101 year-old lady joins campaign to keep Burnham swimming pool open


	Burnham-On-Sea, Somerset

January 31, 2006
101-year-old lady joins campaign to keep Burnham-On-Sea pool open

Florence Long, one of Burnham-On-Sea's oldest residents, celebrated her 101st birthday on Tuesday by taking a dip in the town's swimming pool and joining in the campaign to keep the facility open.

Florence Long celebrated her 101st birthday in Burnham Pool on Tuesday January 31st [Photo: ITV West] The spritely resident of Broughton Lodge residential home in Berrow Road was the centre of attention in front of TV crews and press photographers as she had her swim.

Carer Mike Matthews told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "She is a very spirited lady who maintains very strong opinions about many subjects such as the swimming pool and is never afraid to say what she thinks."

Florence taking a dip in Burnham's swimming pool [Photo: ITV West] "She's also incredibly energetic and despite her age maintains a vigorous daily fitness programme. Because she swam at Burnham pool every day until she was 95, she said she'd really like to go back on her birthday - and that's what we did today."

"Last year for her 100th birthday she posed for photos on my motorbike and was motorfied that I would not take her for a ride on it!"

Florence also posed for pictures with Elaine Lawson, the Burnham swimming pool campaigner who has organised a 1,500 signature petition to keep the threatened facility open.