England Vice-Captain, Ollie Pope, opens Cranleigh's New Fitness Centre

Published on isbi School News dated Tuesday 11th of June 2024

Ollie, who left the School in 2016, watched home cricket matches and signed bats for younger pupils, as well as meeting the Girls First XII. Many of his former classmates watched him take part in a Q&A with retiring Head, Martin Reader, before he cut the ribbon on the new facility.

The Fitness Suite is a purpose-built extension to the Sports Centre, which includes a fully equipped gym with machines and free weights, four squash courts, a spin bike studio and a large dance studio.

In his talk, Ollie praised the School, its staff and facilities and thanked them for their role in his successful cricket career.

Guests gathered for a special afternoon tea and enjoyed dance displays and squash matches. The event marked the close of an exceptional decade of sport for Cranleigh, with a total of 121 team and individual national awards across 13 sports.

Cranleigh's reputation for sporting success spans its almost 160-year history, shown in a special pop-up sport museum. A fitting celebration as Ollie is the great-great-great-great-great-great grandson of the School's very first Headmaster, Joseph Merriman.