WHEN the fifth Earl of Rosebery was a young man, his ambition was to marry the prettiest girl in England, become Prime Minister and win the Epsom Derby.
As a 16-year-old, leaving Darwen Grammar School for the last time, I had rather more modest aspirations: to marry the prettiest girl in Darwen, to become a racing correspondent and to swim a length at Darwen Baths.
Like Archibald Primrose, I managed the hat-trick, although the length took me a long time, probably another 20 years or so.
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I recalled that tortuous breaststroke as the empty shell of the baths, or leisure centre as it became known, took the opening assaults from the bulldozers.
Memories, too, of being dragged off to the old "slipper baths" where Darwen folk who didn't have the luxury of a bathroom or even a "tin" bath - that would be most of us - could scrub off the accumulated grime with chunks of carbolic soap.
Later it was the venue for all sorts of winter functions from teenage dances to mayoral balls.
I remember taking my future wife to a dance there in the early 60s only to discover that we were a week early.
She didn't hang around for the dog show which was about to start.
The Grammar School used to hold its annual prize-giving there and, again, I recall proudly showing off my first "cutting" to my pals who were still in school.
It was a report on Blackburn schoolboys football team in the Telegraph's sports pink - and I still have it.
Like so many Darweners I've been swimming there with the kids.
I've played football and badminton and enjoyed a coffee and sampled the sauna.
The Tower Room was very popular and just about everyone has enjoyed a presentation night or a birthday party or a retirement "do" there.
Sadly, the 1930s centre had had its day. It was tatty round the edges, grubby in the corners and was beginning to crumble.
It certainly won't take much effort to flatten it.
What will we get in its place? Well, a new borough leisure centre boasting a 25-metre swimming pool with a moveable floor and spectator seating.
There will also be a learners' pool, fitness and health suites, a lounge area. a sports hall, café and car park.
The doric-column entrance will be kept but repositioned close to the White Lion.
A pledge to build a new leisure centre on a single site was a vote winner and helped the anti-Labour coalition snatch power last May.
Tory councillor Michael Law-Riding, who is apparently in charge now, says we'll have it "soon" but if it's up and running much inside two years then my name's not Harry Nuttall.
Initial enthusiasm for the new centre might begin to pale as the £12m cost steadily escalates.
Not to mention the cost of using it.
And we already have a new sports hall at Darwen Vale and there will be another at the proposed town centre academy.
Yes, Harry, all of these things that you mention plus exciting political meetings. It was a good write-up until the last bit. We may get two sports halls - eventually - but I don't think that anyone will be able to swim in them - unless a new skill, dry land swimming, is invented. But who knows.........
Yes, Harry, all of these things that you mention plus exciting political meetings. It was a good write-up until the last bit. We may get two sports halls - eventually - but I don't think that anyone will be able to swim in them - unless a new skill, dry land swimming, is invented. But who knows.........
Posted by: Unconvinced, Darwen on 10:37pm Mon 28 Jan 08
I hear that the latest estimated completion date for the Leisure Centre is January 2010, so your two years is not far off the mark, Harry.
And there is time for it to slip still further .....
I hear that the latest estimated completion date for the Leisure Centre is January 2010, so your two years is not far off the mark, Harry.
And there is time for it to slip still further .....
Posted by: Little Diamond, Darwen on 11:03am Tue 29 Jan 08
Thomas, you do seem a reasonable chap but you don't half miss the point. We don't need a sports hall on the main site if there is already one at the Vale site. The project would have been £3million cheaper and we could have been swimming in Darwen again much sooner. The town is suffering because of political panto and the "Darreners" or are they ostriches?
Thomas, you do seem a reasonable chap but you don't half miss the point. We don't need a sports hall on the main site if there is already one at the Vale site. The project would have been £3million cheaper and we could have been swimming in Darwen again much sooner. The town is suffering because of political panto and the "Darreners" or are they ostriches?
Thank you, Little Diamond, I am a reasonable chap!! I have not missed the point. Being a reasonable chap means that I question why people who live in the Whitehall district of Darwen should have to travel approx 4 miles to the other end of town for sports facilities until (?yes, until) ultimately they open one opens at the Academy. At least the Leisure Centre is half way between one boundary and the other which in my humble opinion, being a reasonable chap seems quite fair!! The swimmers of Darwen could have been swimming last year or alternatively the project would have been completed earlier if the demolition had proceeded when the poor old leisure centre was closed. Not sure about your ostrich point though - don't tell me they are planning a zoo too?
Thank you, Little Diamond, I am a reasonable chap!! I have not missed the point. Being a reasonable chap means that I question why people who live in the Whitehall district of Darwen should have to travel approx 4 miles to the other end of town for sports facilities until (?yes, until) ultimately they open one opens at the Academy. At least the Leisure Centre is half way between one boundary and the other which in my humble opinion, being a reasonable chap seems quite fair!! The swimmers of Darwen could have been swimming last year or alternatively the project would have been completed earlier if the demolition had proceeded when the poor old leisure centre was closed. Not sure about your ostrich point though - don't tell me they are planning a zoo too?
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