Town gets in the swim (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Town gets in the swim

3:59pm Thursday 4th June 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Exactly 20 years ago the health and fitness conscious in Chippenham had their wishes granted as the town’s first purpose built leisure was opened.

The Olympiad Leisure Centre was built in 1989 by the former North Wiltshire District Council as a flagship leisure centre.

It boasted state-of-the-art equipment including a heated pool with flumes, gym, sports hall and squash courts.

The centre was framed by the backdrop of Monkton Park and built on council-owned land next to the popular open air swimming pool.

Its creation followed the contruction of Emery Gate shopping centre, part of a move to rejuvenate the town by providing more facilities for the growing population.

Mother-of-three Helen Dobbs, who has been using the centre since the start, said: “When it was first opened everyone in the town thought it was very posh indeed.

“It was a very smart building and the pool was a funny shape.

“Chippenham needed something like that as it was a growing town and more and more families were moving to the town.

“It has changed quite a lot really – it has definitely been brought into the 21st century.

“People in Chippenham hold it close to their hearts really as it has been around for a few generations of children.”

Operations manager at the centre Kelly Donald has been at the centre for 11 years and says that many of the young children who used to attend activities and swimming lessons have now grown up but still visit the gym.

A couple of them are even employed as lifeguards at the centre.

Ms Donald said that, throughout the years, the Olympiad has developed its sports, leisure and swimming programmes dramatically.

“It has undergone major refurbishment projects including the gym, health suite and changing rooms,” she said.

“It has seen many positive changes and still provides a varied sports and activities programme for everyone.

“I love working at the Olympiad with all the great staff and lovely customers and look forward to another 20 years of leisure.”

One of the highlights in the early years of the Olympiad was the Christmas staff pantos with old favourites like the Magic Pirates, The Wizard of Oz and Snow White. “Managers, cleaners and recreation staff all mucked in,” said Ms Donald.

The Olympiad is still the main host for annual events in the town including the beer festival, the folk festival and the Eddie Cochran festival, all of which have been based at the centre for the entire 20 years.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)