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Young gymnasts want their base back
HUNDREDS of youngsters have had to give up gymnastics and others are having to travel as far as Kent to train while their club's base sits empty and unused.
The dome building in Victoria Road, South Ruislip, was closed on April 3 after the former owners of Hillingdon School of Gymnastics backed out of a court case with Hillingdon Council who were trying to recover £97,000 in business rates it claimed the club owned.
More than 2,000 people used the club every week, but most of them now have nowhere to go and some are having to travel long distances to train.
Brandon Box, 10, of Towergate Close, Uxbridge, has been going to the club since he was five and is now a member of the boys' squad.
The Hermitage Primary School pupil said: "When I heard it was closing I was sad because I have been going for a long time.
"I thought they were joking at first but when they kept saying it I knew it was true.
"I like gymnastics because it's fun and it keeps me fit and strong. I would love to go to the Olympics one day."
Brandon's mum, Jane Box, 41, said: "Some of the parents can't even get their kids to training anymore because of the distance.
"Brandon loves gymnastics but he hates the journey to Kent because it takes the whole day.
"He used to train for 11 hours a week but now he does five hours, and that's on a good week.
"We could take him elsewhere but the boys' squad want to stick together and we want to support the club.
"Brandon isn't into football really and he's not the most academic boy in the world so for him it's a confidence thing so he can feel he is good at something.
"If he wasn't going to gymnastics he would be sitting at home in front of the computer.
"Where they train now is quite small so all the recreational gymnasts can't come anymore and all the parent and toddler groups have had to stop.
"The dome on South Ruislip isn't a long term option but meanwhile it's sitting there empty and hundreds of gymnasts are struggling to train. Even if we had it for six months it would better than nothing."
Former and current parents, coaches and gymnasts of the club are now looking to set up a not-for-profit company to run the club.
To become a member of the new company or for more information email johncox@dewarhogan.co.uk or call 01895 631 535.
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Dear Charlene, your journalistic integrity is at risk with this article. Whilst it is true that Hillingdon School of Gymnastics has been forced to close it is not true that hundreds of their members have nowhere to go. As a journalist I would have expected you to investigate whether there are any other gymnastics clubs in the Borough. If you had done so you would have found that there are at least three other thriving clubs in Northwood, Harefield and Hayes. I am sure all of these clubs would welcome new members, giving many of them "somewhere to go". You have used an emotive statement designed to elicite sympathy but it has no basis in truth. We all regret the loss of "Swallows" as it was one of the leading clubs in London, but it is not the only club in Hillingdon. We wish everyone at Hillingdon SOG our very best wishes in trying to find a new base, but please try to keep your reporting fair to all other clubs working hard with the youth of Hillingdon.
isn't there a club at Feltham anymore. It was in Green Lane I believe