“You used to be able to see it from miles around because there was nothing else around it,” recalls Rose. “Now, with everything that has been built since – the stadium, the housing, the supermarket – you can barely see the top of it, which has to be a good thing.”
“I started to work here on casual basis about 10 years ago when they needed help at one of the cycling World Cups. I was a care worker at the time – my passion is caring for people – but I was looking for some extra part-time work.”
I really like working here because there is so much variety... no two days are the same.
A back injury following a car crash meant Rose was no longer able to lift the elderly people she cared for and so she came back to the Velodrome again where she eventually became catering supervisor. “I really like working here because there is so much variety... no two days are the same.”
In her time at The National Cycling Centre, Rose, who lives close by in Clayton, has helped to feed and water thousands of visitors as well as hundreds of athletes and celebrities. “I’ve met lots of famous people, politicians and even royalty,” says Rose.
“Edward and Sophie have been here and I’ve even met Sir Alex Ferguson. And then there are our own stars who we’ve seen achieve great things over the years: Sir Chris Hoy – we still just call him Chris – and Victoria Pendleton and all the other great cyclists. They’re just like us, there’s no airs and graces and they all use our canteen.”
Why choose the National Cycling Centre?
“We have the fantastic World Cup and Revolution cycling events as well as
badminton, indoor rowing and netball. We even have events like the Bikes and Bits event – a jumble sale for bikes. The BMX stadium will be great and having a Metrolink stop close by will be a big benefit.”
www.nationalcyclingcentre.com