Dawdon's glorious pit pond and the summer days you spent on the rope and harness as you learned to swim
‘I was never away from the pond in summer’
Who cares if it rained? Summers in the good old days meant spending hours in Dawdon pit pond no matter what the weather was like.
It might have been a colliery pool but this was the place to be if you loved swimming back in its heyday.
And when we shared a 1970s photo of it, dozens of you got in touch to remember your own days in the pit pond.
First there’s Lisa Woolford who said: “Best memories ever . The belt was really hard material.. but was great with my precious mam holding it pulling me back in . In the corner after that with the pole .. then buzzing when achieved that to be able to swim on own.
“I was.over then moon when could finally go on slide in the middle. Loads of trophies after that on gala days along with my brothers too . Ooh and not forgotten the bovril after to warm us up too .Honestly best days of my life.”
Barrie Gleghorn was ‘never away from the pond in summer’ while Andrew Cole commented: “It was always warmer in the pond when it rained.”
Ian McAndrew recalled: “I learned to swim there, used to spend almost every day there during school holidays with Puff the Magic Dragon playing in the sound system for what seemed to be a continuous loop.”
Emma Gibson said: “Rolled up towel and cozzie under your arm and off you went. Summer evenings felt like forever and even when it rained the water became warmer. Then there was always a bovril or a hot orange to warm you up from the tuck shop. Best childhood memories.”
Kevin Guy said: “50p for my membership in 1990 loved this place” and Debbie Kershaw reminisced: “I practically lived here when I was younger, it was sad to see it go.”
Denise Todd gets our thanks for her comments. “Awww wow,what a fab pic from my childhood where Dad put me on 'the belt and rope' till I could swim enough to go in the 'corner,with the pole in front' to keep me safe till..YES YOU CAN SWIM ON YOUR OWN NOW DENISE!! And don't forget the 'tuck shop' for pop n crisps after then a lovely walk home..avoiding the myth of the rats in the dip of Dawdon Dene..what Fab memories !! Xx”
Christine Padgett also remembered the pond but not for such positive reasons. “I was scared to learn to swim here on the belt..only tried it twice and to scared to try again. I was worried about what lurked at the bottom.”
Whether the memories were good or bad, you never forgot your summers at Dawdon Pond.
Tell us which piece of Wearside or East Durham’s past we should feature next, whether it’s an old shop, pub, nightclub, factory or leisure venue.
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