Swimming pools & swimmers

I attended Sir Henry Parkes Primary School in Prior Deram Walk, Canley in the 50's. Every Friday the whole class would walk along Sheriff Ave, up Charter Ave, and into the Teacher Training College for our weekly swimming lesson. I recall the huge "rubber rings" that were given to anyone having difficulty. Although this was a Teaching College, I don't recall much "swimming teaching" going on. I achieved my "width" despite the teachers, rather than because of them! My own children swam here as well when they were training with the City of Coventry Swimming Club (by now it was the University of Warwick pool) and they also trained at the Livingstone Road baths several times a week (which sadly is now due to be closed ) So, where did you learn?......

Hi Tony, I travelled from Aldermans Green Primary School on a Friday afternoon for swimming lessons to the 'old Livingstone baths'. I remember the rubber rings, you let the air out a little at a time as you became more confident. I remember swimming for weeks with no air in mine at all but as soon as I took it off I sank! As I am writing this I can remember and smell the smell of chlorine as you walked inside. Why are the baths closing? I really enjoy your posts. You say some very interesting things and have quite a sense of humour at times that makes me chuckle!! Gilly.

I'm not going to quote the whole article Gilly but you can read it here: Council leaders back plans to close Livingstone Baths I learned (well almost) at the New Livingstone Baths. I had to abandon lessons at a late stage as the combination of chlorine and breathing the diesel fumes from an old school bus were making me ill.

Hello Dutchman, thank you for the article. You are a rare gem on this forum! I feel a little sad that the baths may close as I have very happy childhood memories of being there. I don't remember the Brylcreme machine but I guess it would have been in the mens changing rooms so I wouldn't have seen it. Aah yes the diesel fumes! You brought back a childhood memory that I had long forgotten. As a small child, when my mother took me to town by bus from Wood End, we had to do it in two stages. We would get off the bus in Stoney Stanton Rd because I was feeling ill and then when I felt better we would take the next bus and continue the journey. I must have just outgrown being ill as I don't remember taking two buses when I worked in town! Gilly.

Our swimming lessons started at Courthouse Green Primary school where we did "land drill" which was practicing breaststroke actions in the hall. Later, I went to Caludon Castle school, 1959-63, and we were fortunate to have our own swimming bath. It was there that I was able to improve on my very primitive technique which I acquired in the Oxford cut near to the Jolly Collier pub. Although the Oxy was very muddy with suspended clay it was warm in summer whereas Cov canal was much too polluted to swim in - although I fell in through the winter ice many a time! We went to Livi baths when we had a tanner, I remember the freezing cold foot bath and the Brylcreem machine and there was a cafeteria on the side where we bought a cup of oxtail soup. I went to Livi for my one length breaststroke certificate which had to be swum displaying correct style.Livingstone Rd was a fair walk from Bell Green but we walked everywhere in those days, Gosford baths was only tried once - far too cold! We also had a doggy paddle in Wyken Slough once in a while. Imagine children walking, unaccompanied, around the city now!

I learnt at Livingstone Road - eventually School classes there failed to make me into a swimmer Monday night classes, under the tutelage of esteemed swimming coach Trevor Thomas, finally made the breakthrough (Trevor will be added to "Famous Coventrians")

Hi all. I could doggy paddle from before I can remember, but I learnt the breast & then front crawl at Livingstone Rd. The man in charge of tuition in the fifties was Mr.Lapworth. I still have my front crawl length cert from 1956. I was nine then.

Gosh, what a small world! I have very fond memories of Trevor Thomas. He was my tutor whilst I was training for my full ASA Swimming Teacher Badge (I qualified as a swimming teacher in the 80's) I remember Trevor being a very serious-looking man, but with a dry sense of humour. He certainly commanded respect (and silence whenever he spoke). He had a habit of lowering his voice if the surrounding chat level started to rise - which immediately caused everyone to shut up so they could hear what he had to say. Nice man The "Three Spires" section of City of Coventry Swimming Club used to meet at Livingstone Road baths most nights (and weekends!) and I remember Trevor well, along with Jim & John Clamp and Eleanor & John Payne. I still have my lesson notes somewhere! All our time as teachers was given for free.

I learned to swim under water first at Kenpas outdoor swimming pool, as a child I thought it was very posh compared to Gosford outdoor pool, like other members on this site I got my certificate for swimming the length at Livingstone baths, happy days!

I only visited that pool (Kenpas) once, and cut all my toes open on the rough bottom of the pool! Not a pretty sight, blood everywhere. Don't know if you've seen it lately, but it's now a row of bungalows!

As a 70's/80's 'Yoof' I learnt at Cov Baths usually being pulled up after submerging by one of the metal hoops they used to stop you drowning! I did used to go to Livingstone with my neighbours for a friendly swim. I can also recall being made to jump into the outdoor pool at Woodlands school once they had broken the ice - literally!

My first swimming lessons were at Livingstone Road. I was a first year at King Henry VIII and chose swimming as my games option as I hated rugby. The school had no pool so we had to go by No.20 bus to the baths. We would stand outside until the teacher arrived, then we had to pay 4d to get in. The teacher never got into the water at any time, so it's little wonder the non-swimmers like me never actually learned to swim with him. All he did was stand on the side barking instructions and waving his arms around. He was actually an art teacher! He always seemed to be keen to get home so we were usually away early, normally stopping in the baths cafe for oxtail soup first.

Hi Thank you so much for that. I am sure there was great pride felt for the achievement & rightly so.

I love the stories in this thread.