April 2010
The UK’s No 1 fitness industry magazine
Members reveal the naked truth
Gym boss attacked by armed gang By Mary Ferguson A GYM manager has spoken of his ordeal after being ambushed at knifepoint by masked robbers. It is believed they thought Paul Crabbe had been on his way to bank the weekly takings from his Altered Images gym in Pudsey, West Yorkshire – when in fact he was just going to the shop. When he told his attackers – one of them armed with a machete – that he was not carrying any cash, he was hit on the leg with an iron bar. The robbers fled empty-handed before Paul managed to stagger back into the gym to raise the alarm Paul – who believes the attack had been planned by someone who knew his weekly routine – told Workout: “Someone has obviously been watching me but it’s strange it happened at that time as I usually take the cash later in the day – I only left the gym at 9am because I needed to pop to the shops. And I didn’t have any money on me, so I had nothing to give them. “They were lurking behind a big
AN independent gym encouraged its members to get cheeky by posing naked for a poster campaign. Well-Fit, based in Bromsgrove and owned by Francesca Palama, plastered images around the town of staff and members with the strapline ‘fitness stripped bare’, to promote the gym’s no-frills approach to getting fit. Francesca said the adverts, which protected people’s modesty with clever camera angles, generated business as well as complaints. Full story, Page 4
wheelie bin and jumped in front of me as soon as I stepped out of the door. “Luckily I’ve only got a big bruise on my leg and I know it wasn’t a personal attack because if it was, they would have come for me late at night.” There were a handful of members using the gym when the incident happened, but no-one witnessed the ambush.
Food for fitness
Since the attack, CCTV has been installed outside the back entrance, to add to the cameras at the front and inside the gym, which is owned by Ken Brook. Paul claimed none of the gym members have been shaken by the incident, as most are large men serious about bodybuilding – and not easily intimidated. “It was all over the local papers and radio when it happened so the news spread like wildfire. “I’ve had quite a bit of teasing from members actually, although I’m sure it would be different if I had been seriously injured.”
No 199 £3
Gym owner Andy Bourne has revealed how he makes a success of Xpect Health and Fitness. After six years of operation, business at the Essex-based club is strong and Andy told Workout that being an independent gym with the professionalism of a chain helps them stand out from the crowd. Full feature, Page 20
A WOMEN'S gym in Gloucester city centre waived its joining fee in exchange for a shopping bag full of food. Throughout March, Curves Gym asked people to donate a bag of non-perishable food items, which they then donated to the city’s Food Bank, a charity which offers immediate support to people in crisis in the area. The usual joining fee at the club is £119. Owner Penny Foster said: “It's a win-win situation for everyone and we were very proud to participate."