest pools were again awarded major titles at the annual UK pool design awards in Brighton. One project even received two different awards, including Silver in the new and much coveted Innovation category. Please see the Awards section for more information and the Portfolio for pictures.
- MP Justine Greening makes a splash at the opening of our latest school pool at Granard, Putney
  The official opening ceremony of our latest school pool project in Putney at the end of March was made extra special when Justine Greening, MP for Putney, Southfields and Roehampton donned her costume and took the first plunge together with Glynis Cobb, Head Teacher and John Marston, Chairman of the Board of Governors and a dozen of Granard's pupils. Photo courtesy of M.Ousellam.
- SPATA Pool Contractor of the Year 2009 - We scooped 6 design titles at the "Pool Oscars"
  We were delighted to be be awarded the coveted title of Pool Contractor of the Year for the third time at the SPATA design awards ceremony in Brighton in February. One of our pools also scored a remarkble double by being awarded Best Domestic Refurbishment Project 2009 further to being awarded a Gold Award in 1992 when we first built it.
- Our director, Jamie Smith appointed to Chairman, SPATA South-East region
  At the AGM in September, the Swimming Pool & Allied Trades Association appointed Jamie Smith, one of our directors, to its Chairman for the South-East region. The association comprises of all reputable companies involved in the wet leisure industry in the UK. Jamie looks forward to heading up the organisation's valuable work which includes continuing to ensure that standards in the business are being met and raised.
- London Swimming Pool Company becomes part of National Leisure - October 2008
  We are pleased to announce that we have joined forces with the wet leisure business syndicate National Leisure providing us with a strong purchasing position in the industry as well as additional benefits such as training and networking between member companies. The group's chairman, Nigel Gray of Grayfox Pools, says about the signing "We are delighted to welcome a business of the calibre of the London Swimming Pool Company that further adds to the blue ribbon reputation enjoyed by National Leisure companies".
- Leisure Industry Week Exhibition - NEC Birmingham 23rd -25th September 2008
  In his position as Chairman of the South-East region of the Swimming Pool & Allied Trades Association (SPATA), one of our directors, Jamie Smith, held a talk at the annual event to demonstrate, on behalf of SPATA members, their capabilities in the educational, medical and rehabilitation sectors. By presenting case studies of large scale pool refurbishment projects at Epsom College, Trinity School, and Rosebery School, as well as new build commissions at the original Canons health club and Parkside Hospital, Jamie illustrated how specialist pool and spa companies are well placed to take on commercial contracts in the wet leisure industry.
Charity support
- Vertical Rush in aid of Shelter, 1st March, 2012
  In the morning of 1st March, Neil and Peter from our Design and Construction department joined another 1200 people rushing up the 920 steps in the fire escape of Tower 42, formerly known as the Natwest Tower, located in the City of London, in as little time as possible. This sounds unnecessarily strenuous until you hear that the challenge was to raise money for Shelter, the commendable charity which helps millions of people in Britain who are homeless or in housing need. Having reached the top of the building in the rather quick times of 7 minutes, 44 seconds and 8 minutes, 10 seconds respectively, our guys spotted a few celebrities who had also participated to support the cause - Jon Snow, Channel 4 News presenter and renowned journalist, Andi Osho, award winning stand-up comedienne, Gary Rhodes dressed in his chef's whites who had started the day's proceedings by giving a speech on the 42nd floor where he could also pop into one of his restaurants for a visit, and fellow Michelin star Tom Aikens. Neil and Peter say their glutes and quads are fine but would be grateful for more sponsorhip of their effort - to donate please go to www.justgiving.com/Peter-Hales. More photos of the action inside the stairwell to follow next week! Thank you!
