Lido Ladies In the Pink Promoting Outdoor Swimming

Published on: 2 May, 2021
Updated on: 4 May, 2021

The Lido Ladies, Jessica (left) and Nicola, poolside at the Guildford Lido. Photo Mandy Millyard

By Martin Giles

The Lido Ladies splashed into Guildford last week to promote outdoor swimming. On their own initiative, Nicola Foster and Jessica Walker are on tour, encouraging others to dive in after the nation’s outdoor pools reopened at the end of March.

The ladies making and entrance at Guildford Lido.

The glamourous duo, who dress in complementary pink outfits for their poolside visits, hail from South East London.

They created an Instagram account (@lidoladieslondon) to publicise their self-organised venture and that went viral at a stroke after the BBC featured their story.

Jessica is a former dancer who performed as a child with the prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn. Nicola matched the name drop, saying Margot Fonteyn presented her with her degree in Politics and Modern History at Durham University.

Not all the pools visited have been heated like Guildford’s. Photo Mandy Millyard

The ladies, in their mid-50s, feel passionate about the importance of exercise during the pandemic restrictions.

Flamingos Colin & Nigel are named after secret lovers!

Their inflatable flamingos, known as Nigel and Colin, are waiting for warmer weather before they make an appearance. Asked why they are called Nigel and Colin, Jessica giggled and said: “They are named after our imaginary secret lovers.”

Nicola admitted she “shed a tear” the night a news announcer said pools would again close as the second lockdown started.

They prefer outdoor swimming because that’s “swimming under the sky”, enduring chilly, unheated pools during their tour.

They are now looking for sponsorship and a filmmaker to create a record of their exploits.

Click here for more information about the Guildford Lido.