Junction10.

[chorlton]

:clear: Just on a fishing mission:wave: Anyone on here that remembers or used to have connections with J10?:)

[Dunc]

Most motorways have a connection with Junction 10, do you mean the M6, the M40 (Warwick) , or the M60?
Isn't Chorlton cum Hardy near the M60?

[chorlton]

Most motorways have a connection with Junction 10, do you mean the M6, the M40 (Warwick) , or the M60?
Isn't Chorlton cum Hardy near the M60?
Nice one,my previous leg pulling has bitten me bum:) J10 M5 (walsall}just before it turns into M6.Chorlton cum hardy,too far oooop north.:wave:

[Breaststrokemum]

Hi! I remember! I swam in the Midlands in the 70s and certainly remember J10 swimmer Joy Beasley, a great backstroker, who I believe was then coached by Dave Heathcock, now at Ealing.

Breaststrokemum

[Dunc]

Didn't someone recently call him Dave Heathcoach?

[chorlton]

Hi! I remember! I swam in the Midlands in the 70s and certainly remember J10 swimmer Joy Beasley, a great backstroker, who I believe was then coached by Dave Heathcock, now at Ealing.

Breaststrokemum
Joy i think was 14 when she was picked for either olympic or commonwealth team.Last i heard she was a Midwife in the West mids.
With dry sense of humour/tounge in cheek.WHAT HAS DAVE HEATHCOCK ever done for swimming?(apologies to monty python):)

[cougar]

Yeah i remember them, cant remember names or faces though( we are talking 30+ years here). Anyone remember Avis Willington and a guy surname Fox ( i think) If my memory serves me he was with Stourbridge, I seem to remember his party trick was false starts..

[Breaststrokemum]

Was it Keith Fox?

[cougar]

I cant remember his 1st name, i remember his chlorine blond hair and i know he was in the worcs squad with me , cant remember where that was tho. I wasnt around that long i sort of got dragged into open water swimming and quit the sport at 18..

[cougar]

Yes , J10 not a bad squad, as i say its a long long time ago, blimey you dont get that for a murder sentance these days..

[Taxiandbank]

BigNev will confirm this, but I think the UAU water polo finals were held there in 1978 or 79?

Is there anyone out there that was part of the mighty Liverpool team that won 5 on the trot. Or anyone who got beat by us?

[Juicy Lucy]

Yeah i remember them, cant remember names or faces though( we are talking 30+ years here). Anyone remember Avis Willington and a guy surname Fox ( i think) If my memory serves me he was with Stourbridge, I seem to remember his party trick was false starts..

Sorry I'm late coming in on this, I was detained at Her Majesty's pleasure!

It was indeed Keith Fox who swam at Stourbridge. An absolute nutter, but an
extremely good fly swimmer. Avis Willington was a Warley swimmer, as was the other great from that area, Liz Taylor.

Lynne Townsend, who started Junction 10 swimming club, sadly died a few years ago after a long illness. She was relatively young. Lynne was one of Walsall's best swimmers from the 1960s, when the club had the best water-polo team in Britain.

Around the time of Joy Beasley there was another international backstroker at Halesowen, Claire Sanders. Claire has taken part in some masters events but is now busy with family matters and hasn't a lot of time for swimming.

JL

[chorlton]

Bloomin eck.Well of information/knowledge.Is your W.mids mole Edna Hughes?:eek:

[Juicy Lucy]

...... Edna Hughes?:eek:

You've got me there, Chorlton. I don't know Edna Hughes.

I've known a few women named Edna, Ethel and Beatrice who were nice to me. I seem to attract them.

I only wish there were a few named Tracey, Kim or Kylie.

JL

[Taxiandbank]

You've got me there, Chorlton. I don't know Edna Hughes.

I've known a few women named Edna, Ethel and Beatrice who were nice to me. I seem to attract them.

I only wish there were a few named Tracey, Kim or Kylie.

JL

Just give Cougar 10 minutes and everyone you have known will be renamed.:clear:

[chorlton]

You've got me there, Chorlton. I don't know Edna Hughes.

