Nostalgia: wander through Leamington’s sporting past

Top-class archery and lawn tennis, croquet, putting and boating are just a few of the competitive activities pursued by able, and in some cases award-winning, sportsmen and women.

And on Friday (June 8), there will be an opportunity to learn all about these stars of our sporting past in a free guided walk jointly organised by Peter Hunnisett of the Leamington Spa Archery Society, who supplied these photographs, and park ranger Laura Smith, who is partly employed by the sustainability charity Action 21.

Laura will be heading off from the clock tower at the Newbold Terrace entrance to the park at 10.30am.

The walk, which is being done as part of Leamington’s first Festival of Heritage and Culture, will last about an hour and a half. All are welcome to turn up on the day.

Laura says with the Olympic Games approaching fast, there’s perhaps never been a better time to revel in our spa town’s sporting prowess.

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Another of the many events being held as part of the Festival of Heritage and Culture will be two free lunchtime talks by Archie Pitts, vice-chairman of the Leamington Society.

At 1am today (June 1) Archie should be in the town’s art gallery and museum to talk about the restoration of the railway station.

He’ll be back in the gallery at the same time next Friday, June 8, when his half-hour topic will be The Linden Arches restoration project.

A timely talk as the eight Victorian-style ironwork arches now decorating the Pump Room Gardens - at least one of which is original - are due to be officially opened by the Duke of Gloucester, the day before, on June 7.