In late June many gathered at the Grade II listed Walpole Bay tidal pool, Cliftonville, nr Margate in celebration of its 80th anniversary. This place provides a vital free space in which to play, swim, fish and come together. On arrival the tide was high and people unfamiliar with Cliftonville were looking bewildered, shyly asking 'where is the pool'? It necessitates waiting, no instant gratification here, but then as the tide slowly turns, this beautiful vast tidal pool quietly reveals itself.
With my colleague Rob Ball, we photographed a number of the swimmers, ably assisted by Jason Pay and Shaun Vincent. We were supported through CCCU's Centre for Research on Communities & Cultures. In October there will be a further event at CCCU, Broadstairs with an exhibition, presentations and various film screenings celebrating yet another summer of this shared space.
Event Images by Shaun Vincent