THE story about the heating problem at Yearsley Swimming Pool made me smile (November 13).

When I was a youngster living in Rose Street I used to go to the baths (as they were known) with my pals almost daily.

There was no roof in those days and the water certainly not warm - it was always very cold on entering the water. But once we set off swimming we never felt it.

During the school holidays we could spend a whole day at the baths for four pence (old money), no having to get out after an hour in those days.

Everyone just shared the changing booths if there were none empty. Those were the days.

Mrs Joan Smurthwaite (ne Harrison),

Longside,

Peterhead,

Aberdeenshire.

Updated: 11:29 Friday, November 19, 2004