The Reg Maxwell Pool (Aylesbury) Experience - Part 1

In 2007 I visited the disused Reg Maxwell swimming pool and gym in Aylesbury, Bucks. I was shocked by what I found. Some six years after closing, the power was on, the lights blazing, the ventilation fans spinning... So this is where my Council Tax goes!

[@Rapscallion2009]

That actually makes me a bit sad, because it's a part of my personal history. I learned to swim in that pool and spent some very happy times there as a kid swimming and I just really loved it. Now some twerp decided to close it and build that new place, and some marginally bigger twerps have decided to vandalise it. Mind you. Aylesbury isn't what it once was. I think they wanted to turn it into a modern, upscale, arty town. Unfortunately, they turned it into a micro Slough.

[@gordonjaques4531]

Love the video I was brought up in Aylesbury in the 70s 80s used to go here often with my kids now I live in Scotland

[@louisegalt8921]

I was born in Aylesbury 1979, grew up there and went swimming here often, left in 2001 when I moved to Scotland too!

[@shelf9876]

Great memories in the old civic centre. Especially climbing over sun deck and get in free 😁🌞

[@Lamvesp]

I was born in London, brought up in Aylesbury throughout the 70's and 80's and now live in the Netherlands so these vids hold an extra fascination for me. I really appreciate what you're doing here, Mr Smith.

[@SimplyPaul]

The lights, the fans, the gym equipment... None of which would have been possible if the electricity was already being controlled from another site. Still, the reassurance that the lights hadn't been on for six years for me as an AVDC council tax payer is very... reassuring. Thank you for taking the time to post this.

[@12span34]

i swim for maxwell swim club aand i remember this pool so well its heartbreaking seein it like this. good pool and good times xx

[@SimplyPaul]

@100Thesniper The Maxwell Pool: gone, but thanks to this video, not forgotten.

[@lemmingzappa]

Brilliant videos, thanks alot for this, more people should do exploring of this kind ! Brings back early memories....

[@dandan84]

I learned to swim in that smaller pool...

[@SimplyPaul]

A very good question. I went on holiday to the Outer Hebrides shortly after taking this video. I put the tape in a draw before going and pretty much forgot all about it. It was only when I mentioned I had some footage while commenting on my Odeon video and other people's interest was piqued that I got around to finding it and capture/edit/uploading it. Is it a big deal to me? Not really. It wasn't me who drew the media's attention to it. I hope that answers your question.

[@jamiekelly12]

I totally agree!

[@PanosDCC]

Wow, that is a quite shocking sight to see. You know, in my hometown (Xanthi, Greece), they're about to close our swimming pool and I'm pretty sure that one day it's going to end up in the state that Reg Maxwell pool currently is. We also have a lot of small tobacco storage rooms that they're abandoned for decades. Unfortunately, no-one has ever tried to explore those storage rooms.

[@bestiaccia]

I saw your video on the BBC yesterday! wooooooooo I'm an even bigger fan now! :D

[@LUNATIC75]

A bit of shocker! I can't believe how they just seemed to abandon the place. Brings back a few memories too.

[@SimplyPaul]

It was nice and warm when I was in there... but it was June ;)

[@SimplyPaul]

@Leybrutal It's about to be demolished, I believe, to make way for a new shopping complex in town. I bet we still don't get an Ann Summers though ;)

[@SimplyPaul]

@alienspratley Judging by the fencing going up around the site, the whole thing will be coming down very shortly. Goodbye Maxwell Pool!

[@Blueone3452123]

Used to love that red inflatable slide in the pool when I was two the lifeguard used too let me down it even though I was too young and that kiddie pool used too have frog floats it's the first swimming pool I ever went in when I was 5 months old . Some of my first memories

[@SimplyPaul]

Too clean? I'd love to see your house! :D There was some dust. You need damp to make mold, and the roof's not failed yet. And you need food to encourage rats; nothing for them to eat=no rats (that I saw anyway).

[@Volfmech]

Aye, I remember when it was Co-op. Massive floor space with all that titled flooring!

[@Zealey]

The wasted power!!! I guess this is what our taxes go on!!!

[@SimplyPaul]

I think they'll be uploaded to my website this weekend. I'll put a note here if/when I get around to it.

[@coderedracing]

Yeah, I saw that. I'll have to talk to you tomorrow.

[@TheMobileLocksmith]

Well done. Just seen Bucks Herald. Great videos

[@Volfmech]

Damn... Such a waste of money. Speaking of which, Do you know the building above QD? I wonder if the power is still on up there? It really woudnt surprize me!