- What a night! Supporting Paul Strank Roofing's Charity Gala dinner
  On the evening of Saturday 15th September we were delighted to attend Paul Strank Roofing's annual charity Gala Dinner at a private club in the borough of Wandsworth. The event raised in excess of £50,000 in aid of OneLife UK and Shooting Star Chase who help sick and disadvantaged youngsters in South-West London. Once Councillor Stephen Alambritis, leader of Merton Council, had welcomed the guests, well known comedian Tim Vine entertained with some great gags followed by Beverley Knight, MBE's superb renditions of a few classic tracks which got the whole floor dancing. Other celebrities and dignitaries whose presence and support made the occasion so special included patron and actress Brooke Kinsella MBE, Dragon Den's Theo Paphitis, Coronation Street's Ryan Thomas, Emmerdale's Adam Thomas, Sally and Stephen Hammond MP and the Mayor of Merton, Councillor David Williams. To end the evening in a rather unforgettable way, the squad from AFC Wimbledon gave a rather brave and in the end bare, performance of the "Full Monty"...
- Mo Bros, not Moss Bros! - supporting Movember
  Three of our usually very clean shaven (male) staff cultivated their facial hair during November in aid of "Movember" - the global charity spreading awareness about and helping raise funds towards men's health, in particular the treament of prostate cancer. It is not too late to add to the funds our chaps raised sprouting those tashes by visiting www.movember.com, find the team called LSPC Mo Men and make a donation. Even £5 is helpful! The website also offers a myriad of interesting information.
- Donate a Coat - supporting the Salvation Army
  ITV Daybreak ran an initiative in conjunction with the Salvation Army between 21-25 November called "Donate a coat" which asked for people to fish out that coat that hardly ever gets worn from the back of the wardrobe and give it to someone less fortunate this winter. A few of our ladies collected 10 coats to help spread the warmth amongst families in need, the elderly and homeless people in the community during the colder months. Thank you Sara, Barbara and Louise!
- Heart Matters - We biked it to Brighton in aid of BHF on 19th June
  Well, we all made it to Brighton in one piece last Sunday and fortunate enough to only be suffering from a few sore muscles and bit of sun and windburn. It was a tough but also thrilling ride with steep down-hills and many sharp turns and a number of tiring walks pushing the bikes up narrow country lanes. When energy levels were running low the cheer from bystanders and the thought of our colleagues waiting at the finishing line with a well deserved drink kept us going. And when the rain and hail came down around 1 o'clock it was actually quite refreshing. A couple in our team completed the 54 miles in a rather quick 3 hours and 40 minutes and then we trickled in over the next three hours. If you wish to donate then it is not too late and it would make all the aches and strains even more worthwhile. You can either send a cheque to our company address made payable to BHF or go to our fundraising page at http://original.justgiving.com/lspcwheelies which will be open for another couple of months. Yours gratefully, LSPC Wheelies
- Sponsoring rugby team at Glyn school
  In time for their tour in Canada in July where they will be playing four matches in the Toronto area, we sponsored the shorts for the Glyn school rugby team. We wish them the best of luck!
- We made a "Splash for Cash" - a sponsored 10 km swim in aid of BBC Children in Need on 16th November
  Five of us from London Swimming Pool Company donned our cozzies and Pudsey bandanas and went that extra mile, or in this case, swum 10 km, in around an hour and half in the pool we built at Granard School in Putney to support the invaluable work that Children in Need carries out. We have now raised almost £2000 in kind donations by family and friends, clients and associates. If you wish to join in our Splash for Cash and make a contribution, please access our dedicated Justgiving page on http://www.justgiving.com/London-Swimming-Pool-Company-Ltd. We thank you in advance for helping to change and improve the lives of children across the UK and thank Granard School for kindly accommodating the event.
- Sponsorship at Wimbledon Village Fair raised funds for Wimbledon Guild for Social Welfare
  For the sixth year running, we took the opportunity of combining a lovely day on the Wimbledon Common amongst all the people who visit SW19 for the Tennis Championships with raising funds for the valuable work that the Wimbledon Guild do for the elderly and vulnerable in the community. This year we sponsored the Fun Dog Show together with architects Holden Harper and Stone Lion Veterinary Hospital. We very much enjoyed the company of distinguished clients, both existing and prospective, in our gazebo, not forgetting the light canine entertainment. Handford Wines in South Kensington very kindly donated a Magnum of rose Champagne as a raffle prize which further added to the proceeds for the charity.
