Dorothy C Maguire (nee Coles) recalls summer days in Arnside

My memories of summer in Arnside seem to be ones of long, hot, sunny days, with no rain!

From being a small child I enjoyed many afternoons on the grass and beach, building sand-castles with a flag atop and moats around, which we filled with water. We could paddle in the water, not far from the viaduct.

When I was older my mother took us swimming in the sea between the old boathouse and Popplewell’s Lane.

We were always careful to watch for the in-coming tide and never went when the tide was ‘going out’. I learned to swim there, but could never do more than the breast stroke.

On going to Kendal High School in 1942 I was very pleased at the thought of the swimming lessons we were to have in the old Kendal Baths on All Hallows Lane, where the chlorine permeated the air.

At the start of our first swimming lesson the teacher directed those who could swim to the deep end, so I trotted up there with my friend Freda. But on jumping in I sank to the bottom and my friend had to drag me to the side.

I’d been used to the buoyant Arnside salt water and never realised there would be such a difference. It was a long time before I again ventured into the deep end.

When taking Underbarrow School children to Kendal Baths I was always given a group to teach. I’m sure they could swim better than I could!

In fact, one year I was very proud when they won the Village Schools’ Swimming Cup and were the smallest school participating.