The Thompson Centre

[ClaretTony]

Mr grandparents were the mayor and mayoress when it was opened. Can see them on the film at the opening ceremony.

Was it Frank Booth?

[Somethingfishy]

Was it Frank Booth?

No Edward Hanson

[ClaretTony]

No Edward Hanson

He'd probably just taken over. Frank Booth, I think, was the final mayor of the County Borough so I'm assuming Edward Hanson was the first ever mayor of the new borough.

[Somethingfishy]

He'd probably just taken over. Frank Booth, I think, was the final mayor of the County Borough so I'm assuming Edward Hanson was the first ever mayor of the new borough.

Not entirely certain when he was mayor as i was very young. 74, 75ish i think

[ClaretTony]

Not entirely certain when he was mayor as i was very young. 74, 75ish i think

Thompson Centre opened in April (ish) 1974 so we'd have just had the change of mayor so it would have been 74/75.

[Somethingfishy]

Thompson Centre opened in April (ish) 1974 so we'd have just had the change of mayor so it would have been 74/75.

I've just checked and yes it was 74/75 and he was indeed the first mayor after the reorganisation. My parents said when he was sworn in they had a banquet in the foyer of Towneley Hall.

[giveusaB]

You can spend hours on Burnley civic trust website.If you go on type Thompson centre in the search and lots of photos come up with full descriptions including the opening with Edward Hanson.Fantastic resource with sections on a lot of areas of Burnley and Burnley f.c.
Please check their terms & condition on the usage of articles/photos.

https://www.bcthic.org/

[Stanbill05]

Apart from the pool plant rooms, I reckon I can still map every inch of the place from memory. Spent my childhood there: gymnastics Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday; Ken Mergatroyd football on a Tuesday; diving club on a Friday; short tennis with the Pollards on Thursday, roller disco Saturday night sometimes and then holiday clubs. Just spectating and exploring around the place was brilliant fun including the bannister slide down the main stairs. Went on to work there for a bit too. Arguably the most important building in my life. Happy days.

[ants_g]

For fear of being reprimanded by the local planning officer who got upset about the car park anecdote…..I was told the pool was 33m and that they had planned to build an Olympic pool but got the dimensions wrong and so ended up with the unusual 33m length.

The distance wasn't an error. The reason so many pools built in the early 70's were 33.3 metres (3 lengths per 100m) was that it was going to be a new official "middle course" for competitions. We already have "long course" 50 metre pools (2 lengths per 100m) and "short course" 25 metre pools (4 lengths per 100m. Thompson Centre, Skipton, Shipley and Eccleshill all built 33.3m pools around about 1974 when the county boundary changes were about to happen and they needed to spend the money quickly before it disappeared into new council structures.
As soon as they were built, it was announced the idea of national "middle course" competitions was dropped

I worked at Thompson Centre, Padiham Pool and Gannow for about 5 years in late 80's before going to work on the leisure centres in the Bradford Council area for another 26 years.

[ants_g]

Loved the Thompson Centre.

Used to go swimming with my Mum and Dad there loads as a kid, even though we lived in Todmorden. I remember playing football, it was called something Clarets the club I was in there, no idea what specifically. Basic football skills and matches in the indoor bit. John Mullin and Wayne Dowell came once in about 1993 at a guess and I was starstruck

John Mullin worked for a bit as work experience there. Burnley Football Club often sent it's young players there for a few weeks.

[ants_g]

anyone remember the young chap who worked there with a big scar on his neck? he would tell us young 'uns that a vampire got him.

Andy Cook. Was also the DJ for Clouds kids disco. I had to work the door on that damned disco every Saturday night for ages. The kids run me ragged!

[cheeseon]

Arguably the most important building in my life. Happy days.

Not the Bay Horse or Fighting Cocks ? Hello mate, hope you’re well

[yTib]

Andy Cook. Was also the DJ for Clouds kids disco. I had to work the door on that damned disco every Saturday night for ages. The kids run me ragged!

thanks ants. he was a nice lad and very tolerant of youngsters asking personal questions.

[joey13]

Another cousin of mine was the Stone Mason on the Foundation stone

[Baliclaret]

Ah the lunchtime five a side league was brilliant, very competitive, the brainchild of the lovely Gerald Thompson I believe. We also used to adjourn to the Cattle Market for pie and peas I’m sure we only played on Fridays???
I played for the Burnley Express who did you play for?

Remember the lunchtime league.We.,although I can't renember the team's name, played the Borough engineers knowing them to be strong. We brought in a ri ger........Willie Irvine. Still lost. Gerry Mac taking the ball off me for the winning goal !

[Stanbill05]

Not the Bay Horse or Fighting Cocks ? Hello mate, hope you’re well

Lol. Good detective work. Bay Horse might get close.. Yet more happy days. Doing very good in Wiltshire, it just doesn’t have a Thommy Centre or 1990s Bay Horse Friday night unfortunately!

[yTib]

yeah the link centre and oasis are not a patch on the thommy.