Harriet Sergeant

How the culture war came for Kenwood Ladies’ Pond

(Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

‘Not another step!’ The large women in an old T shirt stretched across her bulging shoulders glared at my father. We were standing under a canopy of trees on Hampstead Heath in north London. Sunshine dappled through the leaves onto my face. I was 12 years old and clutched a wet and muddy costume. Through the greenery was a glimpse of lake and naked limbs. 

My father had come to pick me up from swimming in the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond. He had started up the path only to be confronted by the lifeguard. ‘Women only.’ she growled and pointed to the board declaring ‘Men cannot go beyond this point,’ Then she took in our long-haired dachshund. ‘And he’s male too,’ she said with disgust.

To my astonishment my fearless father who had charmed even Russia’s secret police and would go on to do the same to former Red Guards in Communist China, hung back, dragging our dog with him.

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