Charity event in memory of Derbyshire pool lifeguard

Diane Brown, of Ashbourne, qualified as a lifeguard in 2019 – the year the hotel pool officially reopened on its 85th anniversary following a four year restoration project – and had been part of the team transforming the once murky water into a modern and usable facility.

In July 2021, the ‘fit and strong’ triathlete became very fatigued, struggled to walk up hills and, after failing a swim-speed test, lost her dream job. Three months later she was diagnosed with blood cancer and had to undergo chemotherapy.

For the last four-and-a-half years Diane enjoyed the lido’s geothermal natural spring water fed lido at the New Bath Hotel and Spa, which nestles between the picturesque Wildcat Crags of the Derbyshire Dales. The water was her ‘therapy and sanctuary’, and she swam three times a week in the Blue Badge Lane where she became a familiar face among the close-knit swim community.

Just a few months ago, Diane, whose previous jobs included working as a herbalist when her children were young, and later as a librarian in schools, colleges and prisons said: ”Swimming outdoors is at the centre of my wellbeing. I don’t engage with all the cancer demographics and statistics. I am living with cancer. I have treatment, then I’m in remission and I swim – and so it continues. Being in this water makes me incredibly happy and I know other swimmers coping with all sorts of things feel the same way.”

Diane, along with four other women dealing with health issues including PoTS, Stroke Recovery, Multiple Sclerosis and Thyroid Cancer were known collectively as the ‘LUSTY Ladies’ (Ladies Unsynchronised Swimming Team) and she would schedule her Blue Badge Lane swims accordingly to ‘free up’ the lane for others.

Diane also loved swimming in UK lakes in Wales and the Lake District. During periods of returned strength between treatments, Diane helped her daughter Lily with her front crawl so they could take part together in the Ullswater Chillswim event ‘unofficially’ in September 2024, when she was in remission. Diane loved swimming in natural water. A huge appeal of the outdoor lido – originally opened in 1934 – was its old style charm and she always wore a wetsuit in the ‘refreshing’ 19.8 degrees Celsius water, often enthusing about the ‘amazing electrolytes’. She swam in the lido regularly until her final swim just two days before she died aged 64 earlier this month.

Pool manager Jason Skipper aka ‘Skip”, 53, said the hotel staff and swimming community wanted to hold the Cake Sale in her memory.

”I met Diane 10 years ago at the lido when she attended my coached triathlete sessions before the pool was reopened to the public. She shared my obsession with the uniqueness of the mineral rich, spring-fed pool and I’m not sure anyone has waxed lyrical more than Diane about the water’s physical and mental health benefits.

“As soon as I was allowed to employ a lifeguard, Diane was first in line. Her character was perfect and key for the atmosphere and community that we have become. I, and all the lido users are going to miss her so much but all our lives are so much richer for the memories and stories we have of her. We hope people will bake cakes, buy cakes and enjoy them in Diane’s memory and help us reach our £750 target for the Derby Burton Hospital's MacMillan Nightingale Unit where Diane received exceptional care ,and also the MND (Motor Neurone Disease) charity the New Bath Hotel and Spa supports. Everyone is welcome.”

Diane’s youngest daughter Lily, 27, who will be attending the cake sale at the pool this Friday with her sister Megan,33, said: “Our mum had such a love for the lido. It was her happy place. She got so much from being part of the kind and supportive community over the years. Everyone was there for her right up until her final swim.”

The Cake Sale will be held at the pool of the New Bath Hotel and Spa, New Bath Road, Matlock Bath, from 9am to 2pm on Friday March 27th.

Cake will be baked by hotel staff and the lido’s ‘star bakers’ who regularly bake for charity events. Funds raised will be split 50/50 between the Derby Burton Hospital Charity’s Nightingale Unit which provided exceptional care for Diane and MND (Motor Neurone Disease) which has been the New Bath Hotel’s chosen charity for 2026 and previous years.

The cake sale is open to the public, hotel guests and lido swimmers and anyone who wishes to make a donation of either cake/s or money should contact marketing manager Abbie Vowles at the New Bath Hotel and Spa. ends