The Peterborough Evening Telegraph

Spiral members are determined to survive some rough and tumble

- By Alan Swann alan.swann@jpimedia.co.uk @PTAlanSwan­n

Spiral Gymnastics club owner Katherine Everett has been overwhelme­d by the generosity of her membership during the coronaviru­s crisis.

Katherine is determined to keep the Bretton-based club going even though she’s not been able to open the doors to the middle of March.

Spiral Gymnastics has 550 members with ages ranging from three years-old to adult and they’ve responded brilliantl­y during lockdown.

Katherine said: “There’s no way I’m letting this club fold and the reaction of the membership has been outstandin­g. Many have kept their monthly membership fees going even though they haven’t been able to use the facilities.

“This is my dream job and it’s frustratin­g that I haven’t been able to do it properly for over two months now and the gymnasts must be frustrated as well.

“I’ve been having zoom calls with them and we’ve doing our best to keep spirits up.

“We are doing our best to keep everyone healthy physically and mentally.

“As yet we have no idea when we will re-open again, but we will be ready as soon as we get the go-ahead. I’ve been in the club working on getting everything ready and adding the hand sanitiser and other extras we will now need.

“I have heard gymnastics clubs in the United States have been getting extra membership requests because lockdown has made people want to get active again so hopefully the same will happen here.”

Anyone wishing to join the club when they re-open or offer sponsorshi­p can e-mail enquiries@spiralgym.co.uk

The club has received a grant from the Government, but Katherine and her team of freelance coaches are not getting paid.

The club opens seven days a week and caters for all ages and for school parties. The club is based at Alpha Business Park, Unit 29, Bretton Way, Peterborou­gh PE3 8AF.

Katherine was a top-class gymnast in her day winning the Young GB Gymnast of the Year aged 12 and just missing out on selection for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona due to injury.

 ??  ?? Photos from Spiral Gymnastics Club. Katherine Everett is on the left in the bottom right picture.
Photos from Spiral Gymnastics Club. Katherine Everett is on the left in the bottom right picture.

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