HINERANGI VAIMOSO
This was meant to be just another retirement story but 74-year-old swimming coach John Beaumont threw cold water on that angle because he doesn't believe in the ``r' word.
``I have no definite plans but just know I'm not retiring. I don't believe in retirement,' Mr Beaumont said.
``I think we
can just move on to something else and have new experiences.'
After 40 years of good experiences including coaching Olympic swimmer Carmel Clark and paralympics multiple gold medalist Duane Kale, Mr Beaumont is selling the heated indoor swimming facility he built in 1968.
The John Beaumont Swim Centre on the corner of Karamena Drive and Donnelly St in Havelock North has been an institution in the lives of ``many thousands and thousands' of eager swimmers, most under the guidance of Mr Beaumont.
``I couldn't recall all the names but if I saw them, I could probably work it out,' he said.
``I get people who I taught as children turn up here with their children.' Mr Beaumont still works from 2-7.45pm most days with a colleague taking lessons in the morning.
It wasn't always this bustling however, Mr Beaumont said.
``I'll never forget it,' he said when asked whether he remembered opening day in 1968.
The idea of heated pools was still new; there were only a few around the country. Mr Beaumont's was the first heated pool in Hawke's Bay and he was the first coach in New Zealand to open a privately owned pool.
``I was advised by a number of people, thinking of my best interests, that it wouldn't work,' he said.
``It was a passion though and it took a lot of hard work. On opening day, it was more of a curiosity thing. No one had ever seen an indoor pool and no one ever swam in winter. We really had to teach a generation.'
Mr Beaumont already had a wealth of pupils on his books and knew the only way to progress was to swim all year round. Four decades later, business is good but it's about to become someone else's business.
The heated indoor pool was bought by Auckland-based Hilton-Brown, close friends of Mr and Mrs Beaumont, who intend to keep it as a swimming facility.
As for Mr Beaumont when he's not on the poolside coaching, he's set to dedicate more time to his six children, 12 grandchildren and his golf clubs.
