Sydenham News: Kangley Bridge Olympics

With all that bother about a far distant marsh somewhere up Essex way - we in Sydenham can maybe be forgiven for not getting terribly excited about whether the 2012 Olympics come to London or Paris. Indeed some suspect it will be faster & easier to cross the channel than get across the river...

But Uncle Ken is not to be put off by such scepticism. As part of the drive to win the vote on July 6th an Olympic Day was celebrated on June 1st in support of the London 2012 Olympic bid. Kangley Bridge Leisure Centre joined in holding a 'Olympic Community Day' offering a wide range of activities for young people and families. And it only cost a quid. Pity nobody told us about it!

What we missed was an opportunity to meet Alison Mowbray. Alison was part of the UK's successful rowing team at the 2004 Athens Olympics winning a Silver Medal in the quadruple sculls. She supervised rowing competition at the Bridge and put some up and coming young rowers through their paces.

Lewisham's councillor Alyson McGarrigle said: "The Community Day was a great success with hundreds of young people and their families enjoying a fun day out at a minimal cost. The Centres offered a wide and exciting range of sports/activities for various age groups and abilities. From badminton to Brazilian football, there was something for everyone."

Well let's hope the event will bring new people to The Bridge's sporting facilities which may still not be known to many living in Sydenham. This may be because it is hidden away on Kangley Bridge road. So unless you use lower Sydenham Station or do business in the Industrial Estate you may have not have investigated the cul-de-sac that runs southwards from the Sainsbury's Savacentre entrance on Stanton Way.

Many large companies had lavish sporting facilities in and around Sydenham. These have been discarded in the last decade or so as corporate profits have become more imporatnt than employee benefits. The Bridge was formely the BP Sports Centre and the new Kent County Cricket ground in Worsley Bridge Road was the Lloyds Bank sports centre. The rest are mostly falling into disuse, dilapidation and the green space threatened with redevelopment.

Sad to think that these same companies are anxious topay to get their names attached as sports sponsors - but at the cost of removing sport facilities here in south east London.

Bridge on the Web is <here>

sdg 03/06/05

SydenCam