The College of Advanced Technology building where the NTHS was housed in St Georges Avenue had no gymnasium. In 1949, and I presume for some years before, our PT sessions took place in the former Army gym on the Racecourse opposite. At this time most of the wartime camp had been demolished, and the class made its way twice a week to the gym through part-demolished buildings and torn-up service roads. I think that only two buildings survived this programme of clearance—one of which was the gym. Although I never appreciated this facility, I think that for its time it was well fitted out with extensive wall-bars, two vaulting horses and two sets of climbing ropes which could be drawn back to the wall like curtains, and with a polished timber floor. There was also heating from coke-fired pot-bellied stoves but I think that the electricity supply had been disconnected so that there would be no lighting.
The gym remained in use despite occasional attention from vandals and was eventually razed in about 1952-3. Thereafter, PT consisted mainly of “Running ‘Round the Racecourse”, or in my case, mainly leaning against trees trying to get my breath back. Variations on this included occasional visits to The Mounts or Barry Road Baths, and, according to the season, cricket practice and practice for Sports Day.
To my knowledge, no other facility was available until the school moved to Trinity Avenue.