Julian Fox: Splashing out

You don’t have to get wet to soak up the cultural offerings of Brockwell Lido, discovers Karl Webster

Above: Julian Fox soaks up inspiration for his comedy show

There are few things more miserable in this world than long London winters. The only way most of us get through them is by dreaming of hot beaches and clear, blue water. If only there were somewhere in London where you could strip off and pretend you were in the Seychelles. But wait… there is! Brockwell Park Lido has been transforming SE24 (Herne Hill) into an urban Bahamas since 1937. Now in its 71st year and recently awarded Grade II status, the lido is gearing up for its most exciting times ever.

First there’s the ongoing love affair between the lido and comedian Julian Fox. Last year, Julian performed his paean to Brockwell Lido "You've Got to Love Dancing to Stick to It" throughout London and at the Edinburgh Festival. This year he’s bringing it back.

So what inspires a man to write a show about a lido? Julian explains: "I think I first went there shortly after I moved to the area about 10 years ago. I liked it but never thought about it again until about three years ago. It was a warm day, and walking through the turnstiles I felt like I’d stumbled upon the set of Baywatch or something. I really loved it. I don’t know what it is. I guess it does feel like an urban beach and it’s so unusual to see other Londoners semi-naked. I mean, indoor swimming pools are all about swimming and nothing else, whereas the lido is about swimming but also other stuff: lounging around, seeing and being seen. It feels almost continental and vaguely sexy."

Julian studied art in Norwich before getting into "improv dance stuff". Then after spending a year in Seattle, he took a job as stage doorkeeper at the Barbican. Five shows down the line (Soho Theatre, Barbican Centre, BAC, Edinburgh Festival and "a couple of series on Radio 4") and he’s still working at the Barbican, where he has become something of an institution. He’ll always make time for the lido, however. "I will be going this year," he says. "I think that it’s opening from May, which is great. Though I have to say, if the weather isn’t too good, I’m not getting in. I’m not one of the nutty swim-outdoors-all-year-round people. I went down to the Midwinter Swim in December and had a cup of tea down there, but that was enough for me."

Another Brockwell Lido enthusiast is local historian Peter Bradley, who last year released Out of the Blue, a book commemorating the first 70 years of the pool’s history. He explains what makes Brockwell Lido so special: "The love and support of an indefatigable local community over 70 years, in good times and bad, war and peace. It is a modest, magnificent example of municipal leisure architecture that encloses the blue of the sky and the blue of the pool to create a magical, beguiling space." When not writing about it, he’s busy swimming in it. "I swam daily in the 2007 season and even took the plunge at the Midwinter Swim, mad fool that I am. Its contribution to my health and happiness is inestimable."

You can’t help but wonder, if everyone loves Brockwell Lido so much why aren’t there lidos all over London? "Basically," explains Peter, "British weather and council cuts. Lidos flourish in hot weather; only the die-hards like myself go when it's raining. The costs of running lidos are such that most councils can’t afford them. Brockwell Lido’s ingenious solution was to add a gym that can cross-subsidise the lido in bad weather – without a penny subsidy from Lambeth Council."

Anne Layton of Fusion Management agrees that if it hadn’t been for the gym, which has been up and running since last September, Brockwell Lido would not have been able to survive. There is however, much more to the lido than keeping fit. Heritage education co-ordinator Gethan Dick is responsible for devising programmes which combine people’s love of the lido with other more creative pursuits. So far this has included workshops with students from various London colleges, the Midwinter Swim which saw more than 70 lunatics braving the icy water, and various arts, crafts and photographic events.

The Brockwell Lido Users group, instrumental in keeping the lido open when closure was threatened, also organised four poetry writing events last summer. Over 170 people wrote 120 poems, the best of which are currently being compiled in a book entitled Waterwords: Lido Poems.

Then there is Whippersnappers, founded at the lido 14 years ago by Caroline Burghard, which started out catering solely for the under-5s but now provides classes in music, dance, art, sports, African drumming and Capoeira for everyone from toddlers to OAPs – carrot cake and tea included.

Events scheduled so far for this summer include schools workshops, an elaborate design-based event over the May Bank Holiday and three art events where artists and ordinary people will create lido-inspired artwork together. Plus there will be a Midsummer Swim – just like the Midwinter Swim, but (hopefully) hotter.

All of which is wonderful news. But one question remains: the word "lido" – does it rhyme with "Speedo" or with "Dido"? Gethan Dick has been looking into it. "I actually spoke to a language specialist about this very point and while both are ‘right’," she explains. "We’re thinking about doing a bit of research into how the two came about. My own feeling is that the only way to settle this would be a tug-of-war across the pool."

Julian Fox plays the Soho Theatre 23 April to 3 May; book tickets (£12) on 0870 429 6883. For news about the lido’s opening times, courses, classes and events, visit Fusion at www.brockwell-lido.com

Pooled resources: Brockwell Lido Users (BLU) was formed in 2001 because the survival of the pool was in question. It now has over 1,000 members who use the facility for Whippersnappers, fitness, yoga, tai chi, meditation, swimming, sunbathing and socialising. To add your voice to shaping its future, visit BLU at www.brockwelllido.com