Robert Grosvenor is the chairman of Lifford Business Association, which promotes and represents businesses in Stirchley, King’s Norton, Cotteridge and Bournville. Robert is also a member of the community stakeholder group. Here Robert explains why he’s involved…
Robert mentions the Art Soak community event that’s taking place on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th March. More details on that HERE.
As part of the second-stage Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid for the Stirchley Baths project, Suzanne Carter from the Birmingham Conservation Trust is putting together a plan of activities and events focused on the history of the building.
A successful bid – as well as seeing the building transformed into a community hub – will also provide funds for the heritage activity plan. The building will not be a swimming pool but we need to keep its history and heritage alive for current and future generations of Stirchley people.
One idea discussed at the Neighbourhood Forum on 11th March at Stirchley Community Church was a Stirchley History Group. There was a really good group discussion, after a presentation by Suzanne, where people considered how a History Group could work and the wealth of community groups in the village and wider partners who could be involved.
Many people at the Neighbourhood Forum also added their hands to the community art challenge that is designed to show the Heritage Lottery Fund the support in Stirchley for the baths project. The hands – complete with messages of support – will be displayed around Stirchley Baths on Saturday 6th April. Lots more information and how you can get involved HERE.
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
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
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.
Huge thanks to Wendy Pearson for these photographs that show this in action! Here’s Den Jones and his orchestra who were performing that night…
Do you have any stories or memories about dancing or watching a band at Stirchley Baths – or about anything in the Baths’ history? Leave a comment here or come along to our upcoming Splash Back In Time events:
You can see a potted history of Stirchley Baths by clicking HERE – can you help to fill in the gaps?