-----Original Message----- From: Graham Taylor [mailto:gtmt11@ntlworld.com] Sent: 21 December 2009 17:15 To: 'hampshire@rootsweb.com' Subject: RE: [HAM] Request for info about Southampton Swimming Pools Chris If you left the Civic Centre and went down the hill with the railway on your right (and the tunnel)in the Bournemouth direction if you turned first right the swimming baths were on the right. I failed to learn to swim there in the 1950's because the "instructors" had large poles with rubber bungs in the end and they pushed and held you under water. Times were tough in those days! If I recall (and I left Southampton in 1967, the new baths were built further along this road on the right. Sorry I can't remember their names. Regards Graham -----Original Message----- From: hampshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:hampshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Chris Sent: 21 December 2009 09:59 To: HAMPSHIRE Subject: [HAM] Request for info about Southampton Swimming Pools Hi, At long last I'm writing up my childhood memories and part of those pertain to the main swimming pools in Southampton in the 1960s and I wonder if anyone on this list can help. 1) I started swimming there in the early 1960s and remember a pool that had changing cubicles on a slatted platform that was on two sides of the pool - on a platform above the water. The hot water was pumped in via large pipes running under the platform. I think that there were also Turkish Baths there. Where was this pool and what was its name? Is there any on-line source I should look at. 2) I then witnessed the opening of the new pool in the mid 1960s. I remember a top-class diver diving off the top board to open the pool. I then joined the Southampton City Swimming Club along with the likes of David Haller and Alan Kimber. Where was the pool, what was it called and when was it opened? Again - any on-line sources? I hope you can help. Chris [Christopher Gray]

Graham, Many thanks for that. Another kind lister has explained that the first pool was part of the Southampton Lido complex that included public and Turkish baths. There were two indoor pools - one for gentlemen, the other for ladies - and they were heated using water from the local power station. This also explains why they were salt water pools since this water from the power station would have been cooling water taken from Southampton Water. All I need now is information about the newer pool. I'll see if the on-line paper archives have anything. Thank you again Chris -----Original Message----- From: Graham Taylor [mailto:gtmt11@ntlworld.com] Sent: 21 December 2009 17:15 To: 'hampshire@rootsweb.com' Subject: RE: [HAM] Request for info about Southampton Swimming Pools Chris If you left the Civic Centre and went down the hill with the railway on your right (and the tunnel)in the Bournemouth direction if you turned first right the swimming baths were on the right. I failed to learn to swim there in the 1950's because the "instructors" had large poles with rubber bungs in the end and they pushed and held you under water. Times were tough in those days! If I recall (and I left Southampton in 1967, the new baths were built further along this road on the right. Sorry I can't remember their names. Regards Graham