30th anniversary events

Everest Challenge

Everest Challenge - 100 local young people are going to attempt to climb 29,028 feet on our climbing walls.  They'll be collecting sponsorship so lets see how high we can go!  If you are interested in taking part or in sponsoring the team please contact the Centre.  

Dave King, part of the Sky High Everest team who summitted during 2007, will be hosting a presentation during the day. 

We've had to postpone this till a little later in the year so watch this space for more information.

Friday 20th June - Midsummer festival

celebrate the summer with the QE2 Activity Centre and a traditional German style festival!  There'll be oompah music from the Eastleigh Town Band and traditional German food and drink.  It all starts at 7:00 pm and ends 10:00 pm. Tickets are £7 (ten euros).

Sunday 20th July - sponsored walk

The Manor Farm Country Park is a beautiful place, and here's your chance to explore it while helping a good cause!  The good cause is, of course, the QE2 Activity Centre and you can help by collecting sponsorship and going for a walk. Or you could jog, or run.  You can bring the dog and the kids if you like.

For those who want to find out about the history of the woods that make up the Country Park you can even take part in a sponsored guided walk!  A Hamble Valley Heritage Guide will be on hand to lead a walk around the route pointing out all the interesting bits.  And believe me there's plenty of interesting bits.

There's a five kilometre route, starting at the Activity Centre.  You can start walking anytime you like from 10:00 onwards.  If you'd like to take part in the Heritage Guide walk it will start at 10:30.

Everyone is welcome to come along - so grab your friends, your work colleagues, your classmates and lets make this an event to remember!  There's no age limit and there will be an alternative shorter, more accessible course.

If you are interested in joining us please contact the Centre.

opening of qe2 activity centre

In 1977 local authorities throughout Great Britain were invited to celebrate twenty five years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. In some towns or boroughs this amounted to a park bench with a plaque or a street party; Eastleigh Borough in Hampshire wanted to do something more imaginative and lasting.

One proposal by a local man, Chris Gardiner, was for a riding school for people with disabilities.  This idea was fleshed out and became a broader multi-activity centre for people with physical or learning disabilities.  Chris knew the benefit of participation in outdoor activities from a lifetime of involvement, in the army, in youth work and running a sailing school.

Funds were raised, a site was chosen on Hampshire County Council land at Cricket Camp, Bursledon, building began and before the end of Her Majesty's Jubilee Year (which ran from April 1977 to March 31st 1978) the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre was complete.

The opening ceremony was performed by HRH Princess Margaret on March 29th 1978.

left to right:

Cllr Joe Sanders, Mayor of Eastleigh; Cllr Godfrey Olson, Chair of Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre; Lord Malmesbury, Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire; Chris Gardiner, Warden of Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre; HRH Princess Margaret.  If you are the man in uniform or the little girl please get in touch!