New Website: www.mwswim.co.uk
This is a family run swim school and has re-opened its doors since the end of April. We will be promoting the club. The Swim Club has been in existence since 2000 and is based in a school pool in Grove Vale Primary School in Great Bar, serving the Sandwell, West Bromwich, Walsall and Birmingham areas. They provide Learn to Swim lessons for 4 year old upwards from total beginner to Stages 6/7.
Lessons are carried out by fully qualified and trained Swim England teachers, working towards the Swim England Teaching Scheme of Stages. The school is fully covered by private insurance and lessons are lifeguarded. Teaching staff are all quality Warley WASPS teachers.
We currently offer lessons on a Saturday morning form 9.00 a.m. onwards. The time slots they have available are:
| Time Slot | Width/Stage/Length | Spaces Available |
| 9.00 a.m. – 9.30 a.m. | 0-3 | 20 |
| 9.30 a.m. -10.00 a.m. | 0-3 | 20 |
| 10.00 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. | 0-3 | 20 |
| 10.30 a.m. -11.00 a.m. | 4-5-6/7 Lengths | 12 |
| 11.00 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. | 0-3 | 20 |
| 11.30 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. | 0-3 | 20 |
| Time Slot | Width/Stage/Length | Spaces Available |
| 5.30 p.m. – 6.00 p.m. | 0-3 | 20 |
| 6.00 p.m. – 6.30 p.m. | 0-3 | 20 |
| 6.30 p.m. – 7.00 p.m. | 0-3 | 20 |
| 7.00 p.m. – 7.30 p.m. | 4-5-6/7 Lengths | 12 |
Lessons will be £30 per calendar month, payable at the start of the month. Anyone wishing their child to Learn To Swim please contact via email on: millenniumswim2000@gmail.com or see contact details below:
School Address:
16 Monksfield Ave, Great Barr, Birmingham, B43 6AL
Marc Soulsby
Email: marc@mwswim.co.uk
Mobile: 07714 014 062
Stacey Nicholls
Email: stacey@mwswim.co.uk
Mobile: 07941 901 661
(Please feel free to leave a message)
A BRIEF HISTORY OF MILLENNIUM WASPS SWIMMING CLUB
Millennium Swimming Club was established in January 2000, by Roger Soulsby, who, at the time, was the current Warley WASPS Head Coach, after being Head coach throughout the 1990’s at Oldbury Swimming Club. The club originally operated out of Alexander High and Grove Vale Primary School, providing swimming lessons for children aged from 4 years upwards. Roger was joined by Paul very early in 2000 and worked together to build a club of nearly 200 swimmers. Marc Soulsby used to cover for when Roger or Paul were absent. Paul retired in 2010 and Marc took on the second teaching post for the next two years.
Due to coaching commitments, Marc left in 2012 and was replaced by Terry Burling, a teacher from Oldbury Swimming Club. Terry continued in his role until ill health meant that Terry had to retire. This gave an opening to Lucy Stirrup, who continued to help to Roger teach until 2019 where she left to become a fire-fighter. During Lucy’s time. Her mother, Janice Stirrup helped cover as and where needed, Janice was an ex-Warley WASPS swimmer (formerly Janice Braznell) herself during the 1970’s and 80’s.
Roger continued on his own, with Jill Soulsby (formerly Oldbury Swimming Clubs team manager and Club Secretary),his wife helping on front desk and as treasure, until Covidstruck and club closed its doors. During this closure it was with great sadness that Jill passed away in February of 2021. Roger was about to close the club permanently as the lengthy absence would mean starting up from scratch, but in June 2022, with the help of Marc Soulsby and Tim Beddowes, the club reopened and started to recruit from around the West Bromwich and Great Barr area, via leaflet drops. It was a few months later that Stacey Nicholls joined the team to help teach the arm-band groups, while Roger continued to teach the upper Stage 3/4 groups.
Unfortunately, in January 2022, the pool being used at Grove Vale Primary School had some serious structural issues with regards to the roof, so the pool was closed and remained closed until April 2023, where it had a total overhaul and renovation. It was closing date of January 2022 that Roger decided to retire from the sport at the tender age of 78. Millennium over the years has fed Oldbury Swimming Club, Perry Beeches Swimming Club and Warley WASPS Swimming Club, although a teaching club, we will always promote competitiveness and direct swimmers in the right direction. It’s also a club where a combination of various clubs experienced teachers, have helped produce some very competent swimmers. The torch now passes to Marc, Tim and Stacey…Millennium Swimming Club are coming back, social media is being built, marketing material created and a re-brand/new look is on its way!
Former Teachers:
- Roger Soulsby (Founder – Warley WASPS & Oldbury Head Coach)
- Paul …. (Co-Founder)
- Marc Soulsby (Oldbury teacher, Stourbridge Head Jun Co, Warley WASPS, SA HC, County HC, Midland & England Coach)
- Terry Burling (Oldbury Swimming Club Teacher)
- Lucy Stirrup
- Janice Stirrup (Ex-Warley WASPS swimmer)
Returning Teaching Staff:
- Stacey Nicholls
- Marc Soulsby
- Jason Pike
New Teaching/Support Staff:
- Emma Pike
- Isla Powell
- Tayla-leigh Nicholls
