Maybe the old man was the ghost of the pool designer, cursed to drift in his his own shoddy work for eternity, but when someone used the pool like a pro his work was complete and his spirit was able to move on? Or you just killed a guy whatever 😂 Another entertaining read anyhow!
This is so funny. I once pushed a man into the regents canal (not on purpose). No fault of measurements and he’s definitely not dead (though I basically ran away seconds after ascertaining her was ok because I was scared he’d make me pay for his laptop).
This has just made me laugh so much, imagining being the man with this going on is hilarious, what was going through his mind feeling, and seeing this happen? Thank you so much for the needed laughs!
Who knew pools were so complicated to build. The mix up reminds me of the pool on the roof of the Bath Spa, first attempt the arcitect/engineer failed to factor in the weight of the water in the pool...so it shattered all of the glass walls on the ground floor when filled! Second attempt they realised the tile paint was not waterproof. Third times a charm. Imagine the claims dreams of the architect waiting and wondering if those glitches would be discovered!
Only a seasoned criminal would be so diabolical as to plan a crime that involved changing the planned tiles for the pool, manage to start university near that pool, commit the crime, and then get the scene of the crime demolished. Well played Alice
Excellent read, Alice. I’m from (and live in) Leeds and the International Pool being a tile too small is etched in our history. I’d hate it if it were an urban myth.
Similarly, there’s a Uni building near The Academy (Creation, depending on when you lived here) that was allegedly built the wrong way around - big fancy entrance was meant to be on the main road but is, instead, at the back on a little side street. Architectural balls up that they only realised when it was too late.
DON'T be the floater in the Medium lane! Know your limits fool!
I have to huffily swim in the fast lane, giving the "floater" the evil eye, and some choice mutterings! (And then I remember that I'm there for "fun" and so I calm down and enjoy the swim again...)
Alice, I’ll have you know this read disturbed me so much that I dreamt about it, and just had “the tiles!” Going around and around in my head when I woke up. I’m a sleep-deprived mother of young twins so sleep is very important to me… thank you. Thank you very much 🤣
One of my favourite photos of all time features the derelict and drained Leeds International Pool, with a collection of smashed monitors in the deep end. The ‘welcome to Leeds’ display on the wall has been amended to ‘welcome to Leeds, now f*** off. Thankyou’ (one word). A perfect summing up of our great city.
Also I’m pretty sure I was at Leeds at a similar time to you and ALSO got rejected by the radio station. They let in Dan Smith though, and he never amounted to anything, right?!
Weirdly the tile debacle is also the legend of the Welsh National Pool at Swansea Uni. but I've finally just googled it and although it IS 50m long, it's still not the right size to be an Olympic pool 🤷🏻♀️ so many lost opportunities
Am I missing something? Isn’t a pool such a simple construction? It’s a rectangle? Why do people keep getting it wrong?!? If it was a Zaha Hadid design I might understand!
It’s a great read, Alice, but had I known this was the origin story of ‘Swim Club’ I may not have joined said ‘Swim Club’. Still, I lived to tell the tale/leave this comment. Also, I just don’t understand how I spent all those years in Leeds (including — trigger warning — my Leeds Student Radio years) and never went to this pool? I did make the odd pilgrimage to Ilkley lido however, what a fever dream.
Talk about speaking with your foot in your mouth, the London architect clearly took it literally. No wonder the Italian architect was a little befuddled and got it so horribly wrong.
Maybe the old man was the ghost of the pool designer, cursed to drift in his his own shoddy work for eternity, but when someone used the pool like a pro his work was complete and his spirit was able to move on? Or you just killed a guy whatever 😂 Another entertaining read anyhow!
This has to be an Inside No.9 episode!
This is so funny. I once pushed a man into the regents canal (not on purpose). No fault of measurements and he’s definitely not dead (though I basically ran away seconds after ascertaining her was ok because I was scared he’d make me pay for his laptop).
Pushed in error? You thought he was a nemesis but it was a case of mistaken identity?
This has just made me laugh so much, imagining being the man with this going on is hilarious, what was going through his mind feeling, and seeing this happen? Thank you so much for the needed laughs!
I know, it doesn’t bear thinking about
Who knew pools were so complicated to build. The mix up reminds me of the pool on the roof of the Bath Spa, first attempt the arcitect/engineer failed to factor in the weight of the water in the pool...so it shattered all of the glass walls on the ground floor when filled! Second attempt they realised the tile paint was not waterproof. Third times a charm. Imagine the claims dreams of the architect waiting and wondering if those glitches would be discovered!
This is making its way up to the Top of the Botches!
Clammy* not claims!
Only a seasoned criminal would be so diabolical as to plan a crime that involved changing the planned tiles for the pool, manage to start university near that pool, commit the crime, and then get the scene of the crime demolished. Well played Alice
Ben, you know too much…
Excellent read, Alice. I’m from (and live in) Leeds and the International Pool being a tile too small is etched in our history. I’d hate it if it were an urban myth.
Similarly, there’s a Uni building near The Academy (Creation, depending on when you lived here) that was allegedly built the wrong way around - big fancy entrance was meant to be on the main road but is, instead, at the back on a little side street. Architectural balls up that they only realised when it was too late.
So are we confirming? Officially?
I keep thinking of this story and returning to read it as I do think it’s one of the funniest things ever, thanks Levine for your writing always
yo alice, check this out:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika,_Ontario
unity mitford was conceived there 😭
what are the odds?!
DON'T be the floater in the Medium lane! Know your limits fool!
I have to huffily swim in the fast lane, giving the "floater" the evil eye, and some choice mutterings! (And then I remember that I'm there for "fun" and so I calm down and enjoy the swim again...)
Alice, I’ll have you know this read disturbed me so much that I dreamt about it, and just had “the tiles!” Going around and around in my head when I woke up. I’m a sleep-deprived mother of young twins so sleep is very important to me… thank you. Thank you very much 🤣
One of my favourite photos of all time features the derelict and drained Leeds International Pool, with a collection of smashed monitors in the deep end. The ‘welcome to Leeds’ display on the wall has been amended to ‘welcome to Leeds, now f*** off. Thankyou’ (one word). A perfect summing up of our great city.
Also I’m pretty sure I was at Leeds at a similar time to you and ALSO got rejected by the radio station. They let in Dan Smith though, and he never amounted to anything, right?!
I need to find this, Laura!!
Hahahahahah. This made me anxious and cry with laughter in equal measure. Thanks for sharing!
Sorry & thanks, also in equal measure x
Weirdly the tile debacle is also the legend of the Welsh National Pool at Swansea Uni. but I've finally just googled it and although it IS 50m long, it's still not the right size to be an Olympic pool 🤷🏻♀️ so many lost opportunities
Am I missing something? Isn’t a pool such a simple construction? It’s a rectangle? Why do people keep getting it wrong?!? If it was a Zaha Hadid design I might understand!
It’s a great read, Alice, but had I known this was the origin story of ‘Swim Club’ I may not have joined said ‘Swim Club’. Still, I lived to tell the tale/leave this comment. Also, I just don’t understand how I spent all those years in Leeds (including — trigger warning — my Leeds Student Radio years) and never went to this pool? I did make the odd pilgrimage to Ilkley lido however, what a fever dream.
Alwayssss do your due diligence, Rozza! x
I’d totally blame the inaccurate pool measurements for clearly messing with your spatial awareness…
That actually makes so much sense!! Of course!
Talk about speaking with your foot in your mouth, the London architect clearly took it literally. No wonder the Italian architect was a little befuddled and got it so horribly wrong.
It is just unfathomable that no one would check!