"In the 1940s the school outdoor pool, known as the 'Duck's Pond', was also on Oleander stream, being constructed within it's bed. It was downstream of the reservoir and formed between two smaller dams, with the stream weiring into and out of the pool. It was shallow throughout, being no more than three foot deep, and the water was always cloudy, with a constant bed of soft, squiggy mud, about six inches deep, which was seldom cleared out. Being too shallow for diving, It prompted the more adventurous boys to use a nearby twenty foot diameter stone well for this purpose, unseen by the teachers and farmers. Proper authorised diving was only available to the senior boys during the Monsoon season, in the old stone quarries behind Candy block.

When the first Monsoon showers arrived following the almost unbearable heat of May and early June, the whole Boys school spontaneously donned their swimming trunks, and rushed about in a frenzy of activity to capture the rain. Drainage channels were cleared and all rainwater directed into the quarries, which became filled with water to a great depth quite soon. The glorious feeling of the first Monsoon rain and the indefinable fresh smell when it strikes the baked earth, remains one of my enduring memories of India. Sadly I found the quarries drained in 1995 and no longer in use for this purpose.

The swimming pool changing hut had been very spartan, consisting of black, bitumen-painted, corrugated iron walls and roof. It had an eighteen inch gap in the top and bottom of the walls for ventialation, and timber slatted benches. These gaps often saved our skins, as it provided both a warning and and escape route when we boys were caught swimming at unauthorised times, which was often. It was difficult for those still in the in the pool on these occasions, as we boys generally swam naked, on casual swimming forays! If the intruders were a contingent from the Girl's school the proceedings became quite hilarious, as we scooted for cover to the nearest bushes. I found in 1995 that the old pool had been later deepened in 1962, and improved with bypass channels to reduce sedimentation. Also that a special deep diving pool had been added, with new stone biult changing rooms also. Unfortunately however an earthquake in 1994 damaged the facilties to such an extent that the pool has been abandoned. I understand a new swimming pool is planned behind the Admin." block." I understand the school is still in search of funds for this.

 Above:Some of the boys who used to swim in the big well near the Duck Pond. They were: Back row: Trevor 'Titch ' Wright, Kenny Pettingel, Jimmy Pettingel

Front row: Kentucky Baines, Mike Nestor, Mark Namey, Russel Thornhill, Patrick Gabb , Fred Gormanly,Ralph Baden