Gang Warily

 

 

• Gang Warily Photo Gallery

 

Gang Warily Recreation and Community Centre is a multi purpose leisure complex located geographically on the outskirts of the New Forest national park and coastline of Calshot and Lepe beach.

It was officially opened in 1986 as a community centre designed to engage local people within Fawley Parish; but through its popularity and demand for sporting provisions Gang Warily has evolved in to a multi functional facility.

 

It has become ‘the hub’ for all leisure activities and large scale events expanding its cliental across the Waterside area as far afield as Totton and the New Forest.

Situated on 86 acres of open space Gang Warily Recreation Centre is unique in its versatility of leisure provisions.

 

It has become home to many local clubs and community groups and its adaptability has led to many large scale organisations returning year on year (please see full events calendar).

Stephen Robinson, Facilities Manager at Gang Warily said

“that for many years Gang Warily Recreation Centre has been the best kept secret this side of Southampton and is the jewel in the crown of Fawley Parish”.

The Centre itself boasts an array of external and indoor activities including a 30 station fully inclusive gymnasium, three multi purpose third generation pitches, four court main hall, 9 hole pitch and putt golf course and many other exciting activities too long to list.

Within recent years the Gang Warily brand has become more widespread and is a familiar household name with the local parish residents.

 

Parents speak of fond memories of a misspent childhood while the generation of today engage in youth activities such as fishing, wall climbing, skateboarding and BMX.

Since its opening in Gang Warily has gone from strength to strength and recently celebrated its 25th anniversary of providing neighbouring people with sporting and community activities.

 

Many customers and staff past and present attended an official unveiling of a commemorative plaque to honour the occasion.

 

Pete Stevens Head Grounds man of Fawley Parish Council said

“25 years to the good and many more years to come”

emphasising just how far the centre has developed in that time.

People old and new to the centre often ask what Gang Warily means and why it was given such a bizarre and unusual name.

 

This dates back to a historic confrontation between the English and Scottish in the battle of Bannockburn in 1314 where the fast thinking ingenuity of the Scottish troops covered the ground with four pointed spikes (caltrops), and crippled the advancing English cavalry consequently leading to a Scottish victory.

Many years later the Drummond Clan who played a pivotal role in the battle were commended and granted permission to use the caltrops symbol in their coat of arms.

 

So the phrase ‘Gang Warily’ in Latin translation literally means Go Carefully. 

      
It was not until 1772 when the Drummond Clan moved to Hampshire that they acquired large areas of land in Southampton.

 

Part of this land was named ‘Gang Warily and when sold to Fawley Parish Council for the proposal of a local sports and community centre it was rather fitting to keep the name.

 

Boasting a Sports Hall, Gymnasium, In House Physiotherapist, Bar, Meeting Room, Indoor and Outdoor Changing Facilities, 3 All Weather Floodlit Pitches, 9 hole golf course, fishing lake, 3 full size football pitches and one junior pitch, climbing wall and small play area.

 

All the facilities area available for use and can be booked for private functions.

 

For further information on activities that are being held at Gang Warily, please visit the Gang Warily Recreation and Community Centre website.

 

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