Stuart Owen, the successful and committed manager of Mid Argyll Community Pool in Lochgilphead, collapsed suddenly and later died on Saturday morning while – typically – contributing to the Lochgair community’s beach clean.
This has come as a great shock to every one who knew him and to all who were heartened by the energy and the drive he brought to the much loved community facility he had managed in recent years.
The pool closed on Saturday and Sunday as a mark of respect and out of care for Stuart Owen’s stricken colleagues.
It is and will be a great testament to Stuart’s achievements that the team he leaves behind will keep the pool running during this difficult time. It reopened today, Easter Monday, at 10am and staff are to to their best to maintain normal hours – but these may vary due to the circumstances.
The staff say: ‘We shall all miss Stuart’s energy, enthusiasm and drive. His contribution to MACPool has been dynamic and inspirational.
‘Our thoughts go out to his wife Kay, his family and friends.’
Everyone who had anything to do with the pool was aware of the management culture, the teamwork and the collective belief in its sustainable future that Stuart and the team had created with MACpool’s dedicated board.
This is a heavy shock and a real loss for very many people – itself a measurement of the value attached to the work Stuart Owen was doing for the pool and its community.
