If you can't stand the heat, go out

4:47pm Monday 30th July 2001

SOARING temperatures brought The Rye to life over the weekend as Michelle Fleming found out.

As Britain baked in what was the hottest weekend this year, High Wycombe residents remembered what it was that made them fall in love with the town.

From ice-cream licking kids and straw hatted pensioners to champagne swilling professionals, what seemed like one and all made their way to Wycombe's riverside hot-spot on The Rye or other local attractions to soak up the rays over the lovely, lazy weekend.

Car tops came down filling the air with summer tunes and between the frisbee throwing fun and optimistic kite fliers one may safely say that Wycombe once again endeared itself to its people.

The lush trees and forests bordering The Rye make for that essential 'back to nature' feel, which we all crave in the sweltering heat.

Holywell Mead Outdoor Swimming Pool on The Rye, a 1930's design rebuilt in 1996 by Wycombe District Council, drew the crowds who considered it worth the wait to queue for hours in the hope of cooling off.

Pool Manager Benji Jespersen said the weekend was one of the busiest this year.

She said: "We were full to capacity and were working to a 'one in, one out' admission."

"Aside from Chesham Waterside we are the only open air pool in the area so it is very popular. Thankfully there were no accidents."

Anna Davis, 21, of Pound Lane, Marlow, enjoyed a picnic on Thames Riverside, at Bourne End, on Saturday.

She said: "It is such beautiful weather and so much fun with all the children playing games. May the sun keep shining."

But if the weekend saw you working or otherwise engaged, don't worry as experts say the best is still to come. The south is set to continue to roast for the rest of the week with temperatures likely to reach 35 degrees Celsius by Friday.