A FORMER diving champion who witnessed the opening of a city's 76-year-old baths has been chosen to help launch its £12.3m replacement.

Ken Spirit was 13 when he watched the then Lord Barnard open Durham's City Baths, on Elvet Waterside, on September 28, 1932.

Inspired by the facility, Mr Spirit, a self-taught diver, redoubled his efforts and went on to win gold in the Northumberland and Durham Diving Championships.

In July, 76 years on from the last opening ceremony, Mr Spirit will help unveil Freeman's Quay, a flagship swimming and leisure centre in Durham's Freeman's Place.

He was chosen after responding to a Durham City Council appeal for people with strong links to the old baths to come forward.

Mr Spirit, now 89, courted his wife, Jean, at the baths. They were married in 1941 and have a daughter, Kay, 54, and a granddaughter, Karen, 29.

Mr Spirit also spent many hours coaching young divers, a role he recently reprised parttime following a period of retirement.

"I saw the appeal and thought it would be somebody of my era they were looking for," he said.

"I'm interested in seeing what the new baths are like anyway."

Speaking about the 1932 ceremony, he said: "I remember thinking how marvellous the baths were compared with the old ones. I had a sense of delight that there were these new baths for us."

The event featured an exhibition swim by JG Hatfield, who won 40 national championships and competed in three Olympics.

Mr Hatfield made a big impression on one young spectator.

"I remember thinking what a powerful man he was," Mr Spirit said.

Freeman's Quay will have a 25m eight-lane pool, a learner pool, art exhibition room, dance studio, healthy eating court and gym.

Mr Spirit will be joined at the opening ceremony by Andrew Davison, whose uncle, George Saynor, and grandfather, Jim Saynor, were both superintendents at City Baths, and former Olympic diver Charmian Welsh.

The city council is still looking for more people with strong links to City Baths to take part in the Freeman's Quay opening. Anyone interested is asked to email their details to dcn@durhamcity.

gov.uk, or write to: City News, 17 Claypath, Durham, DH1 1RH.