Leeds International Pool

[tyke bhoy]

I would think all the diversions you would need to make to avoid others swimming would make up for the width of the tiles However even swimming straight you would have done the mile after 32 and one quarter lengths. This however means I was underestimating the mile at 64 lenghts in the 25m pools I used to swim in.

[Loinerpete]

I remember as a 9 year old we used to go swimming from school, we always went to union street baths behind millgarth police station and then the international pool opened and we started to go there...it was just unbelievable to us....we always refered to the place as "the olympics", we were allowed upstairs to the cafe and we would have spaghetti on toast, i learned to swim in the kids pool at the side, once you got your 1 length certificate you could go in the big pool, i had some great times there in the late 60`s I went back there as an adult and was shocked to see how run down it was. I can also recall that before the pool was built there was a kind of bus station there, saville street i think it was called. It will be strange to see the place demolished even though i can remember the days when it wasnt there.

[Reginal Perrin]

raveydavey wrote: I don't know if it was down to the thickness of the tiles or not, but the International was definately just too small for full blown international events.I can remember going a few times in the late 70's / early 80's and it seemed run down and cold then, compared to the shiny new Fearnville Sports Centre Pool we normally went to.Wasn't there an "indoor" running track that went around the building like a balcony, so you could go for a jog regardless of the weather?It's a crying shame it's being closed with no real replacement. I know the council have spent a lot of money on the grandly named "Leeds Aquatic Centre" at John Charles Stadium, but that's no use to anyone wanting a swim in their lunch hour is it? Thats before you remember there are no sensible public tranport links there either...And the shared useage of the Uni's new pool is about as much use to most people working in town being too far away to be of any use The land in Leeds City Centre is just too expensive to have apublic facilities such as a pool there now. You can swim as LA Fitness or The Marriott if you join for just £25 a month (off peak) in much mor epleasant surroundings. if you go 3 times a week it works out at only £2.08 a visit. You can also go to the gym and have a sauna too.

[exiled in essex]

Loinerpete wrote: I remember as a 9 year old we used to go swimming from school, we always went to union street baths behind millgarth police station and then the international pool opened and we started to go there...it was just unbelievable to us....we always refered to the place as "the olympics", we were allowed upstairs to the cafe and we would have spaghetti on toast, i learned to swim in the kids pool at the side, once you got your 1 length certificate you could go in the big pool, i had some great times there in the late 60`s I went back there as an adult and was shocked to see how run down it was. I can also recall that before the pool was built there was a kind of bus station there, saville street i think it was called. It will be strange to see the place demolished even though i can remember the days when it wasnt there. We used to call it 'The Olympics' as well! Going there for a swim instead of going to John Smeatons was a real treat. I've mentioned this before but does anyone recall the directional sign for it on the inner ring road reading 'International Swimming Poo' because someone had removed the L? That always used to make us laugh.

[Phill_d]

I had another look in the pool. Sadly it's now getting trashed inside.I had a go with some more shots and some night time stuff to try build up a good collection for when it's gone.The boiler room is pretty awesome to photograph.The piccies are here if anyone wants a peek at how the place looks these days.http://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn ... 030812905/    

[chameleon]

Ello, ello, ello - what's all this then?Last week we saw the Council security guys (out with a vengence) doing their best to find the latest visitors to the pool. Clearly having taken their time inside, a beat-up old Ford arrives, the side door to the pool opens and four young men emerge adeptly loading the car with neatly pre-packaged parcels of the best scrap to be found - all with the speed and precision of a well planned military operation!.Strangely then, a couple of days later, parts of the pool (due for demolishion you'll remember), get a quick paint job, new posh doors fitted, new glazing and.... a hood for a pay-phone on the steps???If those individuals return this week to try to increase their stash of ill-gotten gains, they are in for a shock, today the place is crawling with Police. The bigger shock will be that Mr Plod and the police vehicles are all from around the 70s - seems the pool in its last days is being, in part at least, imortalised as part of the set for scenes in a TV programme.I wonder if this will be A Really Good Production too!

[sirjohn]

i noticed that this afternoon. Looked like a scene from life on mars.... 70's police vans and classic motorcycles taken over the place. hope we get to see what they're filming!

[simonm]

Aye, I paased there at about 6ish and the coppers in 60's uniforms. Really complimented the style of the pool's building.

[Mork of Ork]

It'll be Heartbeat probably, they came and filmed on our street once.

[kierentc]

Mork of Ork wrote: It'll be Heartbeat probably, they came and filmed on our street once. is heartbeat still set in the 60s? the series has been going for over a decade, surely?