HAVING a post Christmas clear out I visited a charity shop in the town centre. Little did I realise at the time that I would be bringing home a piece of the town’s history.

Returning to my car, which was parked directly outside the baths on Fountain Street, just by chance I met a Tesco official. He is the man who is behind the new Arena, and is also responsible for the development of the new Tesco superstore.

It was mid morning on a very cold January day when he said he had just looked around the sports centre and was about to do the same at the baths.

He wanted to view the civic centre, but on that particular day he could not gain access because the keys were still in transit.

Paul, the Tesco official was keen to make progress, he said: "Would you like a quick look inside?" I almost said: "Can a duck swim?"

Unlike previous visits the place was devoid of people and was a bit spooky. What was once a bustling venue, alive with the sound of people’s voices, now stood empty and cold. It was strange seeing the pool without water, it had been drained for the final time prior to demolition. Time passes quick and it was nearly time to make an exit. I asked Paul if I could visit the basement for old time’s sake. I remember helping Frank Watson to change the bath water filter during the 1970s.

At the bottom of a relatively short staircase stood the outside of the main pool which is surrounded by service pipes, a view very few people had ever seen. It is possible to walk the entire circumference of the pool, windows, similar to portholes were fitted which give a view to the inside of the tub. No doubt they were provided for some form of coloured lighting effects. On our return to the staircase I spotted a scale model of the sports centre. I thought it could be of historical interest. Paul noted my interest and said: "If it’s of use, please take it."

To his credit he is keen to preserve anything that is of historical value. "If you have your camera with you, take as many photos as you like before its too late," he commented.

The rescued model would have been commissioned as a visual aid for the committee prior to the centre being built, no doubt an expensive item at the time.

I thanked Paul for his thoughtfulness, having a brief look inside was appreciated. Standing inside the empty hall, my thoughts drifted to all those happy days so many townsfolk must have enjoyed within the walls: swimming, dancing, attending boxing matches and flower shows, mayor’s balls and the like.

Our Frank was a proud man when he organised the mayoral events. On one occasion the mayor and mayoress were about to make their grand entrance when Frank noticed that the mayoress had her dress tucked into her knickers, this must have occurred when she visited the ladies. Watson was a man of action, he swiftly brushed past her, grabbing the dress in the process. She felt movement at her rear and turned round, Frank smiled and said: "Are we ready to proceed?"

My late father was a regular visitor to the baths. He worked for the North Western Gas and Coke works, based on Townley Street, next to the tip. He was estranged from my mother and lived alone in Manchester Old Road. His house had no bathroom so he used the slipper bath to have a ‘scrub’ as he referred to it. My younger brother and I would pay a visit each Sunday, being minors he had the right to see his offspring. One day we noticed that he had found a TV on the tip, problem was, it had no sound. After weeks of lip reading he was in luck, another set was found which had no vision. Perfect. One set was placed on a table, the other on the floor close by. It was a matter of tuning them both to the same station, which in those days was not much of a problem, we only had two channels.

Les Lord from Doncaster has sent in some interesting menus from the baths halcyon days. On the 24 November 1965, at the baths ballroom the Mayor, Cllr F Sansom JP, gave a Civic Dinner and Dance. On the menu was; Honeydew melon, followed by, asparagus soup, roast turkey, apple sauce, new potatoes, garden peas and carrots. Sherry trifle with fresh cream or fruit salad, a choice of cheese and biscuits was followed by coffee. Dancing was to George Pears and his Orchestra. MC was Colin Smith. Constance Millington and the Dennis Mayes Championship Formation team also entertained.

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