MORE than £1,500 has been donated to Berkeley Swimming Pool to support its work.

Magnox, which operates Berkeley Power Station, awarded £1,000 to train four lifeguards at the pool whilst £600 has been awarded by masonic organisations.

The funding has enabled the training of two lifeguards, Oliver Wolstenholme and Alexander Camper, and two more will receive lifeguard training this summer.

Built at Berkeley Primary School by a group of parents 50 years ago following a number of drownings in the nearby canal and River Severn, the pool is now run by Berkeley Educational Swimming Trust (BEST).

Trustee Eugene Camper said that they relied on grants such as these to continue running the facility.

“I would really like to thank both organisations for the grants which will allow us to continue running the pool and to cover the costs of providing training to youngsters.

“Without this funding we wouldn’t be able to continue opening the pool.”

Marking the tercentenary of the United Grand Lodge of England, the £300 donation provided by the Royal Lodge of Faith and Friendship was matched by Gloucestershire Masonic Charity Action to enable it to give BEST £600.

Funding from Magnox was awarded following a health and wellbeing event held at its Berkeley centre earlier this year, which was attended by the trust. Its members provided information to staff about the pool and its availability to the local community.

After the visit Magnox arranged for a £1,000 grant to be awarded to BEST to support lifeguard training for four people.

For more information about the pool search Berkeley educational swimming pool trust on Facebook.