O/T Can anyone remember rubbing for luck the nose of the bronze bust of Bill Burgess

[Brin]

In a similar vein... does anybody remember (or have a photo) of a stone lion statue (possibly a pair) outside the entrance to the White Lion pub in Masbro', which my dad told me about, and claimed that people used to pat for good luck, on their way to the match. Never seen by me , so probably one for the quite oldies

Not many much older than you Mike so probably won't get a reply

[sota]

Great stuff Brin, it was a brilliant day mate. Unfortunately, I too can remember owd Burgess in the Main St Baths, or Old Baths as we used to call them. The ones on Sheff Rd become the New Baths lol

[CTMilller]

I remember it well at the Old Baths. You used to pass it on your right after paying. I was a regular for the Saturday sessions in the late fifties. The chlorine level in the water would not be allowed today but probably necessary then given general hygiene standards. I also remember the mysterious "slipper baths" (price 4d) which I never saw anybody use...

The New Baths always seemed a bit luxurious to me. We went there every week form primary school but it always seemed a bit impersonal. They were built in 1937 and opened to celebrate the coronation of George V1. (I have a "Rotherham Coronation Special" magazine somewhere in my archives with a picture of it on the day it was opened.) I went back to have a look at the New Baths a few years ago shortly before it was due for demolition and was so pleased to see the Burgess statue mounted in the front lobby. I gave it a sentimental polish...I was also amazed at how small the pool area there had become after fifty odd years!

I also saw the Burgess statue on my last visit in November last year in its latest home at the Clifton Park Museum. Again a sentimental nose polish - that's more than sixty years of acquaintance!

[sota]

Nice one CT. Funnily enough the chlorine levels could’ve been too low, affecting the ph levels, which often causes the stinging eyes and smell. I’m no chemistry expert but I have maintained a pool for 17 years 😏

[CTMilller]

Nice one CT. Funnily enough the chlorine levels could’ve been too low, affecting the ph levels, which often causes the stinging eyes and smell. I’m no chemistry expert but I have maintained a pool for 17 years ��

You might well be right, Sota. I just remember there was something that literally took your breath away when you went down the ramp to the pool area...I shall never forget it - and the shrieking noise was enough to give you a nosebleed!

I wonder when it was actually built? It could well have been Victorian - certainly Edwardian. My dad, who was born in 1915 used to swim there from RGS and he remembered it seeming pretty vintage in the twenties and early thirties. There used to be a balcony with a railing all the way round it about half way up the wall. I remember you could see where it had been attached before it was removed. I think they took it down because people used to go up there and jump in - probably too many accidents...

[sota]

Crikey, I can remember that too! My dear old Mum was a great swimmer and taught me to swim there at an early age. Her method? She threw me in the deep end and told me to get out. Those were the days.

[wrinkly]

Crikey, I can remember that too! My dear old Mum was a great swimmer and taught me to swim there at an early age. Her method? She threw me in the deep end and told me to get out. Those were the days.

That's how I was taught. I found the swimming easy.

Getting out of the sack with handcuffs on was the tricky part.

I spent hours in both the old and new baths. Jumping off the top block at the new baths was a right of passage. Took my kids there and to Maltby baths, but the highlight was the metro dome at Barnsley. Herringthorpe LC was rubbish for swimming but good when they were toddlers.

All these places (even the old baths) were luxury compared to Maltby crags baths, where I went with school - had icebergs in it.

I try to go swimming at least 3 times a week. Very steady - just over a mile in an hour. In fact, I'm off there now (tbh getting up at the crack of dawn is the hardest bit)

[Pattylallacks2]

Must feel strange being Wrinkly BEFORE you get in the water?

[sota]

Wrinkly, I remember standing on the top block at Langold Lake waiting for the others to jump/dive off the blocks below before seizing the moment to plunge headfirst into the reeds on the bottom of the lake. I remember it well because I can never forget it lol

[LincsMiller]

I remember it well at the Old Baths. You used to pass it on your right after paying. I was a regular for the Saturday sessions in the late fifties. The chlorine level in the water would not be allowed today but probably necessary then given general hygiene standards. I also remember the mysterious "slipper baths" (price 4d) which I never saw anybody use...

The New Baths always seemed a bit luxurious to me. We went there every week form primary school but it always seemed a bit impersonal. They were built in 1937 and opened to celebrate the coronation of George V1. (I have a "Rotherham Coronation Special" magazine somewhere in my archives with a picture of it on the day it was opened.) I went back to have a look at the New Baths a few years ago shortly before it was due for demolition and was so pleased to see the Burgess statue mounted in the front lobby. I gave it a sentimental polish...I was also amazed at how small the pool area there had become after fifty odd years!

I also saw the Burgess statue on my last visit in November last year in its latest home at the Clifton Park Museum. Again a sentimental nose polish - that's more than sixty years of acquaintance!

This will take you back CT, pics a bit grainy but good enough to jog the old memory. Hope you and yours are all keeping well