Aberdeen’s Beach Leisure Centre was used by generations of swimmers after opening on the city’s waterfront in 1989.
But there has been a real sense of sadness this weekend as Aberdonians bid a final, fond farewell as the centre closed for the last time.
Sport Aberdeen announced last month that the Beach Leisure Centre would be axed as part of a bid to plug a £46.6 million gap in funding amid rising operational costs.
The building will now be demolished as part of the beachfront regeneration scheme.
Storm clouds were already gathering after the pool reopened after the pandemic but its iconic flumes remained shut “on account of their age and condition”.
And last summer, the writing was on the wall when the council said it would be shutting the pool at the end of the summer holidays until springtime to “protect” other facilities in the city.
Aberdeen City Council agreed to build the leisure centre and fun pool at the beach and siting an oil rig alongside it was among the options considered!
It cost £7.5m and was built by Barratt’s Construction over two years.
The Beach Leisure Centre took shape and opened in February 1989 with city architect Ian Ferguson describing it as a huge boost for sport in Aberdeen.
The main entrance was graced with Phoenix palm trees and other exotic plants while there was a conservatory area looking out across the North Sea.
The opening of the 500 square metre swimming pool was delayed until June 1989 following a problem with the sub-contractors.
Model Susan Bruce joined a delighted group of youngsters from St Peter’s Primary School to soak up the surf at the fun pool before the ribbon was cut.
The international standard sports hall, health and fitness suite, creche and climbing wall were also opened to the public.
Manager Steve Jones said at the time: “We are raring to go and are expecting 3,000 people a day with around 280 people in the pool at any time.”
An advertising feature in the P&J broke it down further.
“It is natural beach style, with a walk-in shallow end graduating to the deep end.
“Its volcano fountain, which can be glimpsed from the main entrance, is just one of the many eye-catching features which also encompass a lagoon pool and a toddler pool.
“The pool is fun for all the family, with its wave machine, rapids, water cannon and water guns. There are also bubble bursts, counter currents, pool rocks and jacuzzi.
“The first of the flumes, a 55 metre tunnel of fun, is in operation. The other main flumes, which will come on stream in the third and final phase in the autumn, will include the 95m-long Twister and an extremely fast version of more than 40m.”
The pool programmes featured storm sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; Buccaneers sessions on Saturdays (5-12 years); and a women-only session on Wednesday evenings; with opening hours 10am-10pm, seven days a week.
The cost of entry back in 1989 was £1.25 for adults and 80p for kids.
There was also a passport membership offer of £70 per annum for unlimited access.
The flumes cost £1.4m and were fully operational by September 1989 and P&J reporter Margaret Mallon was sent to test them out for a newspaper feature.
Margaret took the plunge and described the 120m ride on The Tube as “a leisurely, exhilarating glide on an oversize inflated tyre”.
The Pipeline was up next for Margaret which she found rather more frightening with churning water, wild twists and travelling at a faster speed.
Wipeout was up next with a warning to lie flat with your arms and legs crossed.
Margaret said: “I have never in my relatively short life ever, ever, experienced a more terrifying five seconds.
“It even surpassed my parents finding out about the £100 phone call I made to South America when I was 16.
“It will take some time for my internal organs to find their proper place again. But, jolly good fun, I suppose, for those who enjoy sheer stomach-twisting terror.”
The centre’s swimming pool was ideal for family fun in its glory days, with its flumes and many other water features including a wave machine, fountains and rapids.
Aberdeen has six swimming pools but these flumes were the scariest and the biggest decision was always which slide you were going to go on first!
The Pipeline, The Tube and The Wipeout were a huge hit!
The less courageous could tackle the more gentle 120m river-rapid Tube ride.
Youngsters seat themselves in a big rubber ring before hurling each other down a wide pipe, while, as for the other two, just close your eyes and hope for the best!
The 95m Pipeline is a big slide with unexpected twists and turns and a big 60m drop at the bottom.
Daredevils could whiz down the steep and speedy Wipeout – the centre’s scariest flume.
It was described as the “ultimate white-knuckle ride” and the hair-raising freefall drop into a G-force curve ends in a tremendous crescendo of water spray!
Here’s hoping it won’t soon be the end of the line for this popular attraction.
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