Barrow Park Leisure Centre has been a boon for Furness families for years – so it was fitting that a youngster helped pour the first drops of its pool in April 1991.
Barrow mayor Jim Park and seven-year-old Liam McGrady ceremoniously poured a glass of water into the swimming pool at the centre.
The ceremony, hosted by developers Conder Projects, echoed the topping-out ceremonies usually held on the completion of skyscrapers.
The £2.7m centre was on target to open in October.
Barrow Mayor Jim Park and seven-year-old Liam McGrady ‘topping up’ the swimming pool at Barrow Park Leisure Centre in 1991
Liam had helped the mayor cut the first sod in September 1990.
Cllr Park praised the builders for keeping to schedule.
In August 1993 you could forget Saturday Night Fever, reported The Mail; instead it was Tuesday Morning Fever with a group of Barrow children enjoying a dance at the centre.
Dave Simpson’s magic show proved popular with youngsters during the half-term play schemes at the Barrow Park Leisure Centre in May 1995
The fancy dress disco was part of the play scheme which had been running since July 19 and had given mums and dads a break from the children during the long summer holiday.
More than 100 five-to-eight-year-olds attended the scheme every weekday morning.
It also featured a puppeteer, a magician and bouncy boxing, as well as the giant swimming pool inflatable Adam the Robo Ant.
Climbing instructor Brian Pearson teaches Caroline, nine, a few skills during a climbing course for eight to 14-year-olds held at the Barrow Park Leisure Centre in May 1995
Craig Foster, of the centre, said the scheme, which ended on August 13, had been a huge success and would run again at half-term in October.
The centre was much-needed for parents again over the half-term holiday in May 1995.
For £2 a session, youngsters were offered thrills and spills in everything from play schemes to climbing.
Barrow Park Leisure Centre swimming pools in 1991
The programme kicked off at 9am daily with soccer and swimming sessions.
Play schemes started at 10.30am, with badminton and climbing at 1.30pm.
Youngsters were able to try their hands on the climbing wall under the expert eye of instructor Brian Pearson.
A fancy dress disco at a play scheme at Barrow Park Leisure Centre in 1993
Younger children were entertained by magician Dave Simpson.
In 1993 Barrow Council’s arts and leisure department promoted a dance summer school at Forum 28 in the town.
It included dance teacher Pippa Rothwell leading children through a ‘Fit Kids’ movement class.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here