A selection of photographs of Queens Drive Baths, going back to the very beginning when it was constructed in 1908 to its final days before demolition.
Remember when I started Secondary school (Arnot Street) the teachers led their Classes of boys(all the 1st Years) along County Road to Queens Drive Baths. In the Big Baths, we were lined up in 4 rows facing the water at the Shallow End. Me and my mates were "BRICKING IT" because we had always bunked off in Primary School Swimming classes or "Forgot my Trunks and Towel Sir" so We could not Swim!! The Teacher in charge of school Swimming was well known as STRICT + took no Prisoners a certain MR COOPER!!! (he was leader of the Liverpool Schools Swimming we later found out, so was well respected in sports ) He walked + down the line + poked a large broom handle with rope between the boys to separate us into rows A.B.C.D. Then shouted out "FIRST ROW BOYS "A".....JUMP IN"!! In they went no hesitation this went on till it was my turn. I had to shut my eyes and leapt into the ABYSS all 3 foot of it.. I think Mr Cooper got the GIST . Most of us were NON SWIMMERS!! Mr COOPER Then asked for hands up ALL THOSE THAT CAN SWIM? then marched those swimmers to the DEEP END of the pool. That's when we NON swimmers got to know MR COOPERS BROOM HANDLE!!! The rope on the top of the broom handle was threaded through a bit of Hose pipe!! The HOOP was placed around the boy just under the armpits. We were then told to SWIM toward the DEEP END!!!. while doing the DOGGY PADDLE (non OLYMPIC TIMES exist) MR COOPER seemed to take great pleasure in easing off pulling up on the broom to letting us SINK, then pulling up ....SINK ....PULLING UP. Horrible at the time , but did work, But I steered clear of DEEP water Since ( even tho I left school with a 10 lengths Certificate. GREAT MEMORIES GREG E
spent many a happy hour there in the 60s always liked the small pool best you got a basket to put your clothes in we called them the 8 penny baths the 7penny baths was the big pool learnt to swim there and got all my certificates happy days
Thanks for memories if taking me my sister's swimming in the late 60's and 70's 👍
So sad. I hadn't realised they'd gone.
Remember when I started Secondary school (Arnot Street) the teachers led their Classes of boys(all the 1st Years) along County Road to Queens Drive Baths. In the Big Baths, we were lined up in 4 rows facing the water at the Shallow End. Me and my mates were "BRICKING IT" because we had always bunked off in Primary School Swimming classes or "Forgot my Trunks and Towel Sir" so We could not Swim!!
The Teacher in charge of school Swimming was well known as STRICT + took no Prisoners a certain MR COOPER!!! (he was leader of the Liverpool Schools Swimming we later found out, so was well respected in sports )
He walked + down the line + poked a large broom handle with rope between the boys to separate us into rows A.B.C.D. Then shouted out "FIRST ROW BOYS "A".....JUMP IN"!!
In they went no hesitation this went on till it was my turn. I had to shut my eyes and leapt into the ABYSS all 3 foot of it.. I think Mr Cooper got the GIST . Most of us were NON SWIMMERS!! Mr COOPER Then asked for hands up ALL THOSE THAT CAN SWIM? then marched those swimmers to the DEEP END of the pool.
That's when we NON swimmers got to know MR COOPERS BROOM HANDLE!!!
The rope on the top of the broom handle was threaded through a bit of Hose pipe!! The HOOP was placed around the boy just under the armpits. We were then told to SWIM toward the DEEP END!!!. while doing the DOGGY PADDLE (non OLYMPIC TIMES exist) MR COOPER seemed to take great pleasure in easing off pulling up on the broom to letting us SINK, then pulling up ....SINK ....PULLING UP. Horrible at the time , but did work, But I steered clear of DEEP water Since ( even tho I left school with a 10 lengths Certificate.
GREAT MEMORIES GREG E
Shame, fond memories if swimming here in the late 70’s early 80’s
spent many a happy hour there in the 60s always liked the small pool best you got a basket to put your clothes in we called them the 8 penny baths the 7penny baths was the big pool learnt to swim there and got all my certificates happy days
Isn't this the alsop lifestyles now?