View report page

I am indebted to Mr. D. F. Wallis, Baths and Sports Manager,
for the following information and statistics in respect of the
financial year 1970/71.
"The Council's Baths and Sports Department comprises four
Baths Establishments, a Sports Centre and a Launderette and is
also responsible for a number of pre-school play centres, play
leadership schemes and other indoor and outdoor sports facilities
provided by the Borough. There are two Swimming Baths at
each of the four Establishments and, in addition, there is a Hydrotherapy
Pool at the Eltham Baths. Warm baths for men and
women are available at Plumstead, Woolwich and Greenwich.
Turkish and Russian Baths are provided at Plumstead and Greenwich.
There are public laundries at Plumstead and Greenwich, a
Launderette on the Abbey Estate, and a Sports Centre at Eltham.
During the Winter season the Large Pools at Greenwich and
Woolwich are converted into halls and a wide range of recreational
activities are provided including indoor bowling, roller skating,
badminton, table tennis, men's "keep fit" and five-a-side football.
During the year under review, 13,754 swimming lessons were
provided through the various schemes operating in the Department,
in addition to instruction given to school children attending in
organised classes.
Facilities for Cricket and Golf practice, Rhvthm and Movement
classes for women and table tennis are provided at Eltham Sports
Centre.
In the last few years the vital importance of the development of
children through their play has been increasingly realised and,
during 1970/71, the Department's Pre-School Play Centres were
expanded in number from 2 to 5 to give a Borough-wide service.
The centres in operation at 31st March, 1971, were : Thornham
Estate, S.E.10; Elm Terrace, S.E.9; Kidbrooke House, S.E.3;
Shrewsbury House, S.E.18, and Greenwich Baths, S.E.10.