It was a proud day on Wednesday as E G Carter & Co Ltd welcomed Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to officially open the brand-new Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub in Podsmead
During her visit, The Princess Royal met local residents and community groups who are making the most of the new facilities. Among them was Mike Bingham, a local resident who has used the gym almost every day since it opened in April.
Mike said:
“If someone had said I’d be in the gym at age 70 a few years ago I would have laughed, but I’ve been coming here every day and have lost three stone. It was a real honour to meet Princess Anne today and to represent Blackbridge members.”
Her Royal Highness also visited the 3G sports pitch, meeting teams including the Old Cryptians Girls Rugby Team and the Tuffley Rovers Walking Football Team. In the Fitness Studio, she watched a yoga class in action, led by local instructor Fiona Channon.
In the hub’s social space, The Princess Royal met with representatives from the community and key funding partners, including Sport England, Gloucester City Council, the Football Foundation, and Resonance.
Hari Matharu, Head of Community Assets at Sport England, commented:
“It was great to see how our £415,000 investment into Blackbridge, a brilliant community asset, is supporting local communities, like here in Gloucester, to be more active through sport and physical activity, so that it becomes a part of everyday life, helping to improve both physical, mental and social health.”
The visit also shone a light on the Youth Work Team and the young people who attend the regular clubs held at the hub. Karmarley, 16, shared his ambitions with The Princess Royal, saying: “A princess doesn’t need to wear a crown to show her royalty. It was nice to have her there, it was good to be honest.”
To commemorate the occasion, Her Royal Highness unveiled a plaque marking the official opening of the hub.
Sue Cunningham, Chair of Blackbridge CCBS, said:
“It was the honour of Blackbridge CCBS and the Directors to welcome Her Royal Highness to officially open the Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub, and we thank her for the visit. We were able to showcase the partnership working of everyone who has made this wonderful venue possible, and which we hope will have a positive impact for the community for many years to come.”
Lee Thomas, Regional Manager for Freedom Leisure, added:
*“We were deeply honoured to welcome The Princess Royal to the Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub. We are incredibly proud to manage this facility on behalf of the Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society, helping to bring their vision to life.
The Princess Royal’s visit highlighted the vibrant community already using the hub, from sports teams to fitness groups. We hope this fantastic event encourages even more local residents to visit and discover the wide range of activities on offer. We are committed to ensuring this hub serves as a central point for the community for many years to come.”
E G Carter & Co Ltd are proud to have delivered this fantastic community project and look forward to seeing it support residents of Podsmead and beyond for generations to come.