Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/4444/-1/133/
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Thoughts Of An Expat Living On Anguilla: Ronald Webster Park by Penny Legg
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By Penny Legg
OK I know now there are some totally mad keep fit enthusiasts on Anguilla!
The ladies keep fit session in the Ronald Webster Park starts at five in the morning and runs until six, which is when the police physical training session starts. My husband and I left our cosy bed on Wednesday to visit these two activities.
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Cyclist and cricketers
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It was pitch black when we arrived. The ladies, complete with mats and weights, were in the stands working out in the eerie shadows of the stand security lighting. This daily workout has been a regular feature of the park for five years. By the time many of the residents of Anguilla were just turning over in their beds for ‘another five minutes’ these ladies and their coach, Allan Carty, were full of beans after an invigorating workout and heading home for a well earned shower.
Talking of full of beans, Rob Willsher, the Police Physical Training Instructor, was at his perky best, as were the many super fit police officers at the park that morning. Taking the odd sip of his favourite green tea to keep him going, Rob led his merry band of police officers through a detailed workout that tested, but did not overreach, each individual officer. Judging by the laughter during the impromptu wheelbarrow race most participants were thoroughly enjoying their training!
So, what were we doing there bleary eyed and decidedly less than awake? Well, my husband wanted to join the PT session, (‘it’s time I got fit!’) and I wanted to find out more about what goes on in the park.
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Ladies exercising at the Park
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It had all started one day when I was playing tennis with some friends. We play in Ronald Webster Park bright, and what I thought was early, several mornings a week. My brother joined in when he was staying with us and I took my camera, meaning to wander around and take some random shots of the game.
As I was doing so, I realised that we were not alone in the park. In fact, there was a lot of activity going on.
A class of school children were using the running track and were practising running relay races. A lot of effort was put in as each set of competitors ran their allotted distances amidst much cheering and laughter from their classmates. Their teachers kept times, notes and order. I had not realised before that there was a running track in the park.
At the same time, I noticed the park keeper was busy. As we play in the park so often we had come to know him to say “good morning” to and he was very good at finding our lost balls when we had given them up forever. Now however, I stood and looked at just exactly what he was doing. He was meticulously picking up every stray piece of litter that had blown in from outside, been dropped or forgotten (sadly there was a lot). This was no half hearted affair. This gentleman, Stanley Carty, was conscientiously picking up everything in his path and his progress around the park could be marked by where he had and had not been.
I decided to do some detective work and find out what else goes on in the park. Accordingly I asked around and soon was overwhelmed with information. It seems that Anguillians love the park!
On a Saturday afternoon, chosen at random, I found that it is a quiet venue to sit and chill, perhaps eat a picnic lunch and watch either the cheerleaders working on their formations or the cricket players practising their bowling or batting skills. From the stands there is a good view of both activities taking place at either end of the park and one gentleman was doing just that, with his lunch spread out on his knees.
The young man on his bike was interesting to watch as he meandered along, oblivious to my camera lens, guiding his vehicle with his knees. Speaking as one who has trouble staying up on a bicycle, this feat was impressive!
On other days I have noticed the school truants hiding from the truancy officer searching for them. A game of hide and seek; amusing for the children, frustrating for the adult.
Our tennis group has learnt to keep an eye on our balls whilst playing as some of the children using the park come onto the court to ‘borrow’ them. If they want a ball they could try asking! Saying that, we have had other groups of children who would love to learn to play tennis, who cannot for whatever reason join the Anguilla Tennis Academy’s regular coaching sessions in the park, come and join in our game. This has been fun for all as the kids are fresh and willing to learn. We have all enjoyed ourselves.
Of course there is also the through traffic; people just out for a walk in the park. Pedestrians would rather take a pleasant wander along the edge of the playing field and past the tennis court than along the busy main road outside. Who can blame them when they could be witnessing a fun game or a group practise session instead of having cars thundering past pumping out their unwelcome pollution?
The park is named after Anguilla’s Revolutionary Leader, James Ronald Webster. On 30 May it will be the 40th Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution. The Anguilla Day Parade, held annually in the park, attended by the Governor and the Chief Minister as well as ordinary Anguillians, will reflect this unique day with pomp and ceremony. The park will be filled with Anguillians from all walks of life, from Police Officers to Cub Scouts, commemorating the day when the Anguillian people, to quote Mr Webster himself at the 30th anniversary in 1997, ‘felt the burning desire to throw off the yoke of oppression’.
This park holds a special place in the hearts of Anguillians. Long may it continue to do so.