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Swimming Lessons

I didn't relish my school swimmng lessons, Jean, and from this distance I can't be sure which baths we used, Charlie will tell me if she reads this. It could have been Kingstanding, or Grove lane. I always looked forward to a morning or afternoon out of the classroom, but I was never confident in a swimming baths, I'm still not. I learned to swim in the sea, my Uncle taught me at Hastings, and I much preffered swimmng along the shore than in a pool. The last time I swam was in the Gambia when our daughter lived there, I was happily swimming in the sea, I hade swum out as it was quite shallow and no current, I was swimming back in towards the beach when a wave the height of the Blackpool Tower took me with it, then dropped me underneath. I haven't swum since.
 
I learnt to swim while at Lozells Girls, we used to go to Victoria Rd baths,but found the long walk back to school unpleasant in the rain, we used to be allowed to stop off at a cake shop where I brought thier lardie cakes, I wasnt a very strong swimmer but continue to enjoy our local swimming pool and of course the sea, although this summer down on the Island has been awfull, and for the past couple of years the sea has become more infested sharks have been spotted in the solant so will keep you informed ha ha as I said I am not a strong swimmer
 
Love the Isle of White Gladi but I have never been in the sea there. Did a Mrs Olive Woods take you for your lessons?. I know it was a long time ago but she was in her eighties when I last saw her. Jean.
 
Teaching children to swim is a difficult task I think. Water on the face...breathing technique etc. With sometimes pannicking youngsters no less. I am sure it is not easy but the result here can be of great value for a lifetime. I wish I had had such a teacher. Who knows my breast stroke might have been a winner.
 
My Father & Uncle Jim who lived wih us after the War always went swimming on Sunday Morning at Victoria Road Baths.
They taught me how to swim by throwing me in near the deep end and I soon learnt to swim and I've never been afraid if water, my main concern was learning to swim as soon as possible in case I got thrown in again.
I've never been keen on swimming in the sea, its not the sea itself I believe its a Sand thing.
In answer to Rupert's post I have always favored the Breast Stroke although I don't have much chance to do it nowadays Ha Ha
 
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alf,i cant swim but i like the breast stroke.school took us every week to nechells baths,and we used polystreen blocks to keep afloat.i loved it.and spent most of my time there.
pete
 
cannot remember teachers name although, I do remember teachers Gumly, morgan, and Miss Williams.but will ask my sister she is ten years older than me and most of the teachers had been at the school for years, the sea down here is very cold even in summer and with my arthritis I would rather go into warm swimming baths, glad you like the Isle of Wight Jean its a really lovely place the pace of life is a lot slower down here, we are lucky we have the choice of 4 beaches within mins of where we live and often walk along the sea shore even in winter very bracing ha ha and cold ha ha,we have for the past couple of years spotted a seal swimming close to shore.
 
Rupert, Alf noticed your comments about my least favourite stroke both when competing or teaching.. Breast stroke. Alf it's never too late to learn. There is so much to think about at the same time and children [and adults] think their feet are turned out flat when attempting it symetrical etc. What I used to do was get them to hold a float behind their heads [heads resting on] so they were at an angle and could watch what their feet were doing. [inverted breastroke]. Timing is very important as is with butterfly [my favourite stroke]. Bye. Jean.
 
You must be joking. I will sort a photo out of our last day at school. I have been in touch on friends reunited. Were you unwell last Christmas?. I wondered why Pauline didn't reply then she had told me what had happened. I visited your family home on a few occasions but can't remember her brothers. Well that's my story. Bye. Jean.
 
G G Jean said:
You must be joking. I will sort a photo out of our last day at school. I have been in touch on friends reunited. Were you unwell last Christmas?. I wondered why Pauline didn't reply then she had told me what had happened. I visited your family home on a few occasions but can't remember her brothers. Well that's my story. Bye. Jean.
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Yes I was slightly unwell I got blue lights and doctors and nurses on Christmas Day,(most people get socks and hankies).Thanks to medical staff and family support alls now well.
 
Baz I am so pleased you are feeling much better now. Small world isn't it. All the best. Jean. PS. Tell your sister to get on hear and hubby Brian. My husband remembers him from the boys clubs camps at Nash Court. Jean.
 
Found this photo out at last of the day the swimmers came and worked with us. It was a wonderful experience and the children loved it. It was taken at Wyndley swimming pool. There is David Wilkie Nick Gillingham Tim Jones Jill Parton and myself. Jean.
 
Loved it,free entrance to Victoria Rd.swimming baths was a real treat,far better than the canal,where you had to dive very shallow to miss the unsavoury stuff,lying just below the surface.Still go swimming so it must have impressed me.
 
Don't recall,lessons as such,but I learnt to swim in the river severn in Tewksbury,before I started school,I think.Reg Milner was the teacher who took swimming & boxing lessons,at Upper Thomas St.School,There are some photo's on the Astonbrook site of the school,I am on one of them.
 
I hated my weekly school swimming lesson... Woodcock street baths, freezing cold, three of us packed into one changing cubicle (all trying desperately hard to cover our "bits and pieces") .. all in all I hated Monday's !
 
Jean in the photo with those swimmers why are you kneeling down LOL

Mau-reece
 
Mossy I said I was only a little short .... I remember that day as I had a megga hangover as the night before I had attended my cousins doo as they were emigrating to Spain. Half the Birmingham market traders were there. So I felt even smaller as my head felt like a weight on my shoulders literally. Jean.
 
Jean you know is was only joking,my daughter worked at Wyndley as a keep fit/gym instructor she still takes classes,but her main job is fitness on prescription,and last year was the face of fittness on all the posters

Mau-reece
 
We went to Harborne Baths from school in the 1950s. If I remember rightly there were wooden changing cubicles all round the pool. I don't suppose it is still there. But it was good fun especially when I got up the nerve to sink to the bottom of the deep end, that wasn't very often. I went swimming with the family at Northfield Baths on Sunday mornings. It was a good pool. Does anyone know if that is still there?
 
I loved my school swimming, had the best sports teachers in the world in Mr MILNER & JONES of UPPER THOMAS STREET, the free pass was used every day. great times.
 
Ray sorry I missed your's with regards to Mr Milner. I wonder if he was the Mr Milner I knew from Aston swimming club. Jean.
 
Dianne when we used to go with the school to Victoria road baths we were sometimes 3 in a cubicle and remember taunting a girl once because of the lack of her bits. Mirfield/Oval I am glad you enjoyed swimming in the end, the deep end I hope. J S H We travelled to Northfield from Great Barr four times a week when our twins trained with Orion swimming club. Problem was I had worked all day instructing the school children and often got roped in when they were a coach short. [swimming coach.] Jean.
 
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