The Grammar officially opens
03/09/2008
On the afternoon of the 3rd of September 2008 the doors officially opened to the public at Trafford's newest and most exclusive sports and leisure facility, ‘The Grammar'. Altrincham Grammar School for Boys unveiled its £3m Sports facility, which is much more than just a Sports Hall. It comprises the ‘Peel Sports Hall', a large dance/aerobics hall, a spacious reception area and cafeteria, a state of the art fitness gym and conference facilities.
The new sports facility sits next to a full size Astro turf pitch, extensively upgraded playing fields and four competition standard tennis courts, and so completes a three year sports development project at the School, and excitingly provides a complete package for sport and leisure for the school and local community to take advantage of. Head Master, Tim Gartside, said that he was delighted that Mr Mike Butterworth, Property Director of Peel Holdings Limited had agreed to open the facility.
"Due to your financial gift of £600,000 we have been able to ensure that our ambitious plans for sport have been fully realised."
Mike Butterworth, Property Director of Peel Holdings said, "Peel is delighted to support The Grammar and wish it every success in the future".
"The Grammar" will be available for use by individuals, families and local sports clubs from across the community. The School has invited Trafford Community Leisure Trust, who currently manages eight leisure centres and two golf courses across the borough, to manage the indoor and outdoor sports facilities out of School hours for the community.
At the opening ceremony Bernie Jones, Chief Executive of Trafford Community Leisure Trust said, "Trafford Community Leisure Trust are delighted to be given the opportunity to work in partnership with Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and will ensure that the maximum benefit is gained from these fantastic new facilities in Altrincham".
On the 4th of September the day after the official opening on the schools first full day of the new term the boys received a surprise when the Lancashire and England Cricketer Andrew (Freddie) Flintoff came to have a look round the building and took part in a question and answer session in front of the whole School in the Peel Sports Hall. The England all rounder told the boys how impressed he was by the facilities and shared with them a number of experiences from his County and International Career. He spoke about how important sport has always been in his life so far and he hoped that the excellent new facilities would inspire all the boys in the School to play Sport.
Head of PE, Kevin Morris said, "It was really generous of Freddie to give up his time to visit "The Grammar" before he flies off to Pakistan. It made the boys' first experience of the new building a truly memorable one".
The facilities are now open to the public with a range of membership options for gym, classes and racquets as well as a selection of pay and play prices for a host of other activities including coaching, children's activities, hockey five-a-side, rugby and cricket. Excitingly as an opening offer The Grammar is giving its Membership packages away with NO JOINING FEE. For more details contact the site on 0161 929 1078.
