Lido's early history was captured by the Ham&High

AS an important local paper with very good reporting credentials, I was surprised to read Tan Parsons' article (Unisex showers pours cold water on pool bathers, H&H July 17). A lesser heading and space was given to Swimmers splash out to celebrate landmark 70the birthday.

This is in stark contrast to the H&H's announcement on August 27, 1938, detailing the opening of the Lido. The headline read: LCC's new swimming pool at Parliament Fields.

The story carried by the 1938 H&H is an unique historic document of the Lido's history.

It had several photos of the new Lido, quotes from the Mayor and council representatives and information about the costs of building the Lido, its dimensions and swimming capacity.

The author Janet Smith in Liquid Assets used the H&H extensively for her research into the Parliament Hill Lido as a case study.

As one of the 13 lidos built by the London County Council across London, the Parliament Hill Lido has been lucky to come under the management of the City of London Corporation, who have spent £3 million on ensuring the survival of this grade ll listed building.

It is the first swimming pool in the UK providing a stainless steel lining to minimise leakage and maintenance costs.

Given your breaking news headline about the unisex showers causing concern - it may signal a return to the LCC Lido's original segregation policy when unisex bathing was the norm and mixed swimming was allowed on only four out of the seven days a week - as reported by the H&H in 1938.

Myself and many users of the lido were pleasantly surprised at how well the City's upgrading of the lido has enhanced our swimming experience.

The occasional cold showers or sharing of showers only adds to our growing appreciation of this London gem.

These sentiments are shared by the majority of the Lido's regular users and it is a pity that this was not reflected in the coverage of the lido in your July 17 edition.

Leeroy Murray

Castlehaven Road, NW1