Aberdeen’s stunning Bon Accord Baths, built defiantly in the war while bombs fell and much loved by generations since have been celebrated in a new nostalgic film.
Memories of Bon Accord Baths was made by musician and filmmaker Margaret Preston and premiered at the recent Baths and Experimental Use of Space open day.
In it she has gathered 50 minutes of memories and images from the Baths’ vast legion of fans, ranging from romances, rescues, sporting achievements and not forgetting the coveted cafe pies.
Joyful memories
Like so many in Aberdeen, the very mention of the huge, Art Deco baths sparks a wave of joyful memories for Margaret.
While she and her family also enjoyed Aberdeen’s Beach Baths, Bon Accord in Justice Mill Lane was where she, and countless others, learned to swim.
She and her younger sister Caroline would head there with their grandfather, entering a cathedral of granite and marble, negotiating dramatic long corridors and flights of stairs to reach the changing cubicles.
She said: “It was awe-inspiring.
“What hit you were the echoes, the warmth and the overwhelming smell of chlorine.
“It was vast, the huge windows, light glancing over the water, and so much noise glancing around.”
Intimidating at first, but a cathedral of fun once you had learned to swim and got over the initial fear of water.
Margaret said: “It was a real family place, really busy and a lot of fun.
“My sister and I loved it, and were really competitive about who could change quickest at the beginning and end, but our grandfather always finished first.”
As teenagers, Margaret and Caroline would come to the baths to socialise with their cousins and friends.
Time out at the Turkish baths
The dynamic changed again for Margaret in adulthood, when she took time out from her busy life as a peripatetic music teacher to spend precious moments with her mother in the Bon Accord’s Turkish baths.
“It was quiet and luxurious.
“If you compare them with spas now which can be utilitarian or corporate, this was the real deal, very grand and made with the best materials.”
Love stories at the baths
With so many people working or swimming there, romance was bound to blossom.
In her film, Margaret includes the story of Mandy and Armand Sangbarani.
She said: “Armand came over from Armenia when he was 16 and fell in love with Mandy when they met in the queue for getting the medical in order to work in the baths.
“They have three boys and three grandchildren and Armand says that to this day the name Bon Accord brings back lovely memories of great times.
“He loved the working atmosphere, sporty, enthusiastic and full of young people.
“He also saved a young girl’s life.”
Margaret also includes the story of Isabel and the late Jim Ewan.
“They had over fifty years of marriage and their romance was largely conducted in the Uptown Baths.”
Bon Accord rescues
There were a few rescues over the years, including one dramatic one by young lifeguard Ian Campbell, mentioned in Margaret’s film.
“Ian was a champion swimmer who learned to swim in the river Dee. He jumped in when a nurse spotted someone lying face-down at the bottom of the pool.
“They pulled him out and got his heart going. It turned out he suffered from epilepsy and hadn’t told anyone.
“He was newly married too, imagine how badly that could have turned out.”
Altogether 21 people came forward to provide their memories, including Julie Wemyss whose grandfather was manager of the baths for decades.
“Julie has his letter of appointment and war diary, and still wears his long-service watch,” Margaret said.
Banned activities
To celebrate the Bon Accord’s etiquette, Margaret has made a series of hilarious red figures all indulging in activities firmly banned at the baths.
Who remembers No Petting?
Here’s Gogsie Groper getting handsy with Smokin’ Hot Sue. Smoking was also banned at the baths.
By popular demand, the fun figures will be on view at the baths on Aberdeen’s Doors Open Day, September 10, 11am to 4pm.
Built to keep the populace clean
Bon Accord Baths, popularly known as the Uptown Baths, were built to provide public bathing in the centre of town at a time when many homes barely had their own toilet let alone a bath.
The architect was Alexander McRobbie of the City Architects Department.
The foundation stone was laid in 1936, and the city fathers decided the war was not going to stop it going ahead.
They didn’t do things by halves.
It cost £37,000, or around £2m today.
The pool is 120ft long by 42ft wide, with a depth of between three and 15ft, and a diving platform 33ft high.
Raked seating for 1,000 spectators flanked the pool, making it the perfect venue for competitions.
The pool was closed in 2008 on grounds of cost.
It’s a listed building and the charity Save Bon Accord Heritage is fighting to save it, and bring it into community use for forthcoming generations of Aberdonians.
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