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Summer Trips to Martin"s

Martin's Swimming Pool c1955
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My sister Pauline and I used to come here with our mother, and sometimes father, on hot summer days, around 1948 to 1952 (age 6 to 10). We commuted three stops from Reading South in electric trains. I basically learned the transition from swimming a width under water to the same on the surface. Great bonding with my father since my mother was not a swimmer. We used to picnic though I believe there was some food available (lemonade? ice cream?). The changing rooms were the usual slightly slimy floor dark damp places. There was a smaller, shallow "kiddie pool" beyond the other end of this photo. We were told the pool had been a private club before WW2 for the use of actors and performers who lived in this area west of London. We therefore felt, at this young age , that the place was rather glamorous. As the sun went down, we would trudge back to the station to wait for the next train home.

Is there still a pool here? I would like, at some point, to commute one last time from my current home outside Philadelphia, USA!

Written by Peter George. To send Peter George a private message, click here.

A memory of Wokingham in Berkshire shared on Sunday, 23rd May 2010.

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RE: RE: Summer Trips to Martin"s

No, unfortunately the pool has gone, it has been replaced by housing development.
It was still there until about 15 years ago ( or there abouts) I went there a few times in summer in the 80's.
Facebook actually has a group dedicated to the pool http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43197646240#!/group.php?gid=43197646240&v=wall

You can take a "virtual tour" of Wokingham using Google maps streetview. It has changed a lot. I lived there from about 1978 to 2005, I now live in California.

Comment from Philip Maynard on Thursday, 26th August 2010.

RE: RE: Summer Trips to Martin"s

My mother May, brother Ron & I were evacuated in 1939 to 1948 to Wokingham Without living in Ashridgewood Manor the home of Mrs Anderson situated off Forest Road not far from the Changa Service Station & the Warren House pub.
Many visits were made to Martin's & it was here that I learnt to swim, first in the shallow paddling pool & then clinging to the edge of the bigger pool.
I remember the gardens & the twisting little paths & the grassed areas, something I've never seen in any other pool area. Then, having got dried & dressed, the final thing was to groom ones hair with a pennyworth of Bryl Cream from the dispensing machine
Wonderful days. so sorry to learn it has gone

Comment from Robert (Bob) Clements on Friday, 10th February 2012.

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