The Yorkshire Reporter contacted Leedsface, the excellent social media site, and invited its members to share their memories of Roundhay Park, here is a selection.
David Carncross
Many memories of Roundhay Park as you would expect of a Leeds lad born in 1940. Fishing for hours and catching ‘nowt. Riding our bikes hell for leather around the angled perimeter of the cricket pitch pretending it was a real purpose built cycling track. Always being thirsty and having no money to buy a drink from the cafe so sneaking into the cricket pavilion or around the back where there was a standpipe and drinking the cold water straight from the tap until my throat ached. Going with Mam and Dad one magical evening to watch a mock naval battle complete with firework “guns” on the big lake. Swimming at the Lido which to us was like “summat offt pictures”. Mind you that pool was always very cold. I remember once swimming across so fast because of the cold that I came out on the other side without seemingly touching the edge like an Emperor penguin. Climbing in nonchalant fashion up to the top board and feeling committed to diving off – jumping off was being sissy. It seemed a hell of a long way down. I could go on and I often do to my grandkids until my wife calls a halt. We still go at least once a fortnight just for a good walk and every time I have a good moan because they don’t have the rowing boats any more. I miss them more than I can say.
Trudie Canavan
Used to go to the pool (we never called it a Lido, it was the open air pool) nearly every day in the school holidays. Walk there and back from Harehills. No money for food or anything but spent all day there. Glorious. Also, went to the arena for children’s day but can’t remember that as well.
Jennifer Garnett
I took part in the Country dancing in the arena on Children’s Day, probably 1954. Remember, we girls from our school (Chapel Allerton Junior School) wore yellow pinafore dresses and the sun was shining!! I also swam quite often in the Lido and yes it could be very cold but I remember it being very enjoyable. We actually took our children on a couple of occasions before it closed. Happy days!!!
Julie Monkman
My granddad worked on the boat! Used to go every Sunday in the summer for our free rides round the pool! Also loved going to roundhay swimming baths. X
Julie Ann Wincote
I left Leeds in 1980 to live in Whitby and work @RAF Fylingdales. Roundhay Park brings back many memories we used to go rowing on the lake. My friend Val & I worked at the Cafe for Gilpins outside caterers making sandwiches. Would you believe we both got the sack for putting too much margarine on the bread. We got a £1.00 for 10 hours work! We were gobsmacked. I also remember sitting on the hill 60 to watch events. And on a downer split my head open running around the band stand. Oh happy days.
Katherine Mays
I remember doing a gym display for Children’s day in the 60s and wishing I was a maypole dancer. Sitting on Hill 60 and eating a picnic with my friends. Boating then walking the lake and being chased by the geese. Very scary. Canal gardens were always an attraction to me too.
Lorraine Midgley
At school we had a handwriting competition, if I remember correctly the prize giving for this was during Children’s Day, a lot of Schools entered. St Charles School used to do the country dancing, it was a big day out for families in those days, potted meat sandwiches and bottles of water complete with floating crumbs!! And the sun always shone!!!
IMAGE; Girls from Belle Vue Road girls school on country dancing float going to Roundhay Park children’s day approx 1960. Sent in by Pauline Raine who would love to hear from other girls from Belle Vue Road girls school.
