SO, the final curtain falls on Waves Water Fun Centre.

I have been told the final swim will be next week and then the swimming pool will be closed. The new centre will open a month or so later across the road.

By all the advance publicity that’s been knocking about, it looks a first-rate centre that will put Blackburn firmly on the map.

But I remember going to Waves on the first weekend back in the eighties when it opened. The first few weeks were beset by problems with the waterslide.

Apparently it was cutting people up. Not emotionally, but people were coming down the slide with the odd cut or so. This was a minor issue. Back then this had to be the best thing that ever happened to the town. A water fun centre smack bang in the middle of Blackburn - it was unbelieveable.

Thinking back it was a funny place to put it really alongside some old buildings.

Before then we would hurry to the swimming pools in the Blakey Moor building.

You don’t actually realise what a unique water fun centre it was. On our weekly swims on a Thursday night we are joined by a friend from Manchester who admitted they do not have something like Waves even in his big city.

And did you know that on Tripadvisor, Waves is ranked seventh out of the top eight attractions in the town? Yes, apparently there are only eight attractions in Blackburn and this is the seventh best.

And I couldn’t really knock the staff. A friendly bunch all round.

So next Thursday I shall be attending Waves for the very last time.

The last time I try sticking all my stuff into a small locker. The last time I hit the jacuzzi. The last time I use that weird shower that sprays in ten directions and the last time I chill out under the waterfall.

I will leave you all with this wonderful comment on Trip Advisor from last year... “I live in London but took my nephew and nieces who live in Manchester.

“The pool was brilliant and we were given floats to use. The wave machine and alien slide were fantastic and we all found ourselves tired out by the end of our visit.

“The centre was extremely busy but we noticed the lifeguards even litter picked while opening the lockers to keep on top of the changing rooms.

“I will definitely be visiting the centre again when I next visit my family. Brilliant value for money and wonderful staff!”

Quality all round.