DOWN AT THE BATHS
The Story of the Palmerston North Municipal Baths
1917-1966
By Val Mills
Cold water, short summers and the lingering smell of chlorine on the skin were less important than fun and friendship while swimming outdoors in all weather down at the baths in Ashley Street.
‘Thank heavens they never went ahead with the roof,’ one swimmer said.
The Palmerston North Municipal Baths opened in 1917 and served the community for nearly fifty years. Four custodians and their families called it home and so did the Palmerston North Swimming Club. It was a place for local people to swim and socialise.
Val Mills regarded the Municipal Baths as her second home during the 1960s and believed the story of this local landmark should be recorded before it was forgotten. Her thorough account tells how the baths served the local community, from the perspectives of the swimming public and the Council making the decisions.
Now, one hundred years since opening, it is time for the story to be told.
Published March 2017
Enquiries re purchase available from:
Val Mills
P.O. Box 1237
Palmerston North 4440
New Zealand
valmills@gmail.com or downatthebaths@gmail.com
WEST END the BEST END
School Memories from the 1950s
By Val Mills
The author’s memories of school life at a Palmerston North (New Zealand) school in the 1950s. Published by Val Mills 2012; 80 pages.
Val paints a wonderful picture in the readers mind with her exceptional use of descriptive language that not only has you right there with her every step of the way, but also takes you on your own journey, back to your own school days as well. -Gary Punler, Principal West End School; Palmerston North
Enquiries re purchase available from:
Val Mills
P.O. Box 1237
Palmerston North 4440
New Zealand
valmills@gmail.com
Book Launch for West End the Best End; 22 February 2013
From left to right: Gary Punler – Principal West End School, Val Mills – author, Barry Slade, Val’s 1958 teacher.
Writing Your Stories 
What a happy picture!
Looking forward to hearing more about your process and publication journey.
I’m also here to see how your self-pub journey is progressing. I am in the same boat — tread lightly! 😉 Bonne chance!
Thanks for stopping by Phyl. I was pleased with my firsy venture into self-publishing and have started researching for my next book. This will take me a while though. Good luck with your self-publishing
Hi Val – Lis from BubbleWS here! Give me a shout on this email if you want to make your book more widely available e.g eBook or on Amazon (print or eBook)
Thanks Liz – for the cost I’m not sure if it is worth it, but it is something I’ve considered. It’s content is very local, however the wider issue of education in the 1950s could have wider appeal.
I’m actually also interested in tidying up and publishing a bit of my writing for kids. My e-mail is on this recently published page, I think.