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Herewith some more photos of the original swimming baths in the river under the GW railway arches. These are only photocopies of a page from Windsorian magazine dated 1945. I am hoping to obtain an original copy, or even prints from the original photographs if anyone can help??

The changing rooms were on the island itself on each side of the arches. There was a small foot bridge under the railway arch, centre right, which swimmers could dive from. Last time I looked, the grab rails were still attached at river level although of course the diving boards and changing rooms are long since gone.

I will try and include a photograph of the later footbridge painted at various times in light blue, green and I think aluminium paint. Made from tubular steel with a metal walkway, it was first installed in the early 1950s under the railway bridge, then moved downstream to a point near the end of the island by the cafe, then back adjacent to the railway bridge by which time it was getting quite rusty.

As for using the river to swim for pleasure, it was never my cup of tea, the water quality being highly suspect. This had been the case for many years but until the Windsor War memorial Swimming pool was opened, the only other options were the Community Centre indoor pool, or Baylis outdoor pool, both in Slough, or Maidenhead's open air pool.

On further reflection there seems to be a 'tide mark' along the fence, bottom left of the picture. This equates to the maximum height of the river during the Floods of '47 so it may be that the pile of rubbish just beyond the fence has been tidied up after the floods receded. Given that it was quite a long cold winter, spring was delayed and as the poplar trees beyond the railway line (where the children's funfair is today) have yet to come into leaf, perhaps this picture dates from April 1947.

Yes, one and the same!