The Thompson Centre
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Did think the TC was showing its age by the time the decision to close it was made. Needed a damn good clean at the very least. Not used St Peters much but the few times I've used it the pool was freezing! Better gym but not as many squash courts.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Yes that rings true to me as well. Probably why I avoided going in the middle.
Of course you'd always get some older wag who'd try and push you in if you were standing near the edge.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
i could only get about half way down the diving pool before my ears felt like caving in.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
I can't remember the exact figure, but the main pool was something like 1 foot short of
being olympic size and therefore was unable to host major swimming events. I don't think
the designer was very popular at the time when this came to light.
I worked for the council from 1970 to 1986 and long lunches were a regular feature - playing badminton,
squash, the gym but mainly the lunchtime 5 a-side league which, to say the least, was very competitive.
I distinctly remember once playing the more sedate game of table tennis in some back room somewhere and in walked
Phil Mathews and a "friend" who then started started laying into each other (with gloves on) and frightened the life
of us. Blood and snot was everywhere.
Then over to the Cattle Market for pie and peas and a pint.
being olympic size and therefore was unable to host major swimming events. I don't think
the designer was very popular at the time when this came to light.
I worked for the council from 1970 to 1986 and long lunches were a regular feature - playing badminton,
squash, the gym but mainly the lunchtime 5 a-side league which, to say the least, was very competitive.
I distinctly remember once playing the more sedate game of table tennis in some back room somewhere and in walked
Phil Mathews and a "friend" who then started started laying into each other (with gloves on) and frightened the life
of us. Blood and snot was everywhere.
Then over to the Cattle Market for pie and peas and a pint.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
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???Funkydrummer wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:04 pmI can't remember the exact figure, but the main pool was something like 1 foot short of
being olympic size and therefore was unable to host major swimming events. I don't think
the designer was very popular at the time when this came to light.
I worked for the council from 1970 to 1986 and long lunches were a regular feature - playing badminton,
squash, the gym but mainly the lunchtime 5 a-side league which, to say the least, was very competitive.
I distinctly remember once playing the more sedate game of table tennis in some back room somewhere and in walked
Phil Mathews and a "friend" who then started started laying into each other (with gloves on) and frightened the life
of us. Blood and snot was everywhere.
Then over to the Cattle Market for pie and peas and a pint.
I played for the Burnley Express who did you play for?
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Re: The Thompson Centre
i remember being told the big pool was 33 metres but it always seemed bigger to me.
but everything does when you're a kid.
but everything does when you're a kid.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Borough engineers with Steve Pickup, Gerry McEvoy, Kevin Leadbitter and a couple of otherslongsidetrumpet wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:18 pmAh 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?
that I can't remember (it's that long ago !!!)
All I can remember from the Burnley Express was Keith Franzke (sp) who used to review new albums.
Bloody great days
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Oh yes, Gerald Thompson (no relation) was a lovely guy. I've still got a small booklet that he gave me
with details of how to mix your own ingredients for differing plant food. He was a staunch member
of The Allotments Association. Smashing guy.
with details of how to mix your own ingredients for differing plant food. He was a staunch member
of The Allotments Association. Smashing guy.
Last edited by Funkydrummer on Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Yes Keith was our star player. Long-time mates with Steve P and played Sunday League football with him and Gerry, and Keith too for that matter. Express Clarets reporter Peter Higgs also played, not a bad playerFunkydrummer wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:27 pmBorough engineers with Steve Pickup, Gerry McEvoy, Kevin Leadbitter and a couple of others
that I can't remember (it's that long ago !!!)
All I can remember from the Burnley Express was Keith Franzke (sp) who used to review new albums.
Bloody great days
I must know you
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Re: The Thompson Centre
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.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Epic kids Christmas parties with visits from Santa, inflatable assault courses, awkward disco's and what not. Bedlam, but utterly brilliant at the same time.
Also have memories of the odd cockroach being discovered. Place was riddled apparantly.
Getting two choccy bars out the vending machine for the price of one.
Running riot through the viewing galleries and stairwells. The space itself was as much of an arena for play as the facilities they aimed to provide.
Great memories.
Also have memories of the odd cockroach being discovered. Place was riddled apparantly.
Getting two choccy bars out the vending machine for the price of one.
Running riot through the viewing galleries and stairwells. The space itself was as much of an arena for play as the facilities they aimed to provide.
Great memories.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Two of my old school classmates there, Steve Pickup & Keith Franzke (and your spelling is spot on). I see Steve from time to time but don’t think I’ve seen Keith since leaving school.Funkydrummer wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:27 pmBorough engineers with Steve Pickup, Gerry McEvoy, Kevin Leadbitter and a couple of others
that I can't remember (it's that long ago !!!)
All I can remember from the Burnley Express was Keith Franzke (sp) who used to review new albums.
