Celebrating 25 Years of Leisure in Sandown

Our very own Heights Leisure Centre in Sandown was 25 years old on Sunday 25th March, with a weekend of events staged to ensure the occasion didn't pass without justified commemoration.

During the anniversary weekend all activities cost just 25p with visitors being given the chance to enter a draw to win one of 25 One Card prizes. Anyone associated with the Heights in any way was invited to come along to the special party on Saturday evening (24th March) from 7.30pm where a commemorative plaque was unveiled by the IW Council Chairman, Councillor Charles Chapman (pictured right).

iwight.com was present at the anniversary party, which saw a whole host of faces both old and new, combine together to show their appreciation for what is clearly a very community-driven leisure centre.

Recognising commitment & dedication

Our online photo gallery portrays some of the key individuals who between them, represent full 25 years of The Heights. The hard work and dedication of these employees have played a central role in building upon the centres' reputation to make it the success it is today.

John Sands (pictured here on the left) began as Manager September in 1984 with South Wight Borough Council and following a period of privatisation from 1989-91, returned in 1992 as Sports and Recreation Officer for the Council with the responsibility for the Marketing of the Centre. During this time, The Heights had no actual manager; the Council's Borough Treasurer took on the day to day responsibility whilst Leisure Services were being re-organised. The Council's Leisure DSO therefore managed the centre until 1995.

Dave McDine, the current General Manager of The Heights (pictured to the right of John Sands above), joined the Heights in November 1996 as a Duty Manager. At this time there were three Managers with equal responsibility for the site. These were Lawrence Edmonston; Finance and Administration Manager, Lynn Burford; Operations Manager and Martin Rockley; Technical Manager. Following a spell at Medina Leisure Centre and Ryde Ice Arena, coupled with a re-structuring of Wight Leisure and The Heights management Team, Dave returned to the centre in September 1999 as Facility Manager with overall responsibility for the whole site.

Pictured to the left following a presentation made by the Council Chairman and Dave McDine are Olive Saunders (left) and Lynne Young (right). Olive has been actively associated with the Leisure Centre as a volunteer since it opened, and spent over 10 years as the centre’s Life Guard Trainer and Examiner and also as a leading member of the “Saturday Night Club for people with Disabilities” since the club was formed.

Lynne has been a permanent fixture since day one and is the centre’s longest serving employee, working as a Receptionist for the last 25 years. Whilst many staff and volunteers have put in many years of service to the centre, these two ladies are the only two to have been associated with the centre from the day the doors first opened right through until The Heights 25 year anniversary.

A potted history of The Heights

Built by South Wight Borough Council on Sandown Heights, The Heights was officially opened by HRH Prince Michael of Kent on 25th March 1982 as Sandown Bay Leisure Centre. At that time, there were two swimming pools, four squash courts and a café. Soon after the opening, more facilities were added in the adjacent old Artillery Block. A bar, two sunbeds, a sauna and spa, plus two activity rooms that were soon hosting a 50+ group, karate clubs, a dance school and keep fit classes.

Commit to Get Fit

The café and bar were operated as concessions and Oscar and Jacqui Stretch and their family ran the café while John Beech ran the Artillery Bar. Staff enthusiastically created a petanque terrain. Responding to a request for about half a ton of chalk for the base, Hylton Bennet delivered a full tipper wagon! The Gunners team was formed and soon worked their way up through the leagues.

Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT) was introduced to local authorities in the late 1980s and the leisure centre contract was won by Crossland Leisure, beginning a period of private sector working. Due to the high quality and dedication of its staff and customers, the centre was always a high-performing facility in the top ten of its kind in the UK. With Crossland, the centre won the national Commit to Get Fit marketing campaign against 25 other centres within the group.

Health, Leisure, Relaxation... and home-made wine!

Life in the private sector had its risks and down side and, in 1991, the holding company for Crossland went into receivership. The local authority took back the day-to-day operation and soon began to invest in an upgrading programme throughout. In July 1992, the Mayor of South Wight, Councillor 'Buster' Bartlett, officially opened the refurbished and extended Heights Health and Leisure Base. The new facilities included a health suite with sauna, steam room and spa, a purpose-built aerobics studio, a fitness suite, two new sunbed rooms, a bar, extended kitchen area, new changing rooms and a new entrance to the centre.

The majority of the facilities in the building behind the centre were converted into office space to be used by Social Services while the bar became the centre's crèche for customers' children. The two old outbuildings were used as stores. One was used by the swimming club for its equipment. The other was for the centre engineer's large stock of home-made wine which became his entry ticket to the early Glastonbury Festivals!

This hoard was discovered during an unannounced inspection of the centre by the Health and Safety Executive. After a cursory inspection of the plant room and other facilities, the remainder of the visit was spent discussing wine varieties and brewing methods with our engineer - we were not to know that the Inspector was a home-made wine expert, connoisseur and judge! We had a favourable report that year.

A focal point for the local community

The outbuildings disappeared to become car parking for the Civic Centre - the wine never returned! The next major change was at the beginning of this year when, following investment by the Council, a new fitness facility, the Health Zone, was created in what was the bar area.

The Heights is far more than just a leisure centre - it's a focal point for the local community. Several million visitors have been welcomed through the doors over the last 25 years. Many customers have achieved national and international sporting recognition - Leonard and Vivienne Cherriman, Joan Kidd, Louis Attrill, Andy Frost, Ross and Aaron Williams to name but a few.

Many more customers have achieved individual goals by just keeping fit, losing weight, learning to swim, playing their first game of squash or simply meeting new friends in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. British, European, Commonwealth and even world records have been broken in the annual masters swimming gala. Staff have also excelled at sports, including Mandy Coleman (European powerlifting) and Charlene Franklin (swimming). Something else the Heights excelled at in the late 1980s was - producing babies! A lot of staff were starting families and we were asked if it was anything to do with the pool water and, if so, could it be tested!

Looking forward to the next 25 years

The staff at The Heights have always been a committed team of leisure professionals, and some have notched up over 20 years' service. There's a wide and ever-growing range of activities and facilities on offer at The Heights, with swimming lessons and aerobics classes remaining as popular as ever.

Pictured to the left is the recently converted bar area which is now a Junior Gym.

These new gym sessions for young people are proving very popular and a GP referral scheme encourages people to take up exercise for what may be the first time. Squash leagues and numerous clubs use the facilities week after week. Use continues to grow - what will the next 25 years bring? Whatever is in store, the strong and committed workforce will take on whatever challenges they face.

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