Our Sporting Life: Celebrating sports clubs and sporting heroes in Hounslow and Ealing

Saturday February 25 to Tuesday August 28 2012

The Museum’s new exhibition is part of the build up to the greatest ever exhibition of British sporting history to be held in London for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is one of a series of Our Sporting Life exhibitions taking place across the country to provide a unique insight into how sport has shaped the country, its communities and people.

Brentford FC souvenirs

Brentford FC souvenirs

On Sunday, 26 February 11am – 4pm, a special free sports event in the Park will help launch the exhibition. The family fun day will have something for children of all ages, including making a sports medal, a healthy eating challenge and even starring on the mock-up of the cover of a sports magazine.

Brentford Football Club Community Sports Trust will  be holding hands-on sporting events throughout the day, including mini football skills sessions, short tennis, ultimate frisbee, cricket and boxercise.

Peter Crouch's football shirt

Peter Crouch’s football shirt

The green open spaces of our two boroughs have long been home to a wide variety of sports while boating clubs have flourished along the river Thames. This exhibition celebrates two clubs which have flourished in their communities for over a hundred years: Brentford Football Club and Acton Swimming Club (of which Leopold de Rothschild was a patron). It features three Wimbledon tennis champions from Ealing Lawn Tennis Club and the stