It’s a fixture of Snodland that has been educating children for 40 years, but the full story of St Katherine’s School’s swimming pool is one of tragedy, community and acting royalty.

It began with a traumatic experience for a young Bert Taylor.

The late father-of-four, who was born in 1936 in the town’s Oxford Street was in his early teens when he witnessed the body of a drowned man being dragged from Brookland Lake.

But rather than turn his back on the water, Bert was determined to ensure that future generations would not suffer a similar fate, by raising funds to build a swimming pool.

The former chairman of St Katherine’s Parents’ Association passed away in 2011, aged 75.

And on Wednesday , 32 years after the pool was built, Bert’s youngest grandson, Benjamin Taylor, left the school with a national swimming qualification and trophies bearing his grandfather’s name.

The 11-year-old is the third generation of the family to swim in the pool, which was completed in 1982 after Bert lead a decade of fundraising.

The idea, described by Bert as “a major undertaking”, was originally broached in 1969, but shelved until July 1972.

However, in following six months Snodland residents raise £2,700, the equivelant of £31,119 today.

“I remember learning to swim in the pool, as a child I think I took it for granted and did not realise the amount of effort that went in to gettng it for us. Bert helped make happy memories for a lot of people.” - Debbie James

However, the target of £4,500, £51,866 in today’s money, was still a long was off and June 1973 saw the highlight of the fundraising efforts when movie superstar and Britain’s answer to Marilyn Monroe, Diana Dors, attended the Snodland Splash event in the grounds of St Katherine’s School.

The event was opened by Miss Dors and included a hugely popular piano smashing competition, various prize draws and a ‘shoot out’ invovling members of the Remuda Western Club.

Mike Thetford, 77, from Hollow Lane, Snodland, who is one of only two surviving members of the specially formed swimming pool sub committee, said: “It was lovely to meet Diana Dors; she was super, a great draw for the event and visited every one of the 70 plus stalls.”

The campaign for Snodland’s first swimming pool continued with the pool being put on order and installed in 1974.

However, for three years the 40 ft by 20 ft teaching pool was open to the elements as the swimming pool sub committee couldn’t afford to add a roof.

Bert’s son Jeremy Taylor, 50, from Wyvern Close, Snodland - the road in which he was born - recalls helping to build the pool and learning to swim in it: “I used to help my dad with the building work. When it was opened I was 10 and in year 5, it was open air back then. I’m the eldest of four and my two sisters and brother swam in the pool after the roof had been added.”

Jeremy’s siblings Vanessa Waller, 45, who lives in Lee Road, Snodland, and Maxine Worsley, 48, and Ashley Taylor, 43, who have since left the area, attended St Katherine's and learnt to swim in the pool.

When Jeremy posted the news that his son would be leaving St Katherine’s with momentos of Bert’s work, tributes came flooding in.

Debbie James said: “I remember learning to swim in the pool, as a child I think I took it for granted and did not realise the amount of effort that went in to gettng it for us. Bert helped make happy memories for a lot of people.”

As the pool celebrates its 40th year the benefits it brings to the community look set to continue, and with refurbishments on the horizon Bert’s legacy will certainly live on.