Sandra’s Stirchley Swimming Club memories

Sandra Braker

Sandra Braker started going swimming at Stirchley Baths as a four-year-old. She soon became a member of Stirchley Swimming Club and took part in galas across the West Midlands.

Sandra talks to Jane Baker about her memories of this time and how she hopes the community hub can provide a real use for the building again.

listen to ‘Sandra Braker on Stirchley Swimming Club’ on audioBoom

Were you a member of Stirchley Swimming Club? Let us know about your memories by emailing stirchleybaths@gmail.com or by leaving a comment on the website. We’re also on Twitter and Facebook

Studying Stirchley Baths: Interview with Amy Pond

Amy Pond

Amy Pond is a postgraduate student at Bath Spa University and she is currently working on her dissertation – on Stirchley Baths.

Amy, from Kings Heath, loves old buildings and talks to Jane Baker in this interview about why she’s so interested in Stirchley Baths particularly and her hopes for the building’s future.

listen to ‘Amy Pond on her Stirchley Baths university dissertation’ on Audioboo

Planning permission for Stirchley Baths project: report in the Birmingham Mail

The Birmingham Mail has reported on planning permission being granted for the Stirchley Baths community hub.

Birmingham City Council’s planning committee unanimously approved the plans on 21st March. You can read reporter Paul Suart’s article HERE.

The article mentions that the project now depends on funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Our Stage 2 bid will be submitted in June, with a decision from the HLF in September. A ‘yes’ will see building work getting under way in November, with the new community hub planned to open in November 2014.

Karen Cheney on the Stirchley Baths community hub project

Karen Cheney

Karen Cheney is the Service Integration Head for Selly Oak District, based at the district offices in Pershore Road.

Karen is heavily involved in the project to bring the building back into use as a community hub. She says it’s been a long and complicated process but that, with a successful Heritage Lottery Fund bid (we’ll get the decision in September), this exciting project will be up and running.

Karen also speaks in the interview of the importance of local people getting involved in the project – not just for the HLF bid but for the future sustainability of the community hub.

Taking a bath at Stirchley Baths in the 1950s

Brenda Hawksford

Brenda Hawksford used to bathe at Stirchley Baths.

“We were grateful for it,” she says. “There was no hot water in our house and it was a lot easier using the baths at Stirchley than getting the tin one out at home and heating the water up for that. Much easier.”

listen to ‘Brenda Hawksford on taking a bath at Stirchley Baths in the 1950s’ on audioBoom