Swimmers objected to servicemen using pool

7:29am Wednesday 28th November 2007

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Swimmers humiliated seriously injured servicemen undergoing treatment at Headley Court Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre by objecting to their presence in Leatherhead Leisure Centre swimming pool.

A group of Headley Court veterans, some who had lost limbs during active service in Iraq and Afghanistan, had to leave the pool after being told by a couple of swimmers they had no right to be there because they had not paid. Another group of servicemen remained in the water.

The incident at the swimming pool took place when an assistant lifeguard moved lane ropes to get ready for the regular Headley Court session.

A woman swimmer complained that it reduced the room in the pool for other members of the public who had paid an entry fee while the soldiers were allowed in free. She was backed by another member of the public.

She then spoke directly to the Headley Court physical training instructor who decided to remove his group while another continued with their session.

Mole Valley District Council is so appalled at her behaviour that it is expected to pass a resolution this week extending the free swimming concessions for servicemen to their families, who will also be allowed free use of the soft play area at the centre and free entry to Dorking Halls cinema.

Councillor Tim Hall, leader of Mole Valley District Council, said: "There appears to have been a rare incident where two members of the public queried the provision of lanes of the swimming pool for Headley Court.

"This was an isolated incident, where some insensitive comments were made by these members of the public, directed at some of our customers from Headley Court.

"As we live in a democracy which encourages freedom of speech, we cannot legislate against what particular individuals say."

A spokesman for the MOD said: "We are disappointed that a small number people objected to the closure of swimming lanes so that patients of Headley Court could use them.

"This is not typical of the support given to military by the public in Leatherhead."

Ironically, the incident at the leisure centre happened shortly before Sir Richard Dannatt, head of the British Army and Chief of the General Staff, visited Headley Court on Friday to launch the Arkensis Group appeal, part of the £5million Help for Heroes appeal to build a swimming pool and other rehabilitation facilities at Headley.

"The people who come here are very special, some are injured in training but many are here because of injuries they have sustained on operations.

"People here are so focused - they want to get better and they want to get back to work," he said.

More than £1 million has been raised so far for the appeal.