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I am indebted to Mr. D. F. Wallis, Baths and Sports Manager,
for the following information and statistics in respect of the
financial year 1971/72.
"The Council's Baths and Sports Department comprises four
Indoor Baths' Establishments and one Outdoor Pool (Hornfair
Lido), 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. There are two
Swimming Baths at each of the four Indoor 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 wider 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, 13,930 swimming lessons were
provided through the various schemes operating in the Department,
in addition to instruction given to children attending in
organised school classes at which the attendances totalled 270,820.
Facilities for cricket and golf practice, rhythm 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 1971/72 the Department's Pre-School Play Centres were
expanded in number from 5 to 8 to give a Borough-wide service.
The centres in operation at 31st March 1972 were: Charlton
House, S.E.7, Elm Terrace, S.E.9, Greenwich Baths, S.E.10, Kidbrooke
House, S.E.3, Plumstead Baths, S.E.18, Shrewsbury
House, S.E.18, Thomham Estate, S.E.10 and West Greenwich
House, S.E.10.
For the child of school age there were 12 play centres operated
and these were located at Avery Hill Park, S.E.9, Briset Road,
S.E.9, Charlton Park, S.E.7, Greenwich Park, S.E.10, Hornfair,
S.E.7, Plumstead Gardens, S.E.18, Queenscroft, S.E.9, Shrewsbury
Park, S.E.18, Sutcliffe Park, S.E.9, Winns Common, S.E.18;
and all-year-round play centres at Coldharbour, S.E.9, and West
Greenwich House, S.E.10.
Established annual sports events such as the Premier Cycle