Your leisure centre memories

Residents have been sending us their memories and past experiences of leisure centres within the borough.

If you have a story to tell about Camberwell we'd love to hear from you.

Below is a sample of some of the stories we've received about Dulwich.

Dulwich memories

Stan Hardy is likely to be the longest running user of Dulwich Baths as he first swam with the St. James' Swimming Club over 75 years ago.  Stan has recently celebrated his 90th birthday.

In an editorial on the re-opening of the pool at Dulwich Southwark News spoke with Stan who recalled living in a workhouse as a child and organising charity jumble sales at the baths with his late wife Maud, who was awarded an MBE for her charity work.

Stan said " The beauty of Dulwich baths was that there were so many events there.  It was a wonderful centre and I hope that it will be just as good a family centre and just as enjoyable in years to come.  My fondest memory was of my wife - she used to organise great charity stall in the baths and was undoubtedly one of the finest money raising jumbles in Southwark.  The crowds were so big we got swamped on the door."
Extract from Southwark News editorial dated 23rd September 2010:

Joe D'Orazio, 89, wrestled and refereed the sport there for many years.  Joe said: "My fondest memory of the baths was seeing it full up on the wrestling nights. It was a great atmosphere.  It was really a family thing wrestling in those days. They had many champions at Dulwich like George Kidd, who was World Light Weight Champion for 20 years until he retired."

Joe also remembers how important the Baths were to the deprived area.  "Lots of houses never had baths in them.  On a Saturday night we had to queue up to get in the baths.  They had an attendant who came round and he put more hot water in for you."

Cora Dixon

"I arrived in London from Jamaica, W.I. in 1963 at a house where my mother rented a room on Lordship Lane, I was a child then, I am now 65 years old.

At that time taking a bath in the house was out of the question, therefore Dulwich Bath was my family's way of taking a "bath" not shower. And what lovely big, clean baths they were, with attendants standing by to clean and disinfect as soon you leave the bath.  I will always remember the smell of Dettol and the abundance of hot water. Hot water a privilege at the time-not and entitlement, since only a few could afford it in the home." 

Peter C Sutherland, Hon Secretary Masters, Beckenham Swimming Club.

"I have fond memories of Dulwich Swimming Baths.  I learnt to swim in the back bath in 1950 and had many enjoyable years there swimming with St James Swimming Club under our wonderful coach, Peter Topley.  The one thing that sticks in my mind is that when competing in a 100 yard event, a heavy white beam was lowered from the roof half way along the length to finish at.  Any unfortunate competitor who was a bit slow had to watch out!"

Janet Coy - Dulwich Resident

"I lived around the corner to the leisure centre from 1950 - 1969 and again from 1971 - 75.

As a child, we had no running hot water or bathroom, so my mum and I went to the baths in the leisure centre. The attendant would release the water into the bath from outside the cubicle and you were able to turn on the cold tap on the bath. These 'slipper baths' were still there until the mid 1960s.

During the late 1970s and 80s - the 'first class pool' was covered over and used as a community venue for dances, jumble sales, charity events. Maud Hardy, who was very involved in the local Liberal Democrat Party used to organise an All Organisations Jumble Sale. Each small organisation paid per table and twice a year this was the chief fundraising income for local groups. Hundreds of people used to flood through the doors to seek bargains and to have some of the many scrumptious cakes baked by Maud and her band of ladies. I took my turn in helping on the stalls and manning the refreshment bar."

Joyce Andrews

"In 1949 when I married, I moved from Camberwell to Peckham and then in 1980 to Nunhead, where I still reside.  I was in full time employment, but during the winter and spring months I loved to swim at Dulwich Baths and always found the staff and lifeguards friendly and efficient.

I learnt to swim at the Camberwell Baths when I was 6 years old in 1934, mainly in the 2nd class pool for the sum of three old pence!  As a child and not having a bathroom, we also used the bath-house for weekly baths.  I am now looking forward to my winter swims at the newly refurbished Dulwich Baths, all the new improvements sound quite exciting."

Mrs Angela Frank (nee Collins)

"I have some very happy memories of Dulwich Baths. Living in Oglander Road during the 40s and 50s I went to Grove Vale school (renamed Goose Green school) and our classes were regularly taken across to the pool where I learned to swim at the age of 8. 

There was no stopping me then, every summer holiday break I regularly went to the baths with my brother and many friends, two or even three times a week.  First class admission was 6d (2.5p) and second class was 3d (1.5p). Needless to say our parents were only in a position to pay out for 'second' and we had the time of our lives. The Baths were extremely busy in those days and many times we had to wait for up to an hour to get in and wait we did, chatting and swinging on the wall and railings outside by the front steps and once called in it was a real stampede.

I also went to a youth club where we learned to exercise and dance during the winter months when the floor was laid in the 1st class pool for bowls etc.,  Our parents were invited to an evening at the baths to see our 'display which we had been preparing at another venue during the year.  We had annual swimming galas  with the youth club too.

I still use the pool to this day, not having moved too far away, and each and every time the old memories still keep flooding back.  Needless to say I am really looking forward to using the new prestige Dulwich Baths hopefully for many years to come."

Did you know?

Why on the outside of the building at Dulwich Baths it says 1891, when in a number of documents it states the baths opened on 25th June 1892?

Polly Bird, Author of 'Making a Splash - Dulwich Baths' tells us why; 'The foundation stone was put in place in September 1891 (they planned to open the Baths before the end of the year) but due to various delays including changes to drainage plans and a union dispute over the quality of lime being used in the concrete, on analysis found to be up to standard, the opening was not until 25 June 1892 (as then announced in The Times).'