Objects of Substance- The Grammar Gym Bag

Originally, girls coped by carrying their Physical Education gear in their brown Globite port with their black sandshoes in a named, drawstring bag. With regular swimming lessons and extra sporting accessories, the necessity for a sports-specific bag became apparent.

2021 - Ann Pressland’s 1958 sandshoes and drawstring bag.[Yes, she still has them.]

In the Sports Club meeting on 5 th November 1958, Shirley Melzer, old girl and the then Physical Education teacher, announced that there would be a specially designed school swimming bag available for purchase. The minutes state:

…The school would make a profit out of the sale and this profit would go to the swimming pool fund. Sports Club Minutes Book p 154

The bag replicated the design of the 1950s’ trendy airline vinyl travel bag with its streamlined shape, shoulder strap, corporate logo, convenient zip closure, and nametag pocket. This swimming bag proved popular – at the 14 th April 1959 Sports Club meeting a profit of approximately 100 pounds was reported – and these funds, as previously determined, were given towards the construction of the swimming pool, the first on-site pool which was completed in 1960. This bag continued to grow in popularity with all Grammar girls. The water-resistant vinyl, compact size, and bright royal blue colour made it a perfect accessory for all sporting events and a functional option for active excursions. However, by early the 1980s, it had outlived its usefulness and become too small to be functional.