More than 1200 local people visited Harrow Leisure Centre on Saturday (12 September) to celebrate the completion of its £1.4 million transformation at a free community open day.
The event gave local residents the opportunity to explore the newly refurbished leisure centre and take part in a packed programme of free activities for all ages, including swimming, soft play, group exercise classes and family entertainment.
More than 150 people also had the chance to meet former Team GB sprinter and TV personality Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, who joined the celebrations throughout the day.
Harry took part in a special family session, sharing stories from his sporting career and journey to representing Team GB before answering questions from local children and families.
He then met attendees for photographs before heading into the gym to lead a special fitness session, where he showcased some of the centre’s new equipment and shared advice on staying active and maintaining strength and fitness.
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey said: “It’s been such a fun day. It’s all about understanding what you can do at a centre like this, and there have been so many activities to get involved in. We’ve been in the brand-new gym, which is amazing, so come down and check it out!”
The open day also featured football freestyle demonstrations and skills sessions with football freestyler Jamie Knight, alongside activities including BodyPump, yoga, Zumba, Pilates, group cycling and swimming.
The event marked the completion of the refurbishment following Everyone Active’s new 10-year partnership with the London Borough of Harrow. Improvements to the centre include a fully refurbished gym, an expanded ladies-only gym, two larger group exercise studios and a larger group cycle studio.
Tiffany Johnson, General Manager at Harrow Leisure Centre, said: "It was fantastic to see so many local people come along and make the most of our Community Open Day, with such a packed programme of activities, there was something for everyone.
"It was amazing to welcome Harry and give local children and families the opportunity to hear about his journey, ask their own questions and meet him in person. It was also great to see families spending the day together and getting involved, and to have the chance for people to see the improvements we've made to the centre for themselves.
"We're really proud of the transformation, and we hope this is just the start for a lot of people.”
Councillor Janet Mote, Cabinet Member for Community and Culture said:
"This £1.4 million investment is fantastic news for local residents, and it was brilliant to see so many people turn out to celebrate the newly refurbished Harrow Leisure Centre.
“Facilities like this play such an important role in helping our community stay active and healthy. This transformation, alongside our new 10-year partnership with Everyone Active, shows our continued commitment to providing high-quality leisure services across the borough.
“I'd like to thank everyone who came along on Saturday, and I hope even more residents make the most of what the centre has to offer. If you haven't already, have a look for yourself to see what the leisure centre offers."
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is Everyone Active's first-ever You+ Ambassador, fronting the operator's wellbeing membership which focuses on the six pillars of health, including movement, nutrition, sleep, recovery, brain health and social wellness.
He also has a long-standing partnership with Everyone Active through its Sporting Champions programme, having trained at his local Everyone Active centre in South London for over a decade, and remains passionate about supporting the next generation of athletes through access to world-class facilities and mentoring.
The event follows the start of Everyone Active’s new 10-year partnership with the London Borough of Harrow, which sees the leisure operator continue to manage Harrow Leisure Centre, Hatch End Swimming Pool and Bannister Outdoor Sports Centre.