About our building

The Gym was built by the British Army at the beginning of the Second World War but taken over by the American Troops stationed in Bodmin prior to D Day. It is 80 years old but not yet ready to be pensioned off. The Bodmin Keep has an excellent short film on the site here.

The Trust saved it from closure in 2013 when it raised £50,000 to buy the building from the Town Council. “We knew we were on borrowed time when we bought it” said Allan Foad one of the trustees. “It was obvious that the roof would need to be replaced within 10 years and it looks as though we are just going to make it”.

With significant support from Sport England, who Allan describes as “simply brilliant”, and the late Ronnie Marshall, the Trust has raised over £300,000 to enable it to enter a contract with local builders KBM to roof and clad the building. Mark Williams, the owner of KBM, who has been a long-time supporter of the boxing club said, “He was delighted that his firm would be playing its part in saving this historic building for the people of Bodmin”.

The Trust is also delighted to have received a £54,000 grant from the Community Infrastructure Levy operated by Cornwall Council to install solar panels on the roof and store power in a stack of batteries. “This will significantly reduce our energy bills, our biggest running cost” said Allan, “and we are very grateful for the Council’s support”.

The Trustees would also like to thank Paul Riley of Aston Reef Construction for coming on board as their project manager. “We would not have got this far without him”, they said.

The Gym is not only home to the town’s boxing club but it also houses the Bodmin and Liskeard Rifle Clubs in a licensed rifle range, and is used by the dog training group and a martial arts club, plus it has a fully functioning music studio.

With the renovation in 2022, the building has been re-wired and heated, the changing rooms and toilet facilities brought up to modern standards, a new kitchen area built, and both a fitness suite and a multi-purpose room opened up.

With the refurbishment the name of Ronnie Marshall has been immortalised through the bar being named Ronnies, and the building being re-named as the SHED – Bodmin’s Activities Centre. Allan explained, “Everyone loves their shed and we will always be a bit scruffy but we will always be welcoming”.