This is a little bit of information about the Keep Fit at the Bridge Centre
which I hope you'll find interesting.
The Tuesday Keep Fit Class has been running for well over 35 years now, long before I appeared on the scene. It was originally run, by the late, great Dave Jones, His wife Val ran the crèche.
I didn’t move to Haddington until early 1985 with my husband and 6-month-old baby, Scott. I knew no one in the area and decided to join the Mother & Toddler Group at the Bridge Centre. I also joined in the Music & Movement class for pre-school children and the young mum’s Keep Fit Class on a Tuesday. A year later I had my second son, Paul. I continued attending and enjoying all the classes. We had a great social life with all the other young mums and their children. I still keep in touch with quite a number of them.
A few years later the Tuesday Keep Fit Class was taken over by Vicky Wood. Vicky continued successfully with this class until 1990 when she had to return to work full-time.
I was then approached by Joy Clark, who was the Community Development Officer at the time, and asked if I would be prepared to take over the class. I had, many years before, been a figure skating tutor and also a qualified aerobic instructor.
I agreed to take the class on a temporary basis until they could get a new instructor. Well, none of us wanted to miss our class. For my first session I had to borrow a tape from Rhona, who worked in the Tyneside Tavern. I had no idea what music was on the tape. We had a real laugh and all agreed that I should continue taking the classes. I was bullied into continuing!!!!!
I also took the Music & Movement class for a few years while my children were still young. Life was all go!
A year later I began the Thursday morning class, which proved to be extremely popular. The first week’s class attracted 70 ladies! Help! I needed a shoehorn to get them into the top floor of the Poldrate Mill. By 1998, I was finally persuaded to start up the Thursday evening class.
At times the classes were so busy I had to split them into 2 classes running back to back. That was hard going!
Over the years I've had a few Creche workers. The most recent workers have been Vicki(who has now moved onto pastures new) and Jenny (who has now retired) Eileen helped out when she was needed. Eileen has sadly passed away a few years ago. They did a grand job. Many thanks to you all.
Due to other work commitments I was forced to give up my beloved Thursday morning class,
Well, here I am nearly 30 years later….still taking the Tuesday morning and the Thursday evening class. I’m told I don’t get a medal until I reach the 30-year mark! Almost there!
I have to admit, I love taking the classes and am not planning to retire from them just yet!
I have put together some old photos - feel free to enter
here and have a real giggle.