I've known a few women named Edna, Ethel and Beatrice who were nice to me. I seem to attract them.

I only wish there were a few named Tracey, Kim or Kylie.

JL
You stud muffin,maybe you should change your chat up lines.Either that or stop going to bingo halls on the pull.:aarrgghh:

[Juicy Lucy]

Hi! I remember! I swam in the Midlands in the 70s and certainly remember J10 swimmer Joy Beasley, a great backstroker, who I believe was then coached by Dave Heathcock, now at Ealing.

Breaststrokemum

Do you remember any of these from the same era? (Don't know which Midlands club you were at)

Karen Hinksman
Tony Evenson
Karl Craddock
Andrew Small
Nicola Hadley
Jonathan Cox
Keith Selvey
Ian Hadley

All good swimmers except Keith Selvey, who was a coach at Wolverhampton at the time.

JL

[chorlton]

[QUOTE=Juicy Lucy;76783]Do you remember any of these from the same era? (Don't know which Midlands club you were at)

I remember Karl Craddock.
Didn't Ian Hadley become deputy manager at the gala baths in west brom?
If it is the same Ian he caught a certain someone Not clocking off work & sneaking off to watch the Baggies play when he should have been working.:eek:

[Juicy Lucy]

I remember Karl Craddock.
Didn't Ian Hadley become deputy manager at the gala baths in west brom?
If it is the same Ian he caught a certain someone Not clocking off work & sneaking off to watch the Baggies play when he should have been working.:eek:

I've got a feeling there were two Craddock brothers. Can't remember the name of the other one. Not sure if it's the same Ian Hadley. The one I know is a Baggies fan and would have been at the game too.

JL

[Bully]

I've got a feeling there were two Craddock brothers. Can't remember the name of the other one. Not sure if it's the same Ian Hadley. The one I know is a Baggies fan and would have been at the game too.

JL

I knew their mum, she used to be on telly as a cook, married to Johnny?

[Juicy Lucy]

I knew their mum, she used to be on telly as a cook, married to Johnny?

Do you know the story of the Doughnuts? I'll PM you. (Anyone else too).

JL

[Bully]

Do you know the story of the Doughnuts? I'll PM you. (Anyone else too).

JL

Thanks for the PM Juicy, although I did already know how they put the holes in doughnuts!

[Juicy Lucy]

Chorlton (and anyone else from the Midlands area) do you remember any of these swimmers...

Iain Hutchinson (Camp Hill) breaststroker. (Now top surgeon in UK specialising in treating people with really severe facial injuries and deformities. - married to Baroness Helena Kennedy, QC).

Phil Veasey, Nialle Hartnett, Janet Grey, Mick Newman, Peter Newey (All Northfield SC) (Peter Newey last heard of working at London Stock Exchange)

Chris Holmes (Camp Hill) butterfier

Sonia Early (Sparkhill) Butterflier

Charlie Eden GB water polo player

Chris Stevenson, Chris Dickinson (Both water polo players, Aston) (Chris Stevenson now living in Canada and taking part in masters swimming).

Dennis Hensman (Kings Heath) Now living in Australia

Nigel Horton, GB water polo goalkeeper - went on to play rugby for Moseley and England

Geoff Nicholls (Lucas) One of GB's top sprinters - gave up swimming to join Black Sabbath.

Anne Hollick (Coalville, Leics)

Angeline Brindley (Coventry)

Ken Williams - Aston - 1956 Olympian.

Mick Hands (Walsall) GB water polo player

Do you remember David Sparkes working as head coach at Droitwich, or his current 'right hand at the ASA' Jane Nickerson, swimming for Coventry?

Come on you West Midlanders, throw in some names.

JL

[Breaststrokemum]

Hi JL. Don't remember any of those you mentioned. I do remember Liz Taylor(fly) Kim Wilkinson (back) and Selena Godfrey (breast). Selena swam with the Wulfrun Squad in Wolverhampton I think.

[Hag the bag]

Do you remember any of these from the same era? (Don't know which Midlands club you were at)

I remember Karl Craddock.
Didn't Ian Hadley become deputy manager at the gala baths in west brom?
If it is the same Ian he caught a certain someone Not clocking off work & sneaking off to watch the Baggies play when he should have been working.:eek:

Hi C, I am IH, Who are U?

