We’re very excited, we’re only few days from the grand opening. Here are a few smiley faces from our preview open evening to tell you just how long we have left to wait.
Official Opening Ceremony of Stirchley Baths – January 14th
This newly renovated and refurbished grade II listed community facility will be formally opened by the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Ward alongside special guests. On the day there will be invited guests from the community, city council and our fantastic contractors to take part in the ceremony.
Entertainment will be provided by one of our Selly Oak District Arts Champions – Birmingham Opera Company. Stirchley Baths Heritage Volunteers, History Group and staff will be on hand as guides to show invited guests around to view the heritage interpretation and talk about the development of the building from dilapidated swimming pool to 21st century community asset.
Refreshments will be provided by ChangeKitchen CIC who currently run our cafe.
This will be a great opportunity to celebrate the contributions made by everyone who has had an involvement in the project.
General members of the pubic are invited to come and see us and take a look at the facility from January 18th.
A view of the baths from a heritage and sports specialist
Simon Inglis popped by today. Simon, along with local Steve Beauchamp, has worked with English heritage on the history of sport and leisure. For his thoughts on the baths please look above – for their work see here www.playedinbritain.co.uk.
Community Preview Evening
25 November 6.30-8pm
Stirchley Baths
We welcome everyone in the community to come along and have a look around your new community building, hear about the heritage programme and sign up for some of the exciting activities that will run from the centre. All welcome, no booking required.
Want to get involved? We are looking for volunteers to support the heritage programme. If you are interested please contact Kate Andrews – Stirchleybaths@gmail.com
So, what’s in a name?
After asking local people and stakeholders to help in the decision making process to choose the official name of the new centre, it has been decided that the new name will be STIRCHLEY BATHS.
Importantly the name is both a nod to the building’s heritage and where it is, but is also a title that many in the community have already been using over the last couple of years when talking about the building transforming from dereliction in to a fantastic new community building.