IN 1911 a small public swimming pool was built in Brooklands Park, between Brooklands Way and West Hill. It was filled with spring water, with no changing rooms and no mixed bathing allowed.

A swimming group called the East Grinstead Water Rats had existed as far back as 1898. The men are pictured here in their baggy woollen costumes.

It is believed the Water Rats evolved into East Grinstead Swimming Club, which officially launched in 1912.

A notebook with minutes taken at club meetings from 1912 to 1914 was recently discovered, as well as two trophies dating back to 1913.

It reveals that, on May 13, 1912, a public meeting took place with a newly formed committee, with local dignitaries invited to fill posts such as president and honourable members.

These were expected to make annual donations to the club and failure to do so would result in withdrawal from the position.

"The club started with a wide range of people of all ages and was open only in the summer because it was an open pool," said current club president John Herbert.

Minutes of meetings that followed tell of the decision to have blue as the colour of the club, with the East Grinstead coat of arms in white on swimming costumes or drawers, with the letters EGSC in red underneath.

At the second AGM on March 24, 1913, the subject of mixed bathing first arose and was put to the Urban District Council, but permission was refused.

Mr Herbert said: "During the First World War, the club almost completely disappeared because there were bigger things to focus on. But as soon as it was over, the club reunited."

In 1926 water polo was introduced to the club, and a gala put on for local secondary schools.

The following year, the water polo team joined the Sussex league and mixed bathing was permitted – on a Thursday evening only.

In 1931, for the first time, the employment of a professional teacher of the front crawl was specifically mentioned in the minutes from a meeting – the teacher was called Mr Chapman, and he remained with the club for 20 years.

Brooklands Pool was lengthened to 331/3 yards in 1934, and a filtration unit was installed. Until then, the pool had been emptied and refilled every Monday throughout the season.

The Urban District Council first discussed covering the pool in 1967 for all-year use, but nothing came of it, and the proposal was discarded in 1973.

The pool was now over 60 years old and showing its age and, by the end of 1978, it had closed for good.

Unfortunately the new pool that had been promised was then scrapped.

A mass public protest was organised and a referendum held, after which a new pool was built at Kings Centre and opened in 1982.

Mr Herbert added: "When it first opened, we were allowed only an hour in the morning, but now we have up to eight sessions a week to encourage the swimmers."

After four years of travelling to Caterham, Haywards Heath and Crawley, the club finally had a home of its own again.

This year the club, which performs at county, regional and national level, celebrates its centenary.