Thanks to Jean for sharing her childhood memories of learning to swim at Stirchley Baths in the 1950s.
The interview is in two separate Audioboos, so make sure you listen to both!
Tag: history
Ken Seeney: Memories of Stirchley Baths
We met so many people at the Splash Back In Time event at Stirchley Community Centre yesterday and we have so many stories to share.
Thanks to everyone who came along to talk about Stirchley Baths and their experiences of using it – for swimming, having a bath, dancing, having a massage and more.
We’ll share all of the interviews on the site over the next week or so, starting with Ken Seeney (pictured above) who used to go dancing at Stirchley Baths with his girlfriend. He also caught the bus from his workplace in his lunchtimes to have a dip and cool off!
More photos of Stirchley Baths – thanks to Brenda Thomas
Thanks to Brenda Thomas for these great pictures of Stirchley Baths. Brenda is in charge of the photographic archive of Stirchley Community Group and is uncovering some wonderful snapshots of the building’s history. We hope to share more with you soon.
If any of these pictures trigger stories or memories, please get in touch! Email stirchleybaths@gmail.com – use our Facebook page here or tell us about them on Twitter using @stirchleybaths or #stirchleybaths
During the winter months in the 1940s, the swimming pool at Stirchley Baths was boarded over to create a dance floor and bands used to play. More photographs HERE.
Taking a bath at Stirchley Baths in the 60s and 70s
Stirchley resident Ron Coley has some great memories of using the public bathing facilities at Stirchley Baths in the 1960s and early 70s.
As a child Ron – now 59 – used to visit the baths every Saturday with his dad. He remembers the attendants filling a bath with about 12 inches of hot water – you’d then top this up with cold water. However, as a nine-year-old Ron found a way of getting some extra hot water, using a tool he adapted specially!
Here’s a lovely interview with Ron, where he talks about his memories of public bathing at the Baths, including how a bit of the roll-top cast-iron baths made a great pea shooter! Thanks very much for sharing your wonderful stories Ron.
Ron came to the Splash Back In Time event at Stirchley library on Monday 11th March to share his memories of Stirchley Baths. There’s another event on Tuesday 19th March at Stirchley Community Centre between 12.30pm and 4pm. More details by clicking HERE
Did you use the public baths at Stirchley Baths? We’d love to hear your stories. Please email stirchleybaths@gmail.com – pop it on our Facebook page here or tell us on Twitter using @stirchleybaths or #stirchleybaths
The Stirchley Youth Tuesday Club
Committee member Brenda Thomas set up a youth club in Stirchley in the 1970s with other mums and grandmothers called the ‘Stirchley Youth Tuesday Club’.
It was originally held at Stirchley Primary School – and 200 children turned up on the first night over the two sessions that were held: 6-8pm for primary children; 8-10pm for secondary school.
Brenda says: “I was surprised how many people turned up because it was thick, pea soup fog. You couldn’t see across the playground. And yet all these children were waiting for this youth club, which was amazing.”
Listen to Brenda’s account of the first night here, and the kinds of activities that were held (including south Birmingham youth club swimming galas at Stirchley Baths)…
As well as providing activities for generations of children, the Stirchley Youth Tuesday Club had another legacy for the town too.
A need to find a new premises in the early 1980s (due to extra caretakers being required for out-of-school activities) led to the creation of the Stirchley Community Group and, eventually, Stirchley’s existing community centre in Pershore Road.
Were you there on the first night of Stirchley Youth Tuesday Club? Did you go to the youth club and get involved in the sports competitions and swimming galas at Stirchley Baths? Share your memories and stories with us – please email stirchleybaths@gmail.com – pop it on our Facebook page here or tell us on Twitter using @stirchleybaths or #stirchleybaths