MAY 7th 1973, the first Community Sports Centre in the UK, Harlow Sportcentre. Not the most imaginative of names I thought as I started my first day of a new career.
I wonder how much goes on here in this ugly breezeblock building. It certainly didn’t look very inspiring. But not to worry I’ll get a couple of years’ experience and move on. My first impression and limited experience of the Leisure Industry were soon to be challenged.
Harlow Sportcentre was aptly named, it was truly a centre for sport. Every sport was catered for both indoor and outdoor on the extensive grounds with participation from novice to international.
Harlow Sportcentre was the home for all the Town’s premier clubs, football, hockey, cricket, tennis, and athletics utilising all the outdoor pitches and courts whilst indoors provided the venue for some 26 badminton clubs, the High club(later to become Apex Trampoline club) Bush Harlow Gymnastic club, Archery club, judo club and well supported 5-a-side football and netball leagues.
The numbers participating and the high standards of achievement were quite unique in my limited experience.
Under the leadership of George Torkildsen something amazing was taking place at Harlow Sportcentre.
The first few weeks flew by and being part of the team that hosted a County Cricket weekend was a very important learning experience.
Saturday 2nd May 1973. Benson & Hedges Cup. Essex Vs Middlesex
Sunday 3rd May 1973. John Player League. Essex Vs Hampshire.
Of course all this didn’t just happen by chance, Harlow & District Sports Trust with staff led by GT had developed a philosophy of Sport for all long before it became a tag line for the Sports Council.
The programming of the available space and time was divided into three. Club bookings, members/ casual bookings and coached activities. This across the board programming was to produce tremendous results, not only in terms of attendances and club achievements but with individual successes in a number of sports.
Sue Mapstone, Commonwealth Silver medal in Heptathlon 1978
Jeff Davis, UK national gymnastic champion 1978-80
Barry Winch, UK national gymnastic champion 1981
Stewart Matthews, Trampoline World champion 1980
Carl Furrer Trampoline World champion 1982
Glenn Hoddle Spurs and England 1975-88
Bush Harlow Gymnastic Club, UK national team champions for 10 successive years.
Amazing achievements for a new town of 70,000 people.
The late 1970’s heralded the development of an artificial ski slope a risky development but one which thrived and became the home of the British Disabled Ski Association.
The Squash boom of the 70’s and 80’s and the demand for court time saw the development of 12 new courts( making 18 in total) As squash later declined some of these courts were converted to studios for dance, aerobics and gymnastic pit.
Throughout this period Harlow was the venue for many County, national and international sporting events. However the biggest spectator attendances were achieved at the televised it’s a knockout, Superstars and Sportstown.
The 80’s and 90’s brought many changes to the UK leisure industry and Harlow Sportcentre in particular.
Successful sports clubs moved away from the sportcentre to acquire their own facilities and we saw a move away from traditional sport participation to wellness and lifestyle activities.
Embracing these changes and becoming an early adopter of new trends became important to the financial survival of Harlow Sportcentre. The days of financial support from County Council and the Local Authority had ceased or reduced. Survival became a key focus.
The philosophy adapt or die was key to the sportcentre’s survival, managing to ride the crest of a new in vogue activity was essential to generating the revenue levels that traditional sports no longer achieved.
During this period of change we also lost our leader. George Torkildsen moved into Leisure Management Consultancy, although a loss to our day to day operation he remained at the sportcentre and was always available to provide help and advice. His subsequent appointment to the Board of Trustees gave HDST an unrivalled level of expertise. It should not be underestimated how important the commitment and passion with which the Trustees of HDST guided and supported successive managements. Without their invaluable input and ability to take risks, history would have quite a different story to tell.
By 1994 it became apparent that Harlow Sportcentre was, without substantial regeneration, in danger of becoming financially unsustainable.
In considering its future HDST looked at a number of redevelopment proposals. Two schemes in particular were worked up and considered by the Trustees to be viable.
Unfortunately neither scheme received the support of Harlow Council. Bowed but not broken HDST continued its dream to regenerate the UK’s first community sports centre and provide state of the art facilities to meet the aspirations of the new millennium and beyond.
Eventually a scheme which gained the support of all the involved authorities began to materialise. For the project to move forwards required the approval of HDST, Harlow Council and the Commission for the New Towns, (to be renamed English Partnerships). After many months of brinkmanship by each organisation, and huge fees paid to solicitors acting for each party. Agreement was reached and the GATEWAY PARTNERSHIP was formed.
To succeed the partnership was required to sell the Sportcentre 30 acre site, for which HDST had the remains of a 99yr lease. The freeholders being English Partnerships.
Purchase a site for the new sportcentre from Harlow College.
Harlow Council to approve the purchase of the site and agree planning permission for the new development.
Harlow Council to approve the inclusion of a swimming pool within the new development and agree to the sale of the existing Council owned pool site, with the capital receipts being used by the partnership for the redevelopment.
Harlow Council to agree to a 7 year subsidy (equivalent to their cost for operating the Town Pool) to the new development.
HDST to apply to the Office of Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) for funding from the Community Regeneration Fund. (£10.8 M was provided)
By 2004 the Gateway Partnership Board had entered into a legally binding agreement.
Acquired the freehold of the new site from Harlow College.
Appointed architect and developers for the new development.
Acquired planning approval for the construction of 535 new homes on the old sportcentre site.
Agreed the sale of the old sportcentre to a developer.
At last the future of HDST and the development of new facilities was no longer just a dream. It just remained for Harlow Sportcentre to survive the ravages of time on the old building and the competition from commercial gym operators and most importantly keep the bank manager happy.
HDST faced those challenges with their usual determination.
HARLOW LEISUREZONE a £25M state of the art facility opened its doors in May 2010, some 15 years after the first steps to regeneration.
Sadly George Torkildsen passed away in 2005 but I know he would have been very proud of HDST achievements.
My own expected 2 year stay at Harlow Sportcentre lasted 35 years and I’m proud to remain a Trustee.
John Wright – Former General Manager and now Trustee
2015