Peterborough Lido and the legacy of Walter Cornelius

Outdoor swimming under the gaze of a legendary Latvian lifeguard. Jack Bright uncovers the fascinating stories behind Peterborough Lido.

The city of Peterborough on the edge of The Fens is 30 miles from the sea as the crow flies and 50 miles from the nearest accessible beach at Hunstanton, so it is not known as an outdoor swimming hub though it has a superb facility almost directly in the city centre – Peterborough Lido, set in beautiful surroundings between the Cathedral and the River Nene.