Community: End of an Era

There are few municipal swimming pools as magnificent as Moseley Road Baths. Stepping off a crowded number fifty bus and through its doors is like taking a step back in time, to a more elegant era of stained glass, polished brass and gleaming tiles. 

Opened in 1907, the building Grade II* Listed. The larger of its two pools is still surrounded by rows of individual changing cubicles, built for prudish Edwardians. There are also washing rooms, where, in an era of shared outdoor taps, generations of local people came to keep themselves clean. 

However, in recent years the building has suffered from a lack of investment - windows are cracked, the roof leaks and the visually stunning First Class pool had to be closed in 2003 due to structural issues with the spectator gallery. Owners Birmingham City Council have declared that when the dilapidated Victorian boilers finally give up, the remaining pool will be drained and swimming at Moseley Road Baths will cease.

It seems particularly poignant that the reason I’ve come to the baths today is to mark the end of another era. After twenty one years patrolling the poolside, Deputy Manager Jean Rabone, is finally hanging up her whistle.

“It’ll be hard to leave,” she says, “You get addicted to Moseley. It’s more personal than other leisure centres, and I’m on first name terms with a lot of the regulars here. But it’s time for a change.” 

Jean first joined the council’s Leisure department in 1984 and arrived at Moseley Road Baths in July 1992. After nearly thirty years in council pools, Jean’s next job is going to be quite a contrast - monitoring CCTV in a control room in the city centre. However, she’s taking it all in her stride.

“I’ll still be watching bodies - they’ll just be fully clothed instead of semi naked!”

And Jean has certainly seen a huge variety of semi-naked bodies over the years. As well as individual members of the public, the baths play host to two social groups - The Swimming Club, which has been based at the pool even longer than Jean has, and Moseley Shoals, Birmingham’s gay swimming group. Mark Hillier from the Shoals explains the importance of the baths to the local LGBT community. 

“Loneliness, isolation, mental health and physical health are big issues for us to tackle. Our social activities also support other Moseley businesses, such as the Prince of Wales, Moseley Park and local restaurants. If the pool goes, then so does all of this.”

Mark describes the role Jean has played in the group’s success.

“We started off in the public session, but Jean noticed our popularity and suggested taking up our own hired slot. We have been growing ever since. She has also trained many of our members as lifeguards. We’re going to miss her support enormously.”

Jean’s passion for swimming, the community and the building have made it hard for her to witness the slow disintegration of the baths over the years. 

“The lowest points have been seeing parts of the building close - first the ‘First Class’ pool, then the washing baths. Having to drain and clean those out wasn’t the most pleasant of jobs, but it was still sad to see them taken out of use.”

Even if the boilers hold out, the council’s ultimate plan is to relocate swimming to Sparkhill Baths and use the space for other community activities. Leading the campaign to maintain the building as a swimming facility are the Friends of Moseley Road Baths. The group have just released a book ‘Pool of Memories: A History of Moseley Road Baths’, to which Jean contributed. 

“She really helped with our recent history project,” explains Chair Jen Austin, “opening up areas so we could take pictures, assisting with events and guided tours. We will all - swimmers, parents, schools and supporters - miss her terribly.”

But, while the fight to keep the historic pool open continues, Jean is now fully focussed on the future.

“I love this place, and I have loved working here, but it’s time to move on. I’m definitely going to miss the people the most - I’ve worked with some of my colleagues for a very long time, particularly Carl in the pool and Gillian on reception. I’ll also miss the face to face contact with the customers - but I won’t miss having to look at their bare arses in the showers!”

(Published in 'Moseley B13' June 2013)