Bloody great days
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Re: The Thompson Centre
You probably will do, I played a lot of footy locally on both Saturday and Sunday.longsidetrumpet wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:33 pmYes Keith was our star player. Long-time mates with Steve P and played Sunday League football with him and Gerry, and Keith too for that matter. Express Clarets reporter Peter Higgs also played, not a bad player
I must know you
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Trumpet, Bombers by the way ?
Last edited by Funkydrummer on Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Shark fishing has come on a lot since then.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Err, yep!
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Re: The Thompson Centre
You see me from time to time too! I last saw Keith on two of the home Europa League games we had, but that was the first time for ages. Think they were very rare visits to the Turf by KeithClaretTony wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:42 pmTwo of my old school classmates there, Steve Pickup & Keith Franzke (and your spelling is spot on). I see Steve from time to time but don’t think I’ve seen Keith since leaving school.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Mmmmmmm !!!
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Didn't Keith move on to a national music paper/magazine ? NME, Sounds or similar. Rings a vague bell.longsidetrumpet wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:52 pmYou see me from time to time too! I last saw Keith on two of the home Europa League games we had, but that was the first time for ages. Think they were very rare visits to the Turf by Keith
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Re: The Thompson Centre
No. Daily Star for a while
Re: The Thompson Centre
Inflatables on a Saturday afternoon, Diving room full on kids hanging around on the top board with some plucking the courage to make the leap, slush puppies in the cafe after swimming and your tummy hurting.
School swimming lessons at Gannow and the whistle at the end followed by a bellowing "Outthebathsnowplease!" from the Super Mario lookalike and being dared to stand under the cold shower for a minute by year mates.
I loved Burnley's recreational facilities in the 90s
School swimming lessons at Gannow and the whistle at the end followed by a bellowing "Outthebathsnowplease!" from the Super Mario lookalike and being dared to stand under the cold shower for a minute by year mates.
I loved Burnley's recreational facilities in the 90s
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Loved North street baths.....hated central baths.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
That's why I hated Central Baths...taken there by sadists....to be met by the ginger head instructor who taught you how to drown...gawthorpe_view wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:42 pmCentral Baths for school swimming lessons for me.
30+ of us walking from Stoneyholme juniors, snaking through town and back with one teacher at the front and another bringing up the rear slapping stragglers about the head.
Happy days, not!
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Mr grandparents were the mayor and mayoress when it was opened. Can see them on the film at the opening ceremony.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Brilliant. Is that them on the film posted earlier in the thread?Somethingfishy wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 11:57 pmMr grandparents were the mayor and mayoress when it was opened. Can see them on the film at the opening ceremony.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Even as a kid of the 90s the Thompson centre was a great facility. It literally had everything. And I can picture it all now. Walking through reception. The smells. The faces. (Sometimes linked ). The facilities. Football. Table tennis.
Loved the inflatables at the pool. The pool was far superior to the at peters one. Then had the little baby pool which was warm and the brilliant diving pool.
Used to love running around the place. Loads of little hiding spots for young kids! Got in plenty of bother there too.
Still see some of the lifeguards faces from there in town or at at peters on the very rare occasion I go there.
Used to love burning off all our energy there and then in later years going to planet pizza for chips and then busy bee mini supermarket for Kit Kat ice creams.
Weird things stick in your head. Always remember eating caramacs from the vending machine. And always remember going there with school past the turf when the new stands were being built and they seemed huge.
I understand they had to knock the old one down. But they didn’t have to build a new one that was worse than the old one.
Nothing about the new one is better than the old.
Loved the inflatables at the pool. The pool was far superior to the at peters one. Then had the little baby pool which was warm and the brilliant diving pool.
Used to love running around the place. Loads of little hiding spots for young kids! Got in plenty of bother there too.
Still see some of the lifeguards faces from there in town or at at peters on the very rare occasion I go there.
Used to love burning off all our energy there and then in later years going to planet pizza for chips and then busy bee mini supermarket for Kit Kat ice creams.
Weird things stick in your head. Always remember eating caramacs from the vending machine. And always remember going there with school past the turf when the new stands were being built and they seemed huge.
I understand they had to knock the old one down. But they didn’t have to build a new one that was worse than the old one.
Nothing about the new one is better than the old.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
The diving pool was brilliant. 1m 3m and 5m boards. Strangely was more than happy diving off the 1 and 3m but would only ever jump off the 5m board no matter how many times I went up the ladder convinced I was diving. Once up there it was just too much.cricketfieldclarets wrote: ↑Thu Sep 09, 2021 7:50 amEven as a kid of the 90s the Thompson centre was a great facility. It literally had everything. And I can picture it all now. Walking through reception. The smells. The faces. (Sometimes linked ). The facilities. Football. Table tennis.