[@SimplyPaul]

This is just behind the Civic Centre, next to the car park, and would have been the only indoor pool in Aylesbury in the mid 80s.

[@SimplyPaul]

The pool areas certainly had something of the art space about them. I just had a call from the Beeb again, to check it was ok for them to use my video. It was and is :)

[@SimplyPaul]

Good to know. I hope they can use it and nothing more news-worthy happens between now and when it's broadcast to bump it. It's like a 'people who have met my brother, or sons there of' reunion in here. As Pyro' said in a mail to me; small world.

[@SimplyPaul]

Blud, I got in the way you see here, via a board that was down. While passing the pool today it did look a lot more secure. I've no other suggestions for entrances; I just hope they turned the power off before they sealed the place up properly! Glad you liked scopping da vidie. Respek. Peace. We out. (etc)

[@SimplyPaul]

'm told BBC Oxford local TV news may be running a story on the power being on tonight. 6.30-7pm. I've sent them a few still photos I took too. Good write-up in the Bucks Herald I though. It's nice that they say I should be commended. I don't think I've been commended before. Condemned, yes, but not commended... Thanks for the comments folks :)

[@aussieskiff]

Good to see our council tax put to some use!! Inside the building would make a good canvas for graffiti artists..Still AVDC could have invested our money in Iceland .Or did they ?Still this wont affect the councils final salary pension , that we're all paying in too.Also what I'd like to know is why the coucil has allowed a pikey camp to set up shop directly opposite worlds end nursery ,Where's the planning application and consultation with the local community . Thanks AVDC !!

[@SimplyPaul]

I've already responded to what I regard as AVDC's inopportune comments on this video and the other three. I don't want to repeat myself.

[@Dav123xyz]

Just watched it again....what a shocking waste.

[@bestiaccia]

It looks like an episode of "Survivors"!!

[@Dav123xyz]

How did it get in that state? +power left on??? All that tackle left up the top....gym equipemnt going to waste. I've just spent good money on a treadmill...(shows our attitude to heath and fitness) Looks like the marie celeste....

[@SimplyPaul]

But we found a pool timetable from 2001, so...?

[@SimplyPaul]

A wiff of accusation in there. I did not break into or cause criminal damage to this building or its contents and I find the carefully worded non-suggestion to the contrary offensive. The gym equipment I filmed in 2007 looked pretty usable to me, but I'm no expert.

[@Meteorological]

If the issue of the pool, the lights etc was such a big issue to you why wait 2 years before publishing?

[@ticktockremix]

Goodbye. The bank outside is fun to sled down though :)

[@BikerandBits]

All that area has been flattened mid 2011 it's no a open open car park

[@SimplyPaul]

If you've seen the video, you'll know how I got in there. If you've not, I can recommend it as an interesting documentary of my visit.

[@diversityhd6326]

i went in there a few years ago but i was boarded up =/

[@d7106]

How did you get in there?

[@SimplyPaul]

@NiamhyyBeanss Sad but true.

[@Viccobalta]

is it still in tht state?

[@Meteorological]

AVDC Tories are intimating that the lights were off and that somehow they were turned on in a deliberate attack (for want of a better word) and they seem to be saying that you or someone connected to you, put the lights fans etc on, would you like to comment on this?

[@aussieskiff]

SACK EM ! In 1997 my council tax bill was around 600 gb pounds now its arond 1300, Im not paying for their waste ..This bloody governments the same waste spend, waste spend some more print more money ... Quantative easing my arse their outta control and we're paying for it .

[@satanicvicar]

im fucking going tere soon as haha

[@Taxtation]

looks vandelised to me (sp)

[@TheJedditytv]

I want to go in there, but when i had a look it was boarded up Q_Q

[@Aryankh4n]

Hiya paul My dad showed me this old maxwell ool video of yours...i have only seen a crpark here in my life...but good to see how it was back in the days...i have started my own youtube channel recently... please do subscribe and if possible can i upload and share this old maxwell swimming pool video to my subscribers ? Would be great to educate the new generation how Aylesbury used to be...

[@klingoncelt]

Someone's been using the place. It's too clean, there should be dust and rats everywhere, and mold.

[@alienspratley]

its worse now, huge whole in the roof

[@MrEchoes1962]

So the pool was opposite where the Vue cinema is now?

[@Landie_Man]

It’s an ODEON. The pool was to the side of the cinema on the open air car park. Adjoining the pool was the Civic Centre which is now where the new restaurants are. There was also a multi storey car park there.

[@aprilapril2]

Hate the “ new “ pool.

[@Clarice007]

What a waste! I could use this venue for something really good!