53. The Pee Hole / Bathing Place, 1880s to 1929

53. The Pee Hole / Bathing Place  in the River Blackwater, 1880s to 1929 “And the boys used to swim in a part of the river, there’s a wide bit, which was deep, and if I may be so bold to call it, I think it was called the Pee Hole, but anyway it was … Continue reading “53. The Pee Hole / Bathing Place, 1880s to 1929”

Tape 002. Mrs Dorothy Ireland (nee Goss), sides 3 and 4

Tape 2 Mrs Ireland was born in 1894, and was interviewed on 25 November 1976. when she lived at 12 Chalks Road, Witham. She also appears on tapes 1, 3, 7, 33, 86, 90 and 97. For more information about her, see the the notes in the people category headed Ireland, Mrs Dorothy (Dolly), nee … Continue reading “Tape 002. Mrs Dorothy Ireland (nee Goss), sides 3 and 4”

40. The new swimming pool of 1933

Swimming is in the news in Witham at the moment, with the opening of the new pool and the closure of Bramston Sports Centre, its predecessor. I wrote three years ago about the history of  Bramston, noting how very wonderful its facilities had seemed when it was opened in 1974. So now I’ll discuss its … Continue reading “40. The new swimming pool of 1933”

10. Henry Cooper and the Bramston Sports Centre

In March 1974, the champion boxer Henry Cooper came to Witham to open the new Bramston Sports Centre and swimming pool. It was a memorable occasion for everyone who was there. So it is a good time to recall it in the light of Henry’s recent death. Those of us who met him observed his … Continue reading “10. Henry Cooper and the Bramston Sports Centre”