Recollections

4.

Bryan Gourlay

Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay who wrote:

Sciennes School Baths

Jimmy McCracken

"Our primary school swimming lessons were at Sciennes School, the only primary school around with its own pool.

Here, we came across the legendary  swimming instructor, Jimmy McCracken. With his military bearing and thin moustache, and always resplendent in his white shirt, white flannels and white shoes, he taught (or scared) thousands of kids how to swim and dive over many years.

Many of your readers may remember Jimmy McCracken. I know he was at Sciennes school in the mid-1930s, when my aunt went to the school, and he was still there in the mid-1950s, or later."

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland,  April 17 + April 20,  2006

I've just received my first e-mail from somebody who remembers Jimmy McCracken!    -  Peter Stubbs,  April 18,  2006

.. and a second e-mail about when he was Pool Superintendent at North Berwick Open Air Pool.        -  Peter Stubbs,  July 28,  2006

Recollections

5.

George T Smith

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Thank you to George T Smith who wrote:

Craiglockhart School Swimming Classes

"I learned to swim in the early 40's while I was a pupil at  Craiglockhart Primary. We walked  once a week to the school baths at  a school whose name I no longer remember somewhere near Boroughmuir."

George T Smith, British Columbia, Canada:  April 21, 2006

Recollections

6.

Bryan Gourlay

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay replied:

"The only primary school near Boroughmuir, George might have gone to for swimming, is Bruntsfield.  I've no idea if it has a swimming pool. The school is still very much there - one street behind the main road at Bruntsfield - I think first left as you go down Viewforth on the way to the old Boroughmuir building."

 George Smith wrote:

"The recent reply from Bryan Gourlay confirms my memory of the location of the baths.  It must be Bruntsfield school."     April 27, 2006

Recollections

7.

George T Smith

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

George T Smith wrote:

Nancy Riach and Miss King

George Smith wrote:

"There, we were taught by Nancy Riach  a strict  female form in a black swimming costume. She was I believe an Olympic competitor (Munich ?) originating  from Airdrie."      April 21, 2006

George Smith sent a further note a few days later

Nancy Riach and Miss King

"Was it Nancy Riach or not?  I am now doubtful, as it appears she died aged 20  in 1947. She was pulled from the water at the European championships in Monaco: she had contracted polio. My recollection is of an  older woman.

I wonder if anyone can recollect who the instructor was?

Recollections

8.

Hugh Boyd

North Yorkshire

Thank you to Hugh Boyd who replied:

Bruntsfield Primary School

George Smith wrote:

"I would like to think that the school that George Smith remembers with the swimming pool in the basement was Bruntsfield Primary school which I attended in the late 50s.

We were taught to swim by Miss King who if I recall correctly had a Silver medal from one of the past Olympic games."

Hugh Boyd, North Yorkshire,  June 4, 2006

Recollections

9.

Elizabeth Fraser (nee Betty Simpson)

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Thank you to Elizabeth Fraser who replied:

Broughton Primary School?

"Possibly  the basement swimming pool could have been Broughton Primary"

Elizabeth Fraser (nee Simpson), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia:  July 26, 2006

In fact, it seems more likely that the baths were at Bruntsfield Primary School.  See recollections 8 (above) and 10 (below).

-  Peter Stubbs:  June 9, 2006.

Recollections

10.

Nancy

Edinburgh

Thank you to Nancy, Edinburgh, who gave the same school as Hugh Boyd suggested, above.

Nancy wrote:

Bruntsfield Primary School

"Regarding the swimming instructor at Bruntsfield Primary, it was a Miss King when I attended in the 1960s, and she always wore a medal around her neck."

Nancy, Edinburgh,  June 9, 2006

Recollections

11.

Elizabeth Fraser (nee Betty Simpson)

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Thank you to Elizabeth Fraser who replied to George T Smith's message (7. above):

Stockbridge Baths

Nancy Riach

"I remember Nancy Riach demonstrating at Stockbridge swimming pool. I believe she contracted polio some years later."

Elizabeth Fraser (nee Simpson), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia:  July 26, 2006

Recollections

12.

George T Smith

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Thank you to George T Smith who wrote

Warrender Baths

Soldiers

"We later went on to Warrender  where we shared the pool with soldiers  from Redford who were learning basic swimming and tended to jump in, in baggy gym shorts at the shallow end and make mighty splashes and a  lot of noise.

"I too remember the obligatory shower and foot bath before entering the pool. "

George Smith, British Colombia, Canada,  April 21,  2006

Recollections

13.

