WHEN the fifth Earl of Rosebery was a young man, his ambition was to marry the prettiest girl in England, become Prime Minister and win the Epsom Derby.

As a 16-year-old, leaving Darwen Grammar School for the last time, I had rather more modest aspirations: to marry the prettiest girl in Darwen, to become a racing correspondent and to swim a length at Darwen Baths.

Like Archibald Primrose, I managed the hat-trick, although the length took me a long time, probably another 20 years or so.

I recalled that tortuous breaststroke as the empty shell of the baths, or leisure centre as it became known, took the opening assaults from the bulldozers.

Memories, too, of being dragged off to the old "slipper baths" where Darwen folk who didn't have the luxury of a bathroom or even a "tin" bath - that would be most of us - could scrub off the accumulated grime with chunks of carbolic soap.

Later it was the venue for all sorts of winter functions from teenage dances to mayoral balls.

I remember taking my future wife to a dance there in the early 60s only to discover that we were a week early.

She didn't hang around for the dog show which was about to start.

The Grammar School used to hold its annual prize-giving there and, again, I recall proudly showing off my first "cutting" to my pals who were still in school.

It was a report on Blackburn schoolboys football team in the Telegraph's sports pink - and I still have it.

Like so many Darweners I've been swimming there with the kids.

I've played football and badminton and enjoyed a coffee and sampled the sauna.

The Tower Room was very popular and just about everyone has enjoyed a presentation night or a birthday party or a retirement "do" there.

Sadly, the 1930s centre had had its day. It was tatty round the edges, grubby in the corners and was beginning to crumble.

It certainly won't take much effort to flatten it.

What will we get in its place? Well, a new borough leisure centre boasting a 25-metre swimming pool with a moveable floor and spectator seating.

There will also be a learners' pool, fitness and health suites, a lounge area. a sports hall, café and car park.

The doric-column entrance will be kept but repositioned close to the White Lion.

A pledge to build a new leisure centre on a single site was a vote winner and helped the anti-Labour coalition snatch power last May.

Tory councillor Michael Law-Riding, who is apparently in charge now, says we'll have it "soon" but if it's up and running much inside two years then my name's not Harry Nuttall.

Initial enthusiasm for the new centre might begin to pale as the £12m cost steadily escalates.

Not to mention the cost of using it.

And we already have a new sports hall at Darwen Vale and there will be another at the proposed town centre academy.

A white elephant? I do hope not.