10,000 members and still growing!

FROM the owner laying many of the bricks herself because the builder went bust, to becoming a thriving, family-run fitness centre and World Record holding squash club, Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame has grown, and today signed up its 10,000th member.

Daniel Lucas from Haddenham, signed up on line on Racquets’ website, and was surprised to learn that, as the 10,000th member he would be the centre of attention for a celebration and receive a bottle of champagne. When Dan turned up at the club for his induction with a member of the fitness staff, he met the club’s oldest member, 83 year-old Tom Gilmore, the lady who helped to lay the bricks the building in North Street is constructed with, Pam Preston (formerly Collins), and the club’s youngest member, Zane Finch aged 2, and his sister Taylor who is 4 years-old.

Racquets’ Manager, Simon Martin, is obviously very proud of the club’s achievements over the years, having grown as a business through many recessions. His family merged with what was originally The Thame Squash Club in 1997. Simon explained the club’s ethos:

“Racquets is, and always will be, a family place. It opened in 1975 as a squash club and over the years has been a home, a place to unwind, a social venue and now a fitness centre. We are delighted to welcome Dan Lucas as our 10,000th member to the club, which, by the way, still has member number one on its books!”

Racquets has helped to mould many great athletes and squash ‘pros’ over the years. Will John grew up at the club and is now ranked 200th best squash player in the world. Nigel Pattison has accomplished many incredible charity fitness events and raised thousands of pounds for local charities. Simon Martin himself became the Racketball European champion and two members of the club, Guy Fotherby and Darren Withey, hold the current marathon Squash Singles, Guinness World Record of 31 hrs 35 minutes and 34 seconds.

Recent new members include the Deputy Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, and 50% of the crew of Thame fire station trains at the club too, one of them now working at Racquets as a fitness instructor and the other as one of the club’s many top Thame personal trainers.

Summing up, Simon said: “At Racquets we have over 25 classes running throughout the week which are all very popular; we have three training areas including the cardio/weights room and the Grit yard for functional training.

“Racquets is a place for all the family and Christmas eve especially shows the club for what it is with young and old members and their families and friends, singing carols and generally enjoying the company of one another.

“In 2014 Racquets will continue to grow; we’re having a face lift, improving the inside areas and purchasing new training equipment to help our members achieve fat loss, muscle building and rehabilitation goals.

“10,000 members is a milestone for the club and as a family we thank current and past members for their support over the years and look forward to new and past members joining for the next chapter. 2014 promises to be a great year!