THERE’S something about Cambridge Road Baths that twangs the heart-strings of older Huddersfield residents.

One such is Trevor Burgin, who recalled interesting times at the baths from the wartime onwards.

Trevor said: “My wife Kath and I were at the baths on dance nights during the war dancing to bands such as Harry Gold and his Pieces of Eight.

“Kath remembers some American GIs jitterbugging. One threw a local girl over his shoulder and an ambulance was called.”

In the late 1950s Trevor was secretary of Huddersfield Schools’ Swimming Association. The treasurer was Sheila Oldroyd, a swimming teacher, and the PE organiser was John Edwards.

Huddersfield was Invited to stage the English Schools Swimming Association National Championships and Trevor visited the 1958 event in Rochdale and 1959 in Hornchurch, Essex, to get a feel for what was required.

At that time Trevor had been promoted head at Spring Grove School and during 1959-60 he had no class teaching role.

He had the help of eight secretaries, all local teachers, to organise the 1960 ESSA Swimming and Diving Championships at Cambridge Road.

The event attracted 500 competitors aged 11 to 18 from all over England and the Channel Isles. They were lodged with Huddersfield families for the three day event.

The reception centre was the YMCA building opposite the Post Office in Northumberland Street.

Meals were at the Salendine Nook school campus, opened a year earlier by Princess Margaret.

Trevor said: “One of the divers was Susan Holgate, daughter of the baths manager Norman Holgate. Other Huddersfield swimmers taking part were Elaine Wood, Paul Bentley and (I think) Eric Hodgson.”

Trophies were presented by the ESSA president, Eric Taylor, the mayor Clr Norman Day and Anita Lonsborough. Trevor’s daughter Angela, then six, presented Anita with a floral tribute.

Trevor went on to become ESSA’s minuting secretary (1961-71), chairman of the Yorkshire Schools Swimming Association and, in 1972, president.

SIMON Hughes now lives in Eastbourne but remembers with considerable affection the time when he was a member of the Huddersfield 18-Plus social group in the late 1980s.

He recalls the names Malcolm Lodge, John and David Smith, Claire Taylor and Paul Dyson.

He said: “If any of these people or anybody who knew them would like to get in touch I would love to hear from them.”

Simon is at 4a, Maxfield Close, Old Town, Eastbourne, BN20 8PQ or at simon.hughes4444@btinternet.com