London’s Bob Hayward YMCA – The Bob – closing after 60 years

It’s the end of the road for the aging Bob Hayward YMCA in east London – the oldest in the Southwest region – that has struggled financially for many years, the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario says.

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“We’re saddened that this news became necessary but coming out of the pandemic our membership levels were far below what they needed to be for the branch to be sustainable,” said Andrew Lockie, head of the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario. “And so it was a necessary decision, but that doesn’t make us feel any less sad about it.”

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The facility at 1050 Hamilton Rd. – east of Highbury Avenue – has struggled financially due to a decline in memberships, increased maintenance and utility costs, and overall capital infrastructure demands, the YMCA said Wednesday in a social media post.

The organization went through a thorough financial and operational analysis before coming to the conclusion that its Bob Hayward branch “is no longer sustainable.”

“It was built in the early ’60s. That is part of the challenge. Every year, the cost of keeping goes up,” Lockie said. “So membership needs to keep pace with that and sadly, it was going in the other direction.

“We would have had more members if we reopened the pool but not nearly enough to make up for the costs of running the pool.”

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According to its website, the Bob Hayward Y, in operation for 60 years, offers members access to a gym, indoor track, fitness classes and meeting rooms. The announced shutdown has drawn a slew of reactions from Londoners.

“Thanks for all the memories. Enjoyed my time there and all the wonderful people I met,” one person wrote on social media.

Added another: “This breaks my heart. The Bob has been such an important part of my life, both providing physical fitness and lasting friendships for me. The Bob and everyone there was like family.”

Gary Sage, 75, was lifting weights in the largely empty gym at the Bob Hayward YMCA on Thursday with help from Eric Seed, who manages the facility.

“I got my membership as a gift in June 1983, for Father’s Day,” Sage said. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

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Seed said the branch has many long-time members such as Sage.

Memberships will be transferred to the Center Branch YMCA on Waterloo Street in downtown London, a 20-minute bus ride or 10-minute car ride away, Lockie said.

Current members can use the facilities until Nov. 24, then they will be granted free memberships until the end of 2023, Lockie said.

“We’re hoping that many will take us up on that,” he said.

There also are YMCA branches in the StarTech.com community center on Bostwick Road in London’s Westmount neighborhood and on Sunningdale Road in north London’s Stoney Creek neighborhood.

Lockie said there are no plans to close any more branches and he hopes area residents take advantage of services and the pool offered at East Lions community center, a city of London recreational facility at 1731 Churchill Ave.

Bob Hayward was a championship-winning powerboat racer who was living in London when he died in 1961. The Y was named in his honor.

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with files from Mike Hensen

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