George T Smith

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Thank you to George T Smith who wrote

Dalry Baths

 Ned Barnie

"A further memory is of Ned Barnie doing a demonstration swim at a Boy Scout Gala at Dalry baths where he amazed us all by doing a Johnny  Weismuller (Tarzan) underwater swim of a full length and a return part-length. I think he was a former Channel swimmer."

George Smith, British Colombia, Canada,  April 21,  2006

Recollections

14.

Bryan Gourlay

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Thank you to Bryan Gourlay replied:

 Ned Barnie

"As George says, Ned Barnie was a very famous bloke, around Edinburgh, for his many Channel swims and involvement with kids.  He lived in Portobello. Ned is the older chap on the right of the picture."

©

Bryan Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Recollections

15.

Walter Barnie

Oxford Massachusetts, USA

Thank you to Walter Barnie who wrote:

Ned Barnie

"Ned was my grandfather’s cousin.  My grandfather moved here  from Edinburgh in 1919.  I remember him speaking about Ned growing up.

I must have inherited the swimming gene as I swim five days a week. However, I only do three miles a week, not like Ned.."

Walter Barnie, Oxford, Massachusetts, USA:  August 7+13, 2006

Recollections

16.

Archie Foley

Portobello, Edinburgh

Thank you to Archie Foley who wrote:

Ned Barnie

"On 16h July this year, a commemorative plaque was unveiled at 7 Straiton Place, Portobello  where Ned lived for many years,

Archie Foley, Portobello, Edinburgh:  August 18 + 19, 2006

George Smith, British Colombia, Canada,  April 21,  2006

Recollections

17.

Peter Stubbs

Edinburgh

Ned Barnie

 I visited Straiton Place on August 20, 2006, and took a few photographs of the plaque, and of  the buildings that it has been attached to.

Please click the thumbnail images below to see a couple of these photos.

  ©       ©

-  Peter Stubbs,  August 22, 2006

Recollections

18.

Carol Irwin

Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland

Thank you to Carol Irwin who wrote:

Portobello Open Air Pool

'The Waves'

©

"Oh joy!!  What fond memories I had from the open air swimming pool!! It's where i learned to swim!!. Long summers, penny biscuits, swimming all day... you could even bring as favourite record to be played over the P.A.!! oh joy!!

I remember a lovely chap called Ned who was a channel swimmer!!. I also remember the famous announcement every hour.. 

"THE WAVES WILL BE ON IN 5 MINUTES TIME''

....Heaven...

Carole Irwin:  Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland,  March 24, 2006

Recollections

19.

George T Smith

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Thank you to George T Smith who replied ot Carol Irwin (18 above).

George wrote:

Ned Barnie

"Carole Irwin's memory of 'a lovely guy called Ned' was possibly one of Ned Barnie whom I remember inspired us Boy Scouts with a demonstration of swimming at Dalry Baths where he swam underwater for over a length."

George Smith, British Colombia, Canada,  March 25,  2006

Recollections

20.

Miles Cumming

Telford, Edinburgh

Thank you to Miles Cumming who wrote:

Portobello Open Air Pool

"I remember well my visits to the pool.  It was the anticipation which was exciting as a child.  I can vividly recall the sight that greeted me after emerging from the darkness of the changing rooms - the brightness of the sunlight and blueness of the huge pool before me ...

On my final visit I had learned to swim, but the water was just too COLD!!"

Miles Cumming, Telford, Edinburgh, June 5, 2007

Recollections

21.

Walter Lyle Hume

Cowes, Isle of Wight, England

Walter Lyle Hume,  Isle of Wight, wrote:

North Berwick Open Air Pool

Mr McCracken

"James McCracken, swimming teacher at Sciennes primary school, was also Pond Superintendant at North Berwick open air pool, very popular on Gala Days.

His life-saving assistant, Ernie, always caused howls of laughter when tipped into the water...........

James McCracken was addressed as Mr, never Jimmy.  Very happy days which seemed to be enjoyed by all."

Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight, England:   July 28,  2006

Recollections

22.

Ian Simpson

Richmond, Surrey, England

Ian Simpson, Richmond, Surrey, England, wrote:

Dalry Baths

Miss King

"Miss King  taught us life saving  at Bruntsfield, circa 1960.   My nearest pool was Dalry in Caledonian Crescent ."

Ian Simpson, Richmond, Surrey, England:   December 2,  2006

Recollections

23.

Ian Simpson

Richmond, Surrey, England

Ian Simpson, Richmond, Surrey, England, wrote:

Portobello Open Air Pool

"Aged 14,  I was proud to have dived off the top board at Porty, 10 meters up with the wind catching you, and the top of the buses visible outside.   But going down into 15 feet of salt water you felt safe."

