Gala Balcony
  The gala balcony is reached by climbing the tiled staircase in the First Class Males Entrance Hall and passing through a paneled screen of pitch pine with stained glass panels. In years gone by this balcony has been full with spectators for school and club galas, water polo matches and swimming demonstrations. Manchester has a rich swimming history and Victoria Baths was at the centre of this activity for many decades.  
     
 
 
       
 
At the galas, in the intervals between the races, especially in the 1960's, the police from their training headquarters in Longsight used to send the police cadets in to entertain the parents. On one occasion a poor cadet, having been chased around the pool and up the staircase by two others, had to jump into the pool from the balcony into the six foot end. The police in those days always got their man!
  
       
 
Stained Glass Panel
Ship Stained Glass