Borough’s first outdoor gym and running circuit

Date published: 30 November 2011

Radcliffe has the borough’s first outdoor gym and a running circuit, named The Terry Nortley Mile, for residents of all ages to get fit and have fun.

The outdoor gym project was put together by the Friends of Close Park, working with Bury Council, after winning £39,771 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Community Spaces programme. The project comprises five pieces of gym equipment from the company Playfit: an elliptical trainer, machines for walking and twisting, and two massage machines, plus some small scale landscaping. The installation was carried out by Draxeda Construction.

On Sunday 27 November the official opening took place of the gym equipment, by PCSO Norman Taylor, and the unveiling of the plaque for the Terry Nortley Mile by his wife Vera and son Chris.

After the plaque had been unveiled Terry's family and friends joined a large group of runners from various clubs in the mile jog and walk set off by Terry's son.

Radcliffe AC members turned out in force to run round a mile circuit in Close Park in memory of their club president Terry Nortley.

The specially set out mile is a running initiative by Bury Council in conjunction with the club whose members helped out once a week to encourage beginners to start jogging. With the assistance of The Friends of Close Park it had been decided the mile run would be named after Terry. He had been a regular visitor to the Tuesday evening sessions, sitting on a bench to watch and give advice. He was to have attended the unveiling himself but sadly had died at his home the Sunday before at the age of 82.

On Monday more than 250 people, including many from the running fraternity, attended Terry's funeral at the East Lancs Crematorium in Radcliffe.