[Juicy Lucy]

Hi C, I am IH, Who are U?

If you are indeed IH, I was your coach!

Oh my God, not another nutter here!!!!!

JL

[Bully]

If you are indeed IH, I was your coach!

Oh my God, not another nutter here!!!!!

JL

If JL is HE, and he is U, who is I or is that ME?

[Juicy Lucy]

If JL is HE, and he is U, who is I or is that ME?

I.C.

But if IH turns out to be U then I'm giving up.

JL

[Hag the bag]

If you are indeed IH, I was your coach!

Oh my God, not another nutter here!!!!!

JL

Hiya Judy? Andy? Prey tell

[Juicy Lucy]

Hiya Judy? Andy? Prey tell

Chameleons!

Boing Boing!!!

[Hag the bag]

Was it Keith Fox?

Yes it was Keith Fox. years ago he was a Landlord in Stourbridge dont know about now. Other relative, Ross Fox is now a Landlord in a pub opposite the Police station in Sourbridge.

I received this info of Glen and Karl Craddock's mom about a yr ago.

[Hag the bag]

I know!!!!!!!!!!

[Pandi]

Hi C, I am IH, Who are U?

Yo the Ian that worked at wednesbury pool & the gala baths.:aarrgghh:

[Juicy Lucy]

Don't think it's the same one Pandicus. This one lived in Oldbury.

JL

[Pandi]

Chorlton (and anyone else from the Midlands area) do you remember any of these swimmers...

Iain Hutchinson (Camp Hill) breaststroker. (Now top surgeon in UK specialising in treating people with really severe facial injuries and deformities. - married to Baroness Helena Kennedy, QC)

JL
His name was suggested by my youngest daughters surgeon,when i considered moving to london.(she was born with cleft palate & bilateral lip}
decided to stay down here due to cleft team down here at poole have known her since she was born.
As for the Ian from oldbury:o

[Salty]

You've got me there, Chorlton. I don't know Edna Hughes.
Wasn't she the sister of Graham Hughes, (the Fitter at Walsall Gala Bahs in the 60s and 70s) .. She was a fine swimmer and coach. If anyone does still know of her, I'd love to hear what finally happened to UMG 300, the old green MG they bought from my father (and sprayed red).

Chorlton (and anyone else from the Midlands area) do you remember any of these swimmers...

Iain Hutchinson (Camp Hill) breaststroker. (Now top surgeon in UK specialising in treating people with really severe facial injuries and deformities. - married to Baroness Helena Kennedy, QC). Was he the 100% shaved one who always came to the blocks wearing an enormous chromed ban the bomb pendant on a long chain? If so his breaststroke was almost as fast as my crawl !!

Chris Holmes (Camp Hill) butterfierOr was it him ???
Chris Stevenson, Chris Dickinson (Both water polo players, Aston) (Chris Stevenson now living in Canada and taking part in masters swimming).Played against Chris Dickinsdon in the 1967 junior season .. when Walsall never lost a match or relay all season. Lost my national medals but I still have the team photos somewhere if anyone is interested.

Nigel Horton, GB water polo goalkeeper - went on to play rugby for Moseley and EnglandWas he really a goalie !! .. He always played full forward in the Aston junior side ... well .. at least he did when I played against him .. I know .. I was fullback so I amost know what he tastes like ... bleagh!

Mick Hands (Walsall) GB water polo playerBundle of fun .. one of the most skillful water polo players of the late 60s and a demon with his trick shots ... If I recall he married one of the Walsall girls before moving on.

I could provide quite a few other Walsall player names, but they'd be water polo, not swimmers, and I'd have to ask me mum for the background info on a lot of them. She and my (deceased) dad stayed in Walsall long after I moved on ... I could also pick up with Brian Pugh, Kenny Parris and Ian Bailey - all of whom were in the team with me, and all of whom worked with or knew my family at the Walsall Gala Baths. They may have kept in touch with other players and swimmers.