- Film and photo shoot with Olympic swimmer Mark Foster in aid of fresh2o with Candice and BBC
  One of our prestigious clients very kindly accommodated for a combined charity and TV shoot to take place at their moving floor swimming pool which we constructed a few years ago. Photographer Candice has devised an incredibly dramatic and impactful series of images using well-known icons with a global presence. The images are set to raise fresh2o awareness and are the face behind a fundraising effort to establish international projects for the provision of clean drinking water and sanitation to the world. Income raised through the fresh2o campaign is channelled into communities through partner organisations, providing expertise in the field of fresh water supply and sanitation. Olympic swimmer and star of "Strictly Come Dancing", Mark Foster took part in the photo shoot with Candice for fresh2o, which was was also filmed by BBC2 for their new series "Super Agents" which will be on air in February 2009. Mark said "It's a pleasure to be involved in a photo shoot for fresh2o, it's such a worthwhile cause. I have always taken water for granted, whether it's turning on a tap for a drink or swimming in a pool, it's very easy to forget that there are so many people who don't have that privilege and they really need our support." If you would like to know more please visit www.candice.co.uk and www.fresh2o.org. The first two images in the picture sequence were masterminded by photograhper Candice.
- Underwater art photography exhibition - Sunday Times "Spectrum" supplement November 2008
  We were delighted to be approached by photographers Sophie Lewis and Emma Critchley to organise for one of our pools to be used as one of the sets for "The Fear of Falling" - a series of timeless, life-size underwater photo portraits that invite new ways to consider the profound experience of submergence. Exploring our changing relationship of the present moment whilst immersed, the subject moves away from the ethereal and floaty imagery usually associated with water and offers instead a more grounded and weighted sense of being. With a gentle nod towards the Industrial Revolution and making processes surrounding the period, the portraits pose the question; could the shifts in consciousness whilst immersed be akin to those experienced centuries ago? Portraits from the series are currently on exhibition at Fulham Palace Gallery, Bishops Avenue, London SW6, as part of this year's Terry Neill award. Others will also be on exhibition at the new building for The Photograhers Gallery, Ramilles Street, London W1F from Saturday 6th December. Both exhibitions run until Spring 2009 and are free. For further information you can visit www.thefearoffalling.com.
- Wimbledon Rugby Football Club - Sponsorship
  We are pleased to extend our support for healthy living and leisure in the community by donating funds towards the smart looking new shirts for the Under 13s A team at the WRFC, one of the oldest rugby clubs in the country.
- Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund – The Plymouth to Dakar Driving Challenge
  As part of 200 other daring teams, one of our engineers braved the 4600 miles through Western Sahara to Mali in an old VW Golf worth £100 in January 2008. On arrival, the "bangers", tools and other equipment were auctioned off, fetching ten times what they were bought for with the proceeds given to local charities and Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. London Swimming Pool Company are pleased to have donated £2,500 in sponsorship towards this commendable venture which will benefit people in a part of the world where they have to walk miles to fetch a bucket of clean drinking water. If you also wish to contribute to this worthy cause please contact us at the office.
- Glyn School Rugby Team - Sponsorship
  The Under 13s needed new design shorts for their tour in Italy in February '08 and we hope that our joint sponsorship contributed to the victorious result.
- Wimbledon Guild - The Village Fair
  Making a splash together with the Wimbledon Esporta aquarobics team has become an annual fund raiser in June in aid of the social welfare work that The Guild carry out in the Wimbledon area.
- Cancer Research UK – Race for Life
  The ladies at London Swimming Pool Company donned their customised T-shirts to raise funds and race in Richmond Park in May 2007 in aid of pioneering lifesaving research for the charity.
- Woking Hospice, Surrey – The Dove Ball
  We donated a luxury hot tub to the traditional Dove Ball's charity auction at Wentworth Golf Club in November 2007 raising £4,600 for the hospice's palliative services in Surrey.
- Chelsea Flower Show - Cancer Research UK
  We were delighted to support the work and profile of this charity by contributing £20,000 in the value of labour and materials when building the pool in the Cancer Research UK Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 2006 in association with the TV presenter and garden designer Andy Sturgeon. We were even more pleased when the project was given a Gold award.