Down in the park

I grew up in Shirley in Southampton and a large part of my life between 8 and 15/16 was based around Shirley Recreation Ground (Shirley Rec). It was here I played football during the winter, cricket in the summer (although the football usage during the Winter didn't make for straight uneven bounce!). In the summer, as well, we regularly used the 4 tennis courts (except during Wimbledon when you couldn't get near them). I climbed my first tree there, rode my bike there and hurtled down the sloping paths on home built go carts.

Over the years it has declined as generations of local children increasingly abused it, with vandalism and graffiti and it has a tired look.

We've still visited it, to use the play park when the boys were younger and to play sport as they've got older.

More recently it has started to show signs of new life, with a cafe opening and a friends of Shirley Park (as it now known) group forming to keep in a tidier way.

Well today they've hit the jackpot with the Lottery announcing that a £1.5m grant has been given to them and all sorts of things will now be carried out to "the Rec" so that further generations will be able look back and smile when they think of it.