18 | Aycliffe Today Business
BOUNCE
BOSS
PE teacher Peter Ramsey has been appointed leisure manager
at the new ROF 59 activity centre on Aycliffe Business Park.
PE teacher bounces into new role at former World War II munitions factory
Words: Martin Walker Pic: Chris Booth
A PE teacher has taken on a new role
at the ROF 59 activity centre on Aycliffe
Business Park as the complex opened its
state-of-the-art trampoline park.
Peter Ramsey has been appointed leisure
manager at the family fun venue, which has
been built on the site of a former World War
II munitions factory.
The 38-year-old father-of-two left his PE
teaching job at King James I School in Bishop
Auckland in the summer to take on the
“exciting new challenge” at ROF 59.
“I saw it as a fantastic career opportunity
for me,” said Peter, who has also worked as a
school sport co-ordinator for Wear Valley and
Teesdale School Sport Partnership.
“I’ve always been keen on encouraging
young people to get involved in nonmainstream sports and ROF 59 provides
a brilliant venue for me to do that with the
trampoline park and climbing walls.
“My role is to get engaged with schools
and local groups. It’s an exciting new
challenge but I’ve already enjoyed getting
my teeth into it and I’m looking forward to
making ROF 59 a great success.”
Peter, who introduced archery and fencing
to PE classes in his previous school role, now
oversees two team leaders and four core
staff within the activity centre of ROF 59,
which has created 15 full-time and 20 parttime jobs across its 70,000 sq ft site.
The complex also features a maze of
climbing walls for climbers of all abilities including one of the biggest in the country,
standing at 20 metres tall - as well as 75
trampolines, a bar and a restaurant.
“It’s fundamentally a fun facility for people
to come and enjoy themselves, but there’s
also a serious side to it,” added Peter.
“Safety is paramount and we feel it’s
important that the staff interact with the
people who are using the trampolines,
and not just stood on the side waiting for
something to happen.
“Our staff will get involved, they’ll
play games and provide advice on safe
trampolining, which will improve the user
experience massively.
“Also, there might be really naturally
talented trampolinists or rock climbers out
there and they don’t know it yet. ROF 59
will hopefully help to discover some hidden
talents, so we’re looking at putting on classes
for some of the more advanced trampoline
users later once we’re established.
“We’re already seeing kids coming in to
have a go at the adventure wall who are
moving on to the advanced climbing walls
with Rockantics, which is great to see.”
ROF 59 has been built on the site of the
former Presswork Metals factory on Durham
Way South after owners Finley Structures
invested more than £1.1m in creating the
new facility.
Almost £750,000 was spent on
constructing a new steel frame for the venue
and a further £400,000 was spent fitting
out the inside of the new building, which
includes a bar/lounge, named The Bunker,
and The Blitz restaurant.
Finley Leisure managing director John
Finley said: “ROF 59 was designed for
families and of course the emphasis is very
much about people coming here and having
fun.
“But we felt it was important to have
someone with experience to run the activity
centre side of the business, and we’re
delighted to have Peter heading up that side
of the operation.
“His experience of dealing with young
people and teaching sport will be invaluable.”
Bounce at ROF 59 costs £10.50, which
includes socks, with sessions held daily,
Mondays and Fridays 11.30am-8.30pm and
Tues-Thurs and Saturdays 10.30am-8.30pm,
with Sunday sessions 10.30am-4.30pm. It’s
restricted to children aged 6+, but toddlers
sessions are also available.
Adventure Climb at ROF 59, which is four
youngsters aged from four, costs £7.50 and
sessions are held Mondays and Fridays (129pm) and Tues-Thurs (10am-9pm), Saturdays
(10am-9pm) and Sundays (10am-5pm).
Party bookings can also be made and
vouchers are available.
For more details about Bounce at ROF
59 or to make bookings, call 01325 728222
or email hello@rof59.co.uk