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October 2022 October 2022

STOKEWOOD ROAD SWIMMING POOL, the winter it was emptied and a sprung dance floor was laid with a raised stage
for the band. The building was also used for indoor bowls and would you believe
BOURNEMOUTH it, professional boxing tournaments.

The pool measured 25 yards by 12 yards and its dimensions remain the same to
this day as does its original tiles, a grand reflection of our Imperial past.
Stokewood Leisure Centre
A major bombing raid during the last war violently shook the building much to the
“I will go and find him” said the surprise and consternation of the swimmers inside. It was used at this time as an
friendly lady behind the reception emergency water supply by the fire brigade and allocated a couple of days a
desk and within a few minutes John week exclusively for servicemen. It also served as an emergency, first aid and gas
Davies the Stokewood Leisure decontamination centre.
Centre manager emerged from a
side office to warmly greet me. After the war the regular dances and indoor bowling continued until 1957 when
John, a bright and bubbly brummie they ceased to be run during the winter months and the pool has been used all
exuded enthusiasm from the start. I year round ever since.
must confess that I warm to people
who are passionate about what The pool experienced a large fire in 1967 and underwent a major refurbishment
they do and prepared to bring and sadly in my view the old changing cubicles were ripped out to be replaced
success by hard work. He had by their modern equivalent, changing rooms with coin operated lockers.
come down from Birmingham 20 years ago, first working as a lifeguard and then a However, we must all move with the times.
duty manager. He also completed his swimming teacher qualifications and took When I arrived, the Linwood School pupils (a special school for pupils with learning
on special projects at the Littledown Centre where he worked with the problems difficulties) were just leaving and their teacher Justin Stow explained to me how
of obesity within families. the short walk to the pool also helped their social skills and road safety awareness.
He told me that his pupils got great enjoyment out of their weekly swim in the pool
Three years ago, John took over the management of Stokewood Road Leisure
Centre and with his 100 staff brought success and purpose to the place. The and that he found his job both challenging but very rewarding.
centre was recently awarded the Quest Award for excellence, a leisure industry I soon joined the “Fit & Fifty” group in
quality award. what was a public swimming session
but felt more like an informal group of
The pool celebrates its 85th.anniversary in July this and has a remarkable history. It old friends. Swimming is of course the
opened as the Northwood Estate Swimming Baths on 12 . July 1930 and cost one sport and physical activity that
th
£40,000 to build. It has in its lifetime survived bombing, fire and closure threats.
you can take into old age. I was
The opening ceremony was a grand affair with the town councillors fully robed privileged to meet Joe (90) and his
“proceeding to the swimming bath hall”. The baths were opened by the mayor wife Jo (89) Goacher who told me
Councillor PM Bright, JP. This was followed by a handicap race for local that they were married in 1947, the
councillors, a demonstration of lifesaving by the Bournemouth School for Girls, same year as the Queen and the
diving by the Amateur Swimming Association and a grand swimming gala! This Duke of Edinburgh, had been invited
was rounded off with tea in the club room on the first floor followed by an to a garden party at Buckingham
inspection of the building by the dignitaries. palace where they had a wonderful
time! The two met when Joe was in
The pool originally had fifty wooden changing cubicles lining its sides with a tiered the army stationed at Southampton. Why did they come to the Stokewood pool?
balcony for spectators. 20 slipper baths were also provided and in its early days “Well, it is better than sitting on your backside!” said Joe.
before baths were commonplace in normal homes, customers used to come and
pay 6d (2 ½ p) for a hot fresh water bath with soap and towel. In 1938 you would I also chatted to their friend John Thompson who came down from the northeast
have needed to pay 6d extra if you wanted a seawater bath! many years ago to join the Junior Leader Regiment at Bovington. He used to be
bussed over to Bournemouth as part of the Army Swimming Association team to
The pool was originally designed to be used only during the summer months as in

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