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November 2021 November 2021

young people. It’s so valuable,
SMETHWICK SWIMMING CENTRE
especially after the restrictions
during the pandemic. For more
information about Dorset I stood there agog. I was actually standing
A r m y C a d e t s p l e a s e on the very stage where the Beatles
visit https://armycadets.com/ performed all those years ago. On Monday
county/dorset-acf/ 19 .November 1962 the boys came to town
th
to perform at the then Thimblemill Baths at
Smethwick. They had already made an 85
The news has just come in that mile dash down south after having
my colleague Sir David Amess performed at the Cavern Club in Liverpool
has been murdered. He was a and the Adelphi Ballroom at West Bromwich.
wonderful man, who acted out
his faith through his actions, and After their third gig of the day they felt rather
you could not ask for a more courteous, respected or hard-working MP. It is a tired and John asked the baths manager if
reminder about how precious and potentially fragile our democracy is. My they could kip down for the night. “On your
thoughts are with his family, friends, and also with his members of staff. bike!” he said and the rest of course is
history...
I will be continuing my surgeries, both in person, and by phone, so please do get
in touch if you need support. You can contact me via email The Thimblemill Baths, now the Smethwick
th
michael.tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk or call my office on 01202 624216. Swimming Centre opened on 30 . March
1933. This magnificent art deco styled
building has had a very interesting past. For
many years it fulfilled a dual purpose role
with swimming taking place during the
summer
months April to September. The pool was
then drained and a maple sprung dance
floor installed for the winter season, October
to March.
Sean Ryan, assistant operations manager
and Andy Moore, duty manager were to be
my guides during my tour of this fascinating
LOCAL MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT building. Sean explained that Sandwell was
made up of six towns and Smethwick and
Langley were always in competition. When
Michael Tomlinson MP  Langley decided to build a new pool,
Michael.tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk
holds regular surgeries Smethwick had to build one twice as big and
in the constituency. For  01202 624216 twice as grand!
details of forthcoming  www.michaeltomlinson.org.uk The pool is 30.5 metres (33 1/3 . yards) long
rd
surgeries or to make an by 10.5 metres wide and is 2.6 metres at the
appointment, please @Michael4MDNP deep end shelving to 1.15 metres at the
shallow end. It has the original glazed brick
contact his office. tiles still looking good after 80 years of service.

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