OUTDOOR swimming pools, or lidos, seem to be from a different age.

I’m not sure if there was ever a golden age of lidos but we certainly don’t seem to be building them now.

The perennial closure threat of Brightlingsea lido has only once again been recently averted, the pool that incorporated the River Colne in Colchester that my wife remembers swimming in so vividly has long since disappeared and there are certainly no plans for any new ones that I know of.

Fanciful ideas come and go for Colchester but I can’t remember anyone ever suggesting a new outdoor pool.

Don’t worry I’m not about to start a public campaign other than suggest it would be quite nice. Well very nice actually..

This picture is of the Jubilee pool in Penzance, Cornwall where I took a dip with my family last week.

That’s seawater in that pool that is, real seawater with salt and everything. I’m not saying it was warm, but it was the most glorious experience.

This particular pool was built in 1935 and is triangular. It is of course a superb example of art deco architecture.

The combination of Cornish sunshine, seawater, sweeping architecture and the shared experience of public swimming can make for a heady brew.

In our short stay we visited three times.

Swimmers of all generations surrounded us. From the sedate breaststroke of the elderly gentleman to the chaotic screams of children jumping in (yes jumping in and screaming were allowed!) it was a facility really celebrated by the community.

I’ve returned to Essex determined to partake in more swimming. We shall see