From record-breaking athletes, to snooker stars and royal guests – Medway Park sports centre has seen it all since it was built half a century ago.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary on Thursday, 14 December, the original sports centre was opened on the same date in December 1973 by renowned runner Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to break the 4 minute mile.
But like all sporting success stories, it wasn’t all plain sailing.
Then known as the Black Lion, the story of the sports centre goes back to 1955, when it was first mooted as an idea by the three councils that preceded Medway Council, but it wasn’t until 1963 the possibility of using the Black Lion field was raised - and it was another decade before the idea became reality.
Of course, while the centre has welcomed its fair share of stars, the real champions of Medway Park are the people of Medway, and it was fitting that the first lengths of the pool were swum by three local swimmers; eight year old Paul Hardy, 18-year-old Janet Bowles and 78-year-old Bert Bishop, a member of Gillingham Swimming Club and treasurer for the previous 17 years of Medway Swimming Association.
The opening weekend welcomed 1,705 swimmers, and the pool was used by thousands more in the following months and years.
In 1979 further additions to the centre came in the form of a sports hall, squash courts, snooker room and gym; and the expanded centre was opened by The Duke of Kent, who flew in by helicopter for a formal opening ceremony.
The 1980s brought high profile events to the centre, including The Norwich Union Grand Prix top table tennis championships, The English Closed Table Tennis Championships, International Badminton and even The Royal Shakespeare Company, with performances such as Richard III.
Over the same decade, big names from the world of sport visited the centre such as snooker’s Steve Davis, badminton’s Gillian Gilks and Mike Tredgett, and the European Table Tennis Champion, Jill Hammersley.
In the 1990s the centre continued to expand its appeal with improvements to gym facilities, including satellite TV, Reebok Step Programme and air-conditioning. Archery events also became popular, and by 1993/1994 visits to The Black Lion Leisure Centre totalled 487,598.
Meanwhile the centre had been working in partnership with the Sports Development Team to deliver community sporting festival ‘Sportex’, culminating in Sportex 95, which was acclaimed as the most successful ever and visited by England international footballer Trevor Brooking.
The following decade Medway Council announced a major expansion and redevelopment programme in 2007, which would bring an Olympic standard athletics track, larger sports hall, additional studios, judo centre, new changing rooms, a new gym – and even a new name, Medway Park.
Work on the new centre was completed in 2010, the same year it hosted the Modern Pentathlon World Cup, and Medway Park was officially opened the following year by HRH Princess Anne.
Further world class sporting events to be hosted by Medway Park included the European Modern Pentathlon Championships, The Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup and European Championships, Men’s u21 Handball, University Handball Championships, European Vets Fencing, National Sitting Volleyball, European Table Tennis, European Men’s Handball and county swimming galas.
Events were brought to a halt with the arrival of Covid in 2020, but the centre would continue to play a vital community role, first becoming an emergency shopping hub for the most vulnerable Medway residents and later becoming the biggest local Covid Test Centre.
Fresh from the release of Covid restrictions, Medway Park hosted its first International Dance Championship, which welcomed Strictly star Shirley Ballas.
The centre has since hosted these championships for the following two years with almost 10,000 international competitors taking part in each competition.
Meanwhile, Medway Park continues to host world class sporting events such as The National Army Sapper Games, The David Ward Hunt Cup International Trampoline Championship, International Judo and The World Indoor Archery Championships.
A legacy of sporting success
Cllr Harinder Mahil, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and Leisure, said: “The fiftieth anniversary of Medway Park is a great chance to celebrate its legacy of sporting success. Medway Park is our centre of sporting excellence and has welcomed many well-known sporting stars through its doors.
"It is just one of our fantastic sports facilities across Medway which offers residents the chance to try different activities and work towards their fitness goals. We have a number of membership options available, including unlimited access to our sports centres – it’s time to make time for you.”
To celebrate the milestone anniversary, Medway Park will host a celebration disco workout with a live DJ from 7pm to 8pm on Thursday, December 14, with participants encouraged to dress up.
There will also be a drinks reception after the workout and the chance to see the brand new “It's Time” video.
The celebration workout is free but pre-bookable only.