Loved the inflatables at the pool. The pool was far superior to the at peters one. Then had the little baby pool which was warm and the brilliant diving pool.
Used to love running around the place. Loads of little hiding spots for young kids! Got in plenty of bother there too.
Still see some of the lifeguards faces from there in town or at at peters on the very rare occasion I go there.
Used to love burning off all our energy there and then in later years going to planet pizza for chips and then busy bee mini supermarket for Kit Kat ice creams.
Weird things stick in your head. Always remember eating caramacs from the vending machine. And always remember going there with school past the turf when the new stands were being built and they seemed huge.
I understand they had to knock the old one down. But they didn’t have to build a new one that was worse than the old one.
Nothing about the new one is better than the old.
Roast beef monster munch and a slush were the treats afterwards.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
I found the middle board the hardest. Because it was high but bouncy. At least the top one was solid. Not that I ever dived off it. Forget that.claretonthecoast1882 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 09, 2021 8:04 amThe diving pool was brilliant. 1m 3m and 5m boards. Strangely was more than happy diving off the 1 and 3m but would only ever jump off the 5m board no matter how many times I went up the ladder convinced I was diving. Once up there it was just too much.
Roast beef monster munch and a slush were the treats afterwards.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
that slippy bounce just before the divecricketfieldclarets wrote: ↑Thu Sep 09, 2021 8:11 amI found the middle board the hardest. Because it was high but bouncy. At least the top one was solid. Not that I ever dived off it. Forget that.
Re: The Thompson Centre
It was a superior facility - bigger pool (33m I think not 25m), diving pool, 5 squash courts instead of 2, better five a side facilities. Unecomonical though.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Dr Pepper and Root beer were memories of the Thommy centre
Not regular drinks in the Burnley area late 80s early 90s.
Not regular drinks in the Burnley area late 80s early 90s.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Peering through those black gates when the Diving pool was closed was torture.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Lucozade energy sweets out of the vending machine!
Some great memories of a great place.
Some great memories of a great place.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Same with me. Jumped off loads of times but never had the bottle to dive off the top one. Middle one no problem. Only 2 metres difference in height but it seemed so much higher when you got up there.claretonthecoast1882 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 09, 2021 8:04 amThe diving pool was brilliant. 1m 3m and 5m boards. Strangely was more than happy diving off the 1 and 3m but would only ever jump off the 5m board no matter how many times I went up the ladder convinced I was diving. Once up there it was just too much.
5 a side was great down there, always had to phone a week before to book. if you weren't on the phone at 9am, then it was booked up and you were left disappointed for a week. I remember playing against work colleagues there in 1988 and breaking my foot and 2 toes in a crunching 50/50. Also used to have nets down there pre cricket season in the hall adjacent to the 5 a side court. I was batting one time and leathered a ball straight back at the bowler. He moved, unfortunately the next bowler in the queue wasn't paying attention and the ball hit him on the forearm and broke his arm. It was a friend of my grandfather's from the Old Band Club in Nelson. Not a happy chap!
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Re: The Thompson Centre
Wow remember this. As kids we thought petting was hilarious!
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Re: The Thompson Centre
God yeah terrifying!
Re: The Thompson Centre
No heavy pettingcricketfieldclarets wrote: ↑Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:34 amWow remember this. As kids we thought petting was hilarious!
I remember the signage at gannow baths too
Re: The Thompson Centre
I used to have nightmares about that diving pool. Terrified me!
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Re: The Thompson Centre
I spent many an evening watching my dad play 5 a side there with someone he vaguely knew keeping an eye on me as I watched sat with my legs through the bars.
Then as I got older playing there myself with football parties in the late 90s.
Trampolining I seem to remember too in the room across from the 5 a side court
Then as I got older playing there myself with football parties in the late 90s.
Trampolining I seem to remember too in the room across from the 5 a side court
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Re: The Thompson Centre
The Thompson's during their time on earth, were well known for their thrift. One of them (it's not known which) used to visit the Woodman public house, a few yards down the road from Oak Bank. Here, he would have say, two or three glasses of beer each evening. For a man of his means, his attire left much to be desired, and one night a local asked him "Why is it, when you have all that money that you dress as you do?". To which the reply was "Well, if I get all dressed up, people expect me to buy them a drink, whereas when I dress as I do, people buy me one".
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Re: The Thompson Centre
god i'd forgotten about 'puffs'.
they also used to sell them at the cafe up towneley.
happy days!
they also used to sell them at the cafe up towneley.
happy days!
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Re: The Thompson Centre
It is. Made my mum quite emotional seeing her parents in a film.
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Re: The Thompson Centre
My daughter was impressed with her hat!Somethingfishy wrote: ↑Thu Sep 09, 2021 4:39 pmIt is. Made my mum quite emotional seeing her parents in a film.