Ray on hunt for tales of Rawmarsh Baths

SAUCY stories will feature in a new book about Rawmarsh Baths being put together by writer and poet Ray Hearne.

Rawmarsh Baths Tales will look at the social history of the pool which was a focal point for young people around 1962-65.

All the most famous names played there, including Tom Jones just after It’s Not Unusual got into the charts, when 1,000 local lads and lasses went to see him.

Lulu, Screaming Lord Sutch, Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, The Hollies, Gene Vincent and Wilson Pickett were among the star names who played there. Ray said:

“I’ve got a long list of people to interview and I’ve collected some great stories so far—some of which are possibly too cheeky to be published.

“However I’m conscious that there’s quite a few folk that I haven’t spoken to yet cos I’ve been having to do it in my spare time alongside half a dozen other projects.

“Some of the stories are hilarious, like Brian Washington and his mates as kids in the 50s going swimming for the first time.

“Brian’s costume was knitted so of course shot down to his ankles immediately and one of his mates wore a polo-necked jumper upside-down, with the neck hole sewn up, and tied round his waist with some string.

“Such bizarre occurrences were not entirely out of the ordinary

“Another good one from Brian pertains to a species—not uncommon—of dancehall bully, on this occasion meeting his come-uppance from one who would not be moved.

“After my own first trip as a kid my parents found me in the middle of the night at the end of my bed reaching down over the edge as if towards the water shouting for my dad as if he were underwater!

“So I have to assure people that I will get round to talking to them—but it’ll just take a while

"Secondly, it would be good to get more stories in people’s own writing—doesn’t matter about spelling or handwriting or any of that—just telling the stories of what they remember, particularly from those Saturday night dances.”

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