Pollards Swimming Club: A memory of Thornton Heath

Pollards Swimming Club

A Memory of Thornton Heath.

I was born in Thornton Heath in the late 1940's and learned to swim at an early age. My next-door neighbour, who was a couple of years older than me, was a member of Pollards Swimming Club and persuaded me to join as well. The club met in the large pool at Thornton Heath swimming baths in the late 1950's/early 1960's and the people who ran it also provided a very welcome mug of hot Bovril to drink after the swimming session had finished! We competed against other swimming clubs in the area, visiting Mitcham, Wimbledon and Croydon Central Baths, which was located in Scarbrook Road. I went to Lanfranc Secondary Modern Boys School and they also used Thornton Heath large pool for their annual swimming gala, where I was awarded my swimming colours.

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Added 04 April 2022

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I lived near the border between Thornton Heath and Norbury in the 1950s. We usually shopped in Norbury - Woolworths near Norbury station, and Sainsbury's opposite the top of Strathyre Ave. But I do recall going to Thornton Heath baths. I think we went there when I was in Winterbourne Junior school and I can definitely remember the hot Bovril! I also sometimes went in the school hols with friends. I have a vague memory of two pools there, but I may be confusing it with another place.

By Viv Doyle on Tue Jun 28th 2022, at 11:12 am

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