Our mission To provide safe, effective and friendly coaching and competitive opportunities in gymnastics to all sections of the community, and to promote the benefits of gymnastics for general fitness, health and |
Official opening ceremony
A special opening ceremony to celebrate our move to the new building in Poulton Close, took place on Saturday 28 March 2009.
The Right Honourable Gwyn Prosser, Member of Parliament for Dover and Deal cut the ceremonial ribbon in front of friends and supporters of Dover Gymnastics Club.
The event was a double celebration as the club recently achieved GymMark status and Dover Town Mayor, Cllr Mrs Diane Smallwood presented a commemorative plaque to mark the achievement.
GymMark status means Dover Gymnastics Club is recognised by the national governing body, British Gymnastics, Sport England and the Home County Sports Councils as being a safe, effective and child-friendly environment, committed to providing a quality experience for its members.
Sarah Philpott, Dover District Sports Development Officer said: "Dover Gymnastics Club is one of a few sports clubs in the district that has achieved the 'Club Mark' status and is recognised as providing a quality and safe environment to its members. It also means that the club is in a stronger position to apply for funding and I am supporting them in that process at the moment."
Dover Town Mayor, Cllr Mrs Diane Smallwood said: "Facilities for young people like this are an important part of the community in Dover, and to be recognised for providing a safe and child-friendly environment is also very important."
The Mayor also stated that she used to do gymnastics at a club in Dover when she was a youngster and recalled several of the moves she used to perform.
The ceremony concluded with a display by gymnasts from the Women's Artistic squad who performed a special dance for the event.
Frank Critcher, Club Chairman said: "This is an exciting time for the club and the move to bigger premises will allow us to grow and develop to meet the needs of existing and future members."
"None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our wonderful volunteers who spend hours and hours of their own time to run the club so that our young members have a nice facility to use."
"I would like to thank them, and also the organisations who have supported us over the past few years." He added.
He went on to present some gifts to individuals who had gone the extra mile to help the club move from its old place to the new building in Poulton Close. Including:
Stuart Reeder
Ben Bartlett
Gary Stokes
Mark Hughes and
Craig Miller
Vice chairman Jon Green then presented Dave Steytler, Frank Critcher and Fern Parnell with gifts in recognition of the work they do behind the scenes to keep the club running.
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Page created: 29 March 2009