Here One Day, Gone The Next

Image: National Archives Of Singapore; 1985

Image: National Archives Of Singapore; 1952

Image: National Archives Of Singapore; 1952

Image: National Archives Of Singapore; 1952

Image: National Archives Of Singapore; 1952

Image: National Archives Of Singapore; 1965

I wonder how many of us know that there is a public swimming pool called Yan Kit Swimming Complex located at Yan Kit Road and opposite Tanjong Pagar Community Club.

This pools holds special memories for me. 

When I was a little kid, I used to come to this pools; learn to swim. At that point of time, my father work as a Pool Operator.

Open in 1952, Yan Kit Swimming Complex was the second public swimming facility in Singapore, after Mount Emily Swimming Complex at Upper Wilkie Road, which was opened in 1932 and closed some time after 1982.

To a child in the early 90's, this was a paradise and a place of challenges. 

The once-popular swimming complex has three pools in a row, namely the adult pool, the children pool and the diving pool. 

There are also a single-story clubhouse and three small blocks for changing rooms and bathrooms. 

I can still recall seeing the Lifeguard on duty watched over the swimmers at the tower between the children pool and the diving pool. 

There are three diving platforms at the end of the diving pool, where the water measured 3 meter deep.

The complex, owned by ActiveSG (formerly known as Singapore Sports Council), was closed in 2001 after a spike in maintenance fees due to a dramatic decline in attendance of swimmers.

I guess in a couple of years, few people will even know that once upon a time, there was a swimming pool in this quiet corner in the southern part of Singapore.