"NOBBY'S GYM"
Vicarage Road
Milton Regis
Sittingbourne
ME10 2BL
01795 470659
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I think by now you will have heard of the Clarke Family and their obsession in providing facilities for the local communities. This started with Margret and Nobby Clarke who started the Young Judo Club in 1957. Since then Margret Clarke went on to buy the old Methodist Church in East Street and turn it into a Sports Centre/Martial Art Centre. This catered not only for Martial Arts but also Dance, Gymnastics, Keep fit, etc. With the demise of the Regis Suite, Martin Clarke, who now owns the Old Church and is now called the Swale Martial Arts Club. SMAC has its own Dojo and also has a Bar, which helps finance the Martial Arts, plus any repairs. Martin's Wife and children are also actively involved in community projects. The rest of the building is divided into one bedroom flats. |
Martin's brother Norman used to the unknown member of the family in Sittingbourne. Yet he kept up the family tradition of service to the community, he became a Policeman. Norman has spent most of his Police life in the Tunbridge Wells area and most of that time as a detective, being commended on several occasions. At 49 years it was time for him to retire and he finished his Police life as a Sergeant. |
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At the beginning of 2000 he felt he wanted to carry on his community commitment. He knew his brother Martin had built a Sports Studio on Milton Regis some 10 years ago and borrowed a lot of money to produce this community-based project and he also knew that the Sports Studio had lost money for 10 years. Martin was in a possible closing down situation. Norman offered to develop and finance a new gym on condition that he could run it as a gym available to every one not just for the beautiful people. |
| Why Nobby's Gym! Well most of you
know the nickname for Clarke is Nobby. While in the Police Force
Norman was Nobby but not in Sittingbourne. In Sittingbourne
there was only one "Nobby Clarke" and that was his
father. He was the man who brought Judo to Kent and started the
Clarke family interest in the community. He was very well known
around the town for his wit, humour and good nature, unless
upset then this 17 stone 6ft man was not quite so congenial. Sadly
on December 7th 1990 at the age of 63 Nobby died. Although his
name still carries on in the Clarke family, Norman felt with the
10th year of the anniversary of his death drawing near there was
no personal tribute to him. NOBBY'S GYM is his tribute. |
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The gym itself has an ample supply of cardio vascular equipment, resistance equipment; it has a separate free weights area, punch bags and a sauna plus a Sunbed. The pricing structure will be unusual that its users can pay Annually, monthly or per session, they can participate as a member or as a non-member. There will be off peak sessions for those who are unemployed, retired etc and we also have a lounge area where you can have a cup of coffee with a chat. Nobby's Gym is not just a Gym it is a Community based facility, their is a special room for the Milton Regis Weightlifting Club and special offers are available for Young People. Schools are specially welcome as Nobby feels that encouraging young people to use his facility will help them develop into better Adults |
Phone: 01795 470659 www.sittingbourne.org |