A DEDICATED campaigner who helped save the Bathurst open air swimming pool has died.

Eighty-one-year-old, David (Dai) Richards, of Lydney, had been suffering with ill-health when he passed away on October 25 at the Dilke Hospital.

Mr Richards was instrumental in saving the pool after it was closed by Lydney Town Council in 1999. After several meetings, which were supported by many people in the town, he joined with the committee that had been formed to secure a three year lease on the premises from the council.

He managed the pool for three seasons and in 2003 was joined by Bob Berryman when a new 10 year lease was negotiated.

Mr Richards continued as chairman for several more years with Bob Berryman becoming manager. Dai and his wife, Thelma, attended the pool on a daily basis for many more years until ill-health prevented them from doing this. The last time that he actually swam was during the 2011 season when he came on a few occasions.

Trustee of The Friends of Bathurst Pool, Sheila Berryman said: "He was passionate about Bathurst Pool and always said that 'It was the healthiest place in Lydney.' He will be remembered for his larger than life presence together with his strong Welsh accent, frequently used to shout at the youngsters in the pool, but most of all for the relentless fight that he put up to save the pool.

"We shall be forever grateful to him for this, as we, the trustees, are now the proud owners of a superb facility that gives pleasure to hundreds of people in Lydney and the surrounding areas."

Prior to his work at Bathurst Pool, Mr Richards had a teaching career spanning nearly 30 years.

His daughter, Jayne Richards said: "My father moved to the Forest in 1961 and was a science teacher at the Lydney Boys Secondary School. He then took the role as house master at Whitecross which he did for 10 years before he retired. He used to take his classes along to the pools and loved swimming in the cold water during the summer. He got involved with the Bathurst Pool trust and started to 'make a fuss' when the council announced it was going to close it. He was passionate about its future and played for Lydney RFC between 1961 and 1971."