Mayor says goodbye to Ken Marriott

IT was the end of an era for sport and leisure in Rugby as the town bade farewell to the Ken Marriott.

The doors have now closed on the 40-year-old Bruce Williams Way leisure centre for good as it makes way for the new state-of-the-art Queen's Diamond Jubilee facility, set to open in July.

Mayor Kathryn Lawrence toured the centre and met staff before it closed forever on Sunday (March 31).

While there she saw an exhibition of pictures of the Ken Marriott from years gone by, with many of the shots provided by members of the public after an appeal launched by centre manager Richard Gallagher.

Culture spokeswoman for Rugby, Coun Heather Timms, said the Ken Marriott's closure marked the end of an era for Rugby.

"For 40 years children of the borough have learnt to swim at the Rugby Leisure Centre, and later the Ken Marriott Leisure Centre, and many young athletes and sportsmen and women have learnt their sport and practised there.

"While one era ends, another is about to begin and it will not be long before we open the brand new Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Centre.

"In the meantime, there will be plenty of opportunities to meet the new operators and find out more about the new centre including at a unit in the Clock Towers shopping centre, which will open next week."

Before the new centre opens, the Ken Marriott - named after a former councillor - will be demolished to make way for a car park and entrance to the site.

All equipment will be tested and staff fully trained during the closure period.

Visit www.rugby.gov.uk/newleisurecentre for more information.

Buy photos» Mayor Kathryn Lawrence and centre manager Glen Staite-Loveridge look over the new development. 14.013.001.rug.jm4 (www.buyphotos247.com)

Buy photos» Mayor Kathryn Lawrence and operations manager Richard Gallagher view old press clippings on the centre's history. 14.013.001.rug.jm3 (www.buyphotos247.com)

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