Andy Hunter

"I just lost my  old  swimming pal Andy Hunter  who succumbed to 'The Big C'."

Ian Simpson, Richmond, Surrey, England:   December 2,  2006

Recollections

24.

Eric Gold

East London

Thank you to Eric Gold for sending me his recollections.

Infirmary Street Baths

Please click the link below to read Eric's comments:

Edinburgh Old Town:  Infirmary Street Baths

Recollections

25.

Alan Fentiman

Bournemouth, Dorset, England

Alan Fentiman who says he enjoyed reading Bryan Gourlay's notes on his visits to Warrender Baths (1 above)and Dr Guthries Baths ( 2 above).

Bryan wrote:

Warrender Baths

Saturday Mornings

"My sisters, friends and I often went to Warrender Baths on a Saturday morning, mid 1960's.  I can't recall how much it was but, I suspect, 6d."

Hourly Shifts

"The swimming was in hourly shifts, and whether you got a good changing cubicle or not depended on  where you were in the queue.

We usually got in the region of 50 minutes in the water before the whistle would go and the baths would be cleared. It was generally mayhem and you would have to be very lucky to get enough space to actually try to swim."

Hot Chocolate

"Bryan enjoyed the Brylcreem when he had finished but we looked forward to hot chocolate from the machine, if we had any money left!"

Dr Guthrie's Baths

Gracemount Primary School

"As I attended Gracemount Primary School, we were sent along Lasswade Road to Dr Guthries for our swimming sessions.

My main memories are that the pool was smaller than Warrender - and colder.  I can't recall how we got along to Dr Guthries; maybe the school put on a bus? "

Gracemount Secondary School

"It's interesting; I can recall that Gracemount Secondary school had a swimming pool.  I wonder why we didn't get sent there?  I only remember being in that pool during summer holidays when I was being taught to swim

Here is a copy of my elementary swimming certificate."

    ©

Alan Fentiman, Bournemouth, Dorset, England:  August 12,2008

Recollections

26.

George Clydesdale

Edinburgh

George Clydesdale, Edinburgh:  Message left in EdinPhoto guestbook:  August 15, 2008.

Recollections

27.

George Clydesdale

Edinburgh

George Clydesdale, Edinburgh:  Message left in EdinPhoto guestbook:  August 18, 2008.

Recollections

28.

George Clydesdale

Edinburgh

George Clydesdale, Edinburgh:  Message left in EdinPhoto guestbook:  August 18, 2008.

Recollections

29.

Elizabeth Fraser (nee Betty Simpson)

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Thank you to Elizabeth Fraser who wrote:

Glenogle Baths

"We were taken to Glenogle Baths, between Glenogle Road and Saxe Coburg Place.

The 'swimmers' were attached by a wire  to an overhead wire. We were given water wings - two waterproof cotton things on a band which went under your chest with the wings floating.

We were then 'helped' across the pool by the attachment held by the teacher - and of course 'shivery bites' which were, indeed, shivery bites.  Each shower head seemed to have to accommodate five or six kids at once!"

Elizabeth Fraser (nee Simpson), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia:  February 12, 2009

 Recollections

30.

Elizabeth Fraser (nee Betty Simpson)

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Elizabeth added:

Glenogle Baths - Photos

"I do hope that, when the refurbishment is completed,  we might see some 'before and after' shots.  I'd love them as a memento for my genealogy project.

I can still smell the place and remember the showers - never really enough to warm us up - not forgetting the shivery bites."

Elizabeth Fraser (nee Simpson), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia:  November 17, 2009

 Recollections

31.

Alastair Whitwell

Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland

Alastair wrote:

Dr Bell's Baths

"I was a pupil of Trinity Academy Primary and then Secondary school (1955 -1967).  I well remember clutching my bus token and getting on the bus on Ferry Road to go down to Dr Bell's Baths in Great Junction Street, Leith."

©

Swimming Certificates

"I learned to swim there and recall that we had to be able to swim a breadth in order to gain the Elementary Swimming Certificate. As the baths were so small, it probably only took about 3 or 4 strokes to complete a breadth!

Then the challenge of the Intermediate and Advanced Certificates.  I think the Advanced involved diving to the bottom in the 'deep end' and retrieving a big rubber brick.

As I had not yet mastered the art of opening my eyes under water, I remember trying to pinpoint where the brick lay on the bottom and then scrabbling about trying to locate it before I ran out of breath. Suffice to say that I eventually succeeded and gained the certificate.  I still have all the certificates to this day!"

Alastair Whitwell, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland.
Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, 29 Mar 2010

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