Newham Voices: Sept 24 - Blitz memory

 

This evening I finally got to read my monthly e-newsletter from "Newham Voices". Which is our free community led news, information and entertainment resource for Newham residents. While free, it costs money to run so please consider subscribing - Newham Voices.

I was reminded that this weekend is the anniversary of the start of the Blitz in London and the plaque shown in the caption remembers, the 13 Air Raid wardens killed by a German bomb. This was on what is now the site of the Newham Council repair depot in West Ham ward, where I am a Councillor. 

By the end of the Blitz the following May, Hitler's Nazi bombers had killed 146 West Ham and East Ham residents. Many more civilians were die in the following years. 

Never forget. 

Romford Road (Atherton) Swimming Baths 1934

 

Hat tip for this wonderful collage to LCC Municipal https://twitter.com/lccmunicipal/status/1410575532434104323 (&@LondonNurse2015 for drawing it to my attention) . A souvenir brochure on the opening of the baths in 1934.

It has now been knocked down and rebuilt as a leisure centre (with a pool) but I remember swimming in the old baths (freezing cold when the boilers broke down). The drinks machine hot chocolate was pretty horrible but was warm and sweet. 

Apparently it cost £147,000 to build in 1934 and some of the money came from the government in order to give the unemployed work. 

During the 2nd world war it was used as a morgue for victims of the Bliz. 

The baths were very similar to those in my home town of Buckley in NE Wales which was paid for by a one penny levy on each ton of coal mined locally.