Children fill time capsule to be opened in 2056

5 hours ago

Sophie Parkerin Trowbridge

News image — Dougie, Toby and Lexi are from different schools in the area

BBC Three children smile at the camera - they are nine and ten years old. Two boys on girl. They are all wearing yellow high-vis vests and white hard hats. They stand in front of a wall. — Dougie, Toby and Lexi are from different schools in the area

A time capsule placed at the construction site of a new leisure centre is expected to be remain hidden until at least 2056.

Schoolchildren in Trowbridge in Wiltshire, who contributed to the capsule with items about life in the town now and pictures, visited the site where they could see new swimming pools being constructed.

Dougie, aged nine, from St John's Catholic Primary School, said: "It was a piece of writing that captures life in Trowbridge, about our school and all the things we have in it."

Wiltshire Council's cabinet member for leisure, Councillor Mel Jacob said: "It's a really fantastic landmark in the journey that we're on to get this leisure centre open."

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Children wrote letters, drew pictures and even crocheted sime items. The time capsule also has a local newspaper and piece of BBC Radio Wiltshire merchandise.

Dougie's teacher, Nick Gerrish, called it a "wonderful opportunity" for the children.

Lexi, 10, said she was "happy" to be part of it and that her school, Castlemead, put in lots of pictures, including of her friends.

Leah Wiltshire, Lexie's teacher, explained it was a collage, representing "a snapshot" of life at the school.

Wiltshire Council also prepared a letter to put inside the capsule, talking about some of the big topics of 2026, including AI, climate change and who the Prime Minister.

The letter also mentioned lighter topics such as Harry Styles, and current TV shows.

Two people hold a metal time capsule tube. Both wear high vis yellow vests and hard hats. They are leaning in to place it down into the ground. They stand in front of metal hoardings for building sites. — Contractor Pellikaan and Council Mel Jacob put the time capsule in its designated spot

Seeing the swimming pool being built was important for others - like Toby, aged nine, from Silverwood School.

"I feel very excited about the swimming pool. The design looks perfect," he said.

His teacher, Debbie Banfield, said the town's current pool "plays a big part in our enrichment with the children", so it was good to see the one in the new leisure centre.

Mel Jacob said the new centre, which has been the subject of a long-running campaigh, is needed, as facilities are currently split over two sites.

It was previously reported that the current pool has had problems, so would need to eventually close.

A large modern building with external walls that are a mixture of copper-coloured and dark material is seen from the outside on a sunny day. At the foot of one of the walls are three people wearing yellow high-viz jackets and white hard hats — The school children were able to see the new leisure centre taking shape

This new centre, which is expected to be finished in the next four to five months, will have a learners pool as well as a 25m pool, gym, fitness suites, wellness suite and adventure play area.

Gert-Jan Peters, from Pellikaan Construction Ltd, has built leisure centres before but said this one will not be a "typical" one, adding: "You will be amazed when it's finished."

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