Swimming pools & swimmers

Hi GVB and welcome to our forum! When were you at Livi? Other than Trevor, do any of the names I mentioned in my first post mean anything to you?

Hi Tony, I took over the running of the Penguin Teach to Swim sessions from Jim Clamp and knew John and Eleanor Payne very well. I remember John Clamp and used to see him in his wheelchair shopping at Morrisons. I guess you might also know John Hughes. I have been with the City of Coventry since the early 80's and was on the Executive Committee as Education and Development Secretary for many years. I taught, coached and tutored for them until a few years back. I carried on officiating until recently when my health dictated that I slow down.

The first time I managed to stay afloat on my own, and perform some rudimentary strokes, was at Gosford. We used to go most summer weekends as dad was a complete outdoor freak! I also have a photo somewhere of me and him in the 'shallow end' of the Slough. Cold and dirty, but great fun! My home-made trunks were a sight to behold though!! Going to Longford Park juniors, we often walked, as a class, over the park for lessons at Foxford school's baths, but I also remember us all getting the bus (not sure if it was the 20a or if they actually chartered one) up to Livvy baths for some lessons. That's where I got my 'length breast-stroke' certificate. Must see if I can find it...

It was Jims fault that I became "involved" in teaching in the first place, with a line something like - "We're a bit short of teachers - do you fancy helping!"..... Well, with both my kids swimming several times a week, how could I refuse? I knew John from before his "accident" - such a shame. Stewart's done well though hasn't he? Yes certainly. He was secretary of Three Spires when we were on the committee. I believe he currently runs the club "shop". I was only watching a video a couple of days ago from 1983 of one of the gala's held in the main pool at Livi. Any idea what Rodney is doing now? Way too much information I think! I'm sure we would all love to see your certificate!

Stewart has done immensely well. He is getting some great results with his swimmers. John Hughes is still the Club's financial guru as he has been for years and which is just one of the many jobs he does for the Club. Rodney is still Coaching (High Achiever Squad I believe).

Really! - When and where do they meet?

They will be down at Central but I have no idea what their schedule is as I am no longer involved. If you go and have a look at the notice board on the second floor I would guess it is on there?

Thanks Norm, your picture no 26, I think, on Dig Out Your Old Photos. The one showing one side of the Cathedral also shows where the temporary car park was at the back of it. Love these old pictures.

This post is slightly off thread. While teaching at Livingstone we would often see kids munching on chocolate following their lessons when walking round in the corridor outside. We noticed one child never seemed to have any chocolate week after week and just by chance I was in the corridor as this child and his dad came in. As the dad passed the chocolate machine he sent the child in to get changed, reached in his pocket, took out a sticky label and put it on the machine. I read the label and saw it proclaimed "this machine is out of order" in large letters. That seemed a very mean act to me so I waited until they had gone in and removed it. Result was that Dad ended up buying his son a bar of chocolate after all and his son went away a happy child. Dads probably still looking for his label

BRILLIANT ! ! !

Ernsford Grange in the 80's with Mrs Lee "LEGS LEGS LEGS LEGS" She was terrifying! I've met her since and shes a lovely lady (when you are not 5!)

I sort of learned to swim at the Livingstone Road baths while at School. Freddie Birds used to take us kids there on a double decker bus during school time. I was never really a strong swimmer though, although I've improved since. Some kids took to it so easily. Others used any excuse like "having verrucas" to avoid swimming. One or two lads were even afraid of the water. I always remember one of the instructors, a middle aged woman, having lumps of some sort on her legs. I also remember being "nutted" by an older lad once after the swimming, outside the baths, cause I got into an argument with his younger brother, whilst swimming. Happy days.

I remember a lido off the A45 near to Green Lane as you go toward the Kenilworth Road. Were there any others in or around the city?

I also learned to swim at the Livingstone Road Baths. We had lessons and had to train to swim 1 length in good style. We were all lined up standing on the edge of the deep end and someone blew a whistle for us to start A friend of mine ended up standing under a diving board and when it was his turn to start, jumped up and hit his head on the bottom of the diving board. He was hauled out to be treated for a cut head. He got first aid treatment but no swimming certificate! I can also remember the Baths in the immediate post-war years. The pool had received a hit and there were gleaming white tiled walls jutting up at angles into the air which some youngsters would slide down into the pools of water below. Does anyone else remember this?