... but going back a lot earlier I would be remiss not to mentionn Bert Owen - Coach at Rolfe St. Baths in Smethwick, and the person who managed to get my 100yd time into the 60s and my 200 yards down inside 2:30 .... I was 14 then and actually traveled back from Walsall to Smethwick every day for a summer school he ran for a week.

Other names .. How about ...

Denis Hale - Now sadly deceased but if I recall his obituary he was a very good masters swimmer. He was the father of Mick Hale (another very successful Walsall/England water polo player from my era) and also the brother of Jack Hale - for quite a while the coach at Walsall.

Big Bill Pickering - Manager of the old Bloxwich Baths, channel swimmer (and at one time cross channel record holder I think). He bred tropical fish as a hobby. Had a wall of tanks in the baths flat. He used to train at Reedswood open air pool .. all day ... when I ran the pool for my dads department.

I'll ask me mum about a few more next time I call her up.

BTW . Cougar .. it's Rolfe St. Baths .. not Rolph St. They decided to knock it down a few years back, and the Black Country Museum bought it, dismantled it and rebuilt it on their site in Dudley. It's now their visitors centre I think. In the original blurb they said that the top 2 storeys were administrative offices. Me Mu saw it and got in touch to put them right. It was actually the managers flat when we lived there, and even in 1970, when I was being considered for the trainee manager's job with Bill Francis (Thimblemill) the flat was still on offer as a perk of the job. Another bit of trivia .. they rebuilt it and repainted the original rectangulat "Rolfe Street Baths" sign on the end wall, but they didn't reinstate the fire exit doors and ironwork for getting out of the flat in an emergency :) ... Here it is now - http://www.bclm.co.uk/map1.htm

Walsall swimming club history ?? ... http://www.walsallswimmingandwaterpoloclub.co.uk/clubhistory.html

See y'all around .. I think I've rambled enough.

[Juicy Lucy]

Hi Salty,

Yes it was Chris Holmes, the Camphill Edwardians swimmer who had his head shaved. Bit if a nutter in those days.

Ex Walsall polo player Noel Winter is now working with the ASA at Loughborough as the Facilities Officer.

I'm sure you'll remember Walsall butterfly swimmer and coach Lynn Townsend from the 1960s and early 70s? Sadly she died a few years ago. (Stunningly beautiful girl when in her teens)

I remember Mike Hale. He was a good swimmer and then went on to become captain of the GB water polo team. I remember Mike, as a young boy, sitting on poolside watching Mick Hands playing polo. He never took his eyes off him throughout the whole game. He modelled himself on him.

I'm trying to think of the name of the polo player who was in the same team as Mike Hale. This guy had black hair and was a terrific sprinter too.

Nigel Horton did play as a forward too with Aston. He was brilliant in goal or out. Nigel went from being a copper in Birmingham to running a bar in France. Later he started his own business making those scrummage machines that rugbu players use to train with. He was as tough as nails - my best mate too.

Do you remember Harrry Braund, chief coach at Northfield and founder of Orion SC? Harry is nstill involved in swimming as an administrator in London. Met up with him recently. Great character.

JL

[Salty]

Hi Salty,

Yes it was Chris Holmes, the Camphill Edwardians swimmer who had his head shaved. Bit if a nutter in those days.

Ex Walsall polo player Noel Winter is now working with the ASA at Loughborough as the Facilities Officer.
Noel was the senior squad captain in 67. Probably the nicest man anyone could know, as well as skillful and fast in the water. I think he and Tony Whittington were my heros - Mike Hale had Mich Hands - I had Noel Winter.

I'm sure you'll remember Walsall butterfly swimmer and coach Lynn Townsend from the 1960s and early 70s? Sadly she died a few years ago. (Stunningly beautiful girl when in her teens)
Every young fella in the club was in love with her back then if I recall - Me too - There was also a young fly swimmer coming through the age groups who had the most wonderful style I'd ever seen. She must have been 11 or 12 then ... I'm not sure but does the name Jane Secker ring any bells ??

I remember Mike Hale. He was a good swimmer and then went on to become captain of the GB water polo team. I remember Mike, as a young boy, sitting on poolside watching Mick Hands playing polo. He never took his eyes off him throughout the whole game. He modeled himself on him.

I'm trying to think of the name of the polo player who was in the same team as Mike Hale. This guy had black hair and was a terrific sprinter too.
Perhaps it was Richard Horne. Richard came to Walsall from Cardiff (if I recall) in 65 or 66. Was a blindingly fast freestyler and broke my will for backstroke too (was my stroke then though I didn't really realise it). He always had more swimming style than Mike Hale, but he just didn't have the sheer brute power Mike had. Otherwise there was a smallish, dark-haired guy in the senior team too. I'll get the team list off me mum. She still has the commemorative menu from the celebration dinner the Mayor gave for us after the '67 season and that's got the team photos, all the players names and their signatures in it.

Another person who might help with a name quest would be Brian Pugh. I think he's now the manager at the Gala Baths. In my playing days he was almost the team mascot. He was only 13 yrs old and tiny compared with the rest of us great big 18 yr olds, but he still got the occasional quarter if we were well in front and could afford the risk. If I recall - he even scored a goal against Nuneaton so he really did qualify for his '67 National gold :)

Nigel Horton did play as a forward too with Aston. He was brilliant in goal or out. Nigel went from being a copper in Birmingham to running a bar in France. Later he started his own business making those scrummage machines that rugbu players use to train with. He was as tough as nails - my best mate too.He was a great player, but always a bit too rough for me .. There again, I "learned in his school" and played a harder game as a result.

Do you remember Harrry Braund, chief coach at Northfield and founder of Orion SC? Harry is nstill involved in swimming as an administrator in London. Met up with him recently. Great character.I'm afraid not. Most of my attention was focussed on Walsall and hence the Hale family, though we did have quite a few "defectors" from clubs like Wednesbury, Darlaston and even one from Tunstall (quite a trek to make the training sessions eh?).

[Juicy Lucy]

Thanks Salty. Bringing back some nice memories there. Walsall really was a top polo club. I don't know how they compare these days. I visited the Gala Baths many times as a swimmer and polo player for Aston. Must have bumped into you at some time.

[Salty]

Well you probably did .. I habitually wore number 2 - I'm Kevin Salt . If you played us in 67, you played me. I played all 4 quarters of every game in the 67 junior season, and either went off lead or anchor in the squad race. My dad was the manager there and an active number in the club. He was my long-term swimming coach too. I used to get up and literally walk out of the house and into the pool at 7am - breakfast at 8.15 and off to school - no travel time and my own 110 ft pool in the back yard .. Pity I didn't have the motivation to match the resources at my disposal ... Terrible waste of potential.

[zanshin]

Salty,:wave: I used to spend many a lunch break swimming up and down the pool with Jack Hale (there we go Bully someone else who knows of Jack Hale!!!!) I also used to be his son's supervisor at the East Park Lido in Hull.

[Salty]

Well d'ya know I never knew Jack and Vera had kids. Now I have to go back to mum and catch up on my own history. Jack was the general secretary of the Walsall club from 1954 until he died, at quite an early age, back in 1974.

[Juicy Lucy]

I think it's possibly a different Jack Hale. The Jack Hale known by Zanshin took part very successfully in masters swimming. In fact he was one of Britain's greatest. I haven't seen him competing in recent years.

A few years go, I think he was in his 70s at the time, he was mugged in the street by two young guys. They didn't reckon on Jack being a tough old bugger. He put both of them in hosptal.

JL

[zanshin]

I think it's possibly a different Jack Hale. The Jack Hale known by Zanshin took part very successfully in masters swimming. In fact he was one of Britain's greatest. I haven't seen him competing in recent years.

A few years go, I think he was in his 70s at the time, he was mugged in the street by two young guys. They didn't reckon on Jack being a tough old bugger. He put both of them in hosptal.

JL

Sorry salty JL is right, it was a different Jack. And yes he is a tough old bugger. He was swimming at the pool I worked at one day when a young guy thought it would be fun to keep bumping into him in the swimming lane. Jack stopped swimming, stood up in the pool and thumped him; there was blood all over the shop:wave: