History
Physical Culture Gym, Putney, Wandsworth, SW15 How many gyms are over 80 years old? Perhaps the oldest Gym in the World?
The Wandsworth Borough News DEC 11 1953
Her Big Family
At a party at Wandsworth Town Hall SW18 on Friday, 600 men bade farewell to 68-year-old Miss Margaret Grey, of Lexham gardens, Kensington, who took leave of her "family". The family are past and present members of Physical Culture Gym, Putney, of which Miss Grey is the founder and President. The club began in a church hall in Fulham SW6, with 9 youths and no equipment. Through the war Miss Grey kept the Club alive on paper - writing in the time she could spare from her Forces' canteen to Club members in the Services. After the war she found the present premises on the Embankment, Putney, and three nights a week in winter gales and rain, she has climbed the 39 iron steps which led to it. Now it has 1600 members, instructors and a fine Gym. She is happy about the marriages between the club members and the girls section, and about being godmother to so many children. Miss Grey has no regrets about not being married - "for now I have a family of 1600 instead of two or three of my own", she says.
After 25 years service
A re-union dance for Physical Culture Gym was held at Wandsworth Town Hall on Friday. Miss Margaret Grey, after 25 years service, is retiring, and the photo shows Miss Grey on stage with a T.V set from club subscriptions.