Burwell Community Sports Centre
(Founded in 1983)
Run by the community for the community
Staff
Ben Hyde - Sports Centre Manager
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I have a wealth of experience with over 25 years in the Leisure Industry, from Lifeguard, Personal Trainer, Fitness Manager, Sports Rehabilitation Specialist to Management; including Health Clubs, Gyms and Sports Centres.
I am passionate about health & wellness and providing activity offerings to all demographics that are accessible and affordable to the local / surrounding communities.
My sporting interests are Rugby and Athletics, to which I participated to a good standard in my younger days…
If you have any questions regarding the Burwell Community Sports Centre please don’t hesitate to ask.
Adam Carrigan-Smith - Leisure Assistant / Duty Manager
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​I’ve been involved with sports since the age of 4 when I went to a Karate class for the first time. Then began my journey of striving to be the best I can be at high level sports. I have 25 years of experience in Karate and for 12 of those years I was an athlete who represented England all over the globe, winning multiple World, European and British Championships.
I was awarded my black belt at the age of 12 and now I’m a 3rd Dan Black Belt with my own club, passing on my knowledge to the next generation. I’ve been a competitive fighter not only in Karate but also Boxing, Muay Thia, BJJ and have fights in MMA events.
I have also played cricket, golf, football and enjoy a nice calming weekend of fishing.
Nanette Naude - (Relief cover/Social Media/Admin)
I've recently joined the team here at Burwell Community Sports Centre. My interests include Sport and Communication in SEN, athletics, hockey, chess and music.
Board of Directors
Quentin Cooke - Chair
My wife, Alison, and I have lived in the village since 1982 and raised our two sons here. Both went to Burwell Village College, where I served as Chair of Governors for some years. My business as an independent financial adviser was successfully based here too until I recently sold it.
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I also run Burwell Aikido Club, based in a dojo at my home, which has been running for pretty much the whole time I have lived in the village, (hence the picture).
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I am a keen badminton player and have enjoyed the sports centre as a venue for this and a number of other sports.
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I see BCSC as an important hub of the village and now I have more time, I want to make sure it realises its potential.
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Helen McMenamin-Smith - Vice-Chair
I have lived in Burwell for 28 years with my husband and brought up our daughter here. I started my career in Mechanical Engineering and progressed to Director and General Manager of two high tech electronics companies. Unfortunately, I developed an autoimmune condition and had to retire in 2005.
Although unable to work in that environment, I was able redirect my energies to Community based activities. I established the Burwell Community Clean Up Campaign (BCCC) which has been very successful. Other projects include leaf clearance in the Causeway, cutting back overgrowth at The Spring and planting a thousand daffodil bulbs around the Village.
I am a member of Burwell Parish Council and have been able to secure funding to establish the Community Garden at the Recreation Park. I am a keen badminton player so have been using the Burwell Sports Centre for a couple of years. This facility is used by many organisations and clubs and is an asset to our community.
I am determined to do what I can to support and improve this facility and therefore recently became a director.
Martin O 'Leary - Treasurer
I joined the management committee in 1986, becoming Treasurer the following year. I have been involved at the centre ever since. I had a couple of 4 year breaks from the committee, returning in 2010. For 20 years I organised youth sports activities, including football and rollerskating.
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I was instrumental in obtaining the floodlit all-weather pitch in 2005 and the enlarged studio in 2020. I steered the centre through the pandemic. I am committed to the it being a community facility for everyone.
FloraMay Waterhouse - Secretary
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I grew up in Soham from the age of 3, and took rollerskating classes from the age of 7 at the Ross Peers Sports Centre there. My family moved to Burwell when I was 11. As a teenager I was a member of the Bottisham Swimming Club and also attended the Burwell Sports Centre on Saturday afternoons for rollerskating.
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Since graduating with a Contemporary Arts Degree, I’ve had a varied career including working in the care industry, the property industry, administration, teaching English as a Foreign Language and for the past 3 years I’ve run my own dog-walking and pet-sitting business. I’ve been overseeing the Fun Skate at the Burwell Sports Centre now on Wednesday afternoons for over 4 years, and it’s great to see how popular it continues to be. I still enjoy skating!
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I’m passionate about all things Green, and am an active social-justice campaigner. I’m enjoying being part of the committee here for the Sports Centre, and making sure this place remains a fun, active and social resource for our lovely community.
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I got the scuba-diving bug in 2003 and since then I’ve gained my PADI qualification to 30m, and have explored the shores of the UK (in a dry-suit) and some further-flung, warmer destinations in a wet-suit. Since I haven’t been diving since 2008 I would love to take my daughter scuba-diving one day soon.
Paul Webb - Business Development
I have working with the managing committee of the centre for some time now in my capacity as a parish council observer, but have just stepped up to become a director.
As indicated above I am elected to Burwell Parish Council and have been since 2015. I sit on various working groups, including Finance, Community Leisure and Sport and the Recreation Ground Sports Working Group which raised over £600k towards the new Recreation Ground facilities.
In addition, I chair the Safety Working Group, which was responsible for the recent Village Traffic Survey. I am a Trustee of Pauline’s Swamp and recently became a member of the Spring Close Management Group.
I represent the Council as a Day Centre Trustee, and as a Trustee for Burwell Action for Youth. I also sit on the Burwell Sports Federation as a Burwell Parish Council observer, , where I recently became secretary.
In 2018 I formed Burwell Bike Club, which now has approaching 300 members for which I am Vice Chair.