Mexborough & Swinton Times — Saturday, 19 July 1924
Denaby Swimming Baths
Opened by Major J. H. Leslie
A Splendid Acquisition
On Saturday the commodious swimming bath which forms a portion of the Denaby Miners’ Welfare Scheme was opened to the public.
The bath, which is 90 feet by 30 feet, is situated in the rear of the Institute, which is being erected between the football and cricket fields in Tickhill Square. Slipper baths and adequate dressing accommodation are also provided. The bath slopes from three feet to seven feet to five feet, the deepest portion being at diving range. The flooring is of mosaic and shore perpendicularity through the water before the swimming commenced on Saturday after the opening. There appeared to be only one fault and that will be immediately apparent to swimmers in races: there are no lines along the floor of the bath to serve as guides. Perhaps that can be remedied.
There was a great assembly for the opening. In the absence of Mr. H. C. Harrison, the chairman of the local committee, Coun. Tom Hill, the vice-chairman, introduced Major J. H. Leslie, the managing director of the Denaby and Cadeby Main Collieries, Ltd. Mr. Hill said he trusted that the Welfare Scheme would bring to the township that social sphere which had been so long looked for. They had been careful to cater for the children. The art of swimming was an important part of their education. The committee aimed at equality of rights for both sexes and for all in the township in connection with the scheme.
Major Leslie said he had been asked by the committee to open that beautiful bath. They all knew that it was the result of their contributions and of the Company’s contributions, and he hoped the results produced under such a scheme would be such as the country had never seen before. It was satisfactory to know that the contributions were to continue and he hoped for other welfare schemes. The Company realised that to give comforts and amenities would give more thorough workmen and more satisfied people.
One thing the children should remember as they grew up and became good citizens and that was to remember that their fathers had contributed out of their hard earnings, and there would be the satisfaction in knowing that they had done something towards it.
In turning the key to run water into the bath, Major Leslie said, “I hereby declare this bath open for public use.”
This was the signal for scores of schoolboys waiting on the bath side and in they plunged. The first boy to hit the water was Tom Stokes, a son of the Mexborough boxer.
Among those with Major Leslie at the bath side were Mr. H. Hayley, manager, Cadeby; Mr. W. Still, manager, Denaby; Mr. E. L. Hardy, engineer; Mr. H. L. Smethurst, architect; Mr. A. Roberts, J.P., C.C., secretary to the scheme; Mr. J. Dunk, treasurer; Messrs. R. Gethen, W. Smith, T. Gregory and G. Marshall, representing the miners; Mr. J. F. Kaye, Mr. A. Ackroyd. In addition there were the heads of the schools, Captain J. W. Reynolds, and last but not least Mr. W. H. Chambers, of Clayworth Hall, formerly managing director of the collieries, who was keenly interested in the proceedings.
The first event to take place in the baths was a team race between the Conisborough and Denaby Boys’ School, and this was won by T. Bright, of Station Road School, for Conisborough. F. C. Gibbs, of Balby Street School being second.
Then there was an unexpected interlude. For Captain J. W. Reynolds, the Conservative candidate for Don Valley, and Mr. J. T. Rowan, the secretary for the Don Valley Labour Party, appeared on the bath side in swimming costumes. They swam a length, and the Captain, handicapped by the loss of one arm, lost by a few yards. They were heartily cheered for their spontaneous contribution to the proceedings.
Mr. W. Hanson, of Doncaster, an ex-president of the North-Eastern Area of the A.S.A., hon. treasurer of the Yorkshire County Association, and hon. secretary of the Doncaster Dolphins then appeared on the bath side. He congratulated the authorities on the splendid bath they had provided, it was wonderful to a stranger to see it, and he hoped that the men and women, boys and girls would patronise it. Swimming was one of the finest sports in the world, one of the cleanest and best for exercise. All would benefit by use of this fine bath.
He then introduced some Doncaster champion swimmers who gave exhibitions as follows: Miss Peggy Taylor who was second in the half-mile river championship last week, one length Trudgeon and one length back crawl; Miss Pearson, who gave samples of breast stroke and long diving; Miss Timmins, winner of the half-mile open Doncaster Amateur Championship Cup, two lengths under arm side stroke, and two lengths over arm side stroke; Tom Lindley, the 50 yards Doncaster Boy Champion, exhibited the crawl; and Fred Timmins, the quarter-mile and half-mile champion, gave some exhibition strokes.
After this all and sundry who had costumes jumped into the bath, which rang with the joyous shouts of the bathers in the cool water on a warm afternoon. It was an auspicious opening, and judging by the interest taken there should be no lack of patronage.