Enfield Open Air Pool - 1960's
My dad met my mum at the Open Air Pool in the 1930s - so they had a lot to answer for in my family! During the late 1960s I went to Kingsmead School (next door to the pool) and during spring/summer games lessons we were "forced" to go swimming! I also remember the sign on the outside of the building telling what temperature the water was - I personally think they lied through their teeth as it also seemed bl**dy freezing! I also remember watching the staff tipping large bags of chlorine powder in the (middle) deep section - God help you if you dived in just after! Then I spent most of the summer holidays there with my mates - cut-down Levi's were the fashion order of the day! I believe that they turned this into a skateboard park in the late 1970s. Enfield Town FC's stadium was also just behind the pool - many happy hours were spent there on a Friday night (if my memory serves!) - watching one of the best Isthmian League amateur sides of the day. Both now sadly gone - but there are plenty of us who have not forgotten.
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RE: RE: Enfield Open Air Pool - 1960's
What memories!
I attended Kingsmead and I believe was amongst the first to graduate. I had Miss Faller for French language; Mr King for History and Mr George for Physics.
We used to watch Enfield FC play next to the school and Mr Thomas the PT teacher (yes, we were all originally from George Spicer before the forced amalgamation), yes the PT teacher made us either run three miles or play soccer. Not long after, I took up Rugby and Running and enjoyed a great deal of success.
Everyone was expected to go to Uni and be a professional but I rebelled and travelled the world first and them went to college! Now I have a Masters degree and am HR VP in the USA despite my Kingsmead connection!!!
Here in the US it is a far cry from those corporal punishment and bad school dinner days and I cannot say that there was ever one happy day at Kingsmead - except for my last day.
Comment from Gordon Thompson on Thursday, 13th January 2011.
RE: RE: Enfield Open Air Pool - 1960's
Graham - what year did you "graduate" from Kingsmead ?? I first went to GSCS in 1966 and then to Kingsmead as a "first 2nd year" in 1967 and left @ 16 in 1971.
Miss Falla, Mr Thomas , Mr Millican, Mr Robertson, Mrs Seward all from GSCS are all I can recall - Mr Soulsby[head] Mr Edwards, Mr James, Mrs Senior, Miss Starr all from Ponders End or BHP [the other two schools in the "amalgamation".
Can't say that I hated it much - or loved it much either
Comment from Robert Pratt on Tuesday, 5th July 2011.
RE: RE: Enfield Open Air Pool - 1960's
During the early 1970s, I went to Southbury Road swimming pool, and was a regular when I received my free book of tickets, for treading water at Bradley Road swimming baths, Enfield Lock. I used to play hide and seek with my friends, hiding underneath the changing rooms, or down the concrete alleyways, surrounding the site. The main pool was freezing, so we were very active, chasing, and dive bombing each other. It was a large pool, and one day I got cramp in the middle, and struggled to get out again. The baby pool was much warmer, but too shallow. The food from the snack room was a real treat, tea, sandwiches, wagon wheels, crisps, cheese biscuits, bread pudding etc. When you came through the turnstiles at the entrance, you were met by the fountain, throw in a coin and make a wish, beware jumping in, as there was broken glass inside. No problem, there was a first aid building. Those days were so politically incorrect, but a joy to remember. I wish I had a time machine.
Comment from Andrew Dipple on Monday, 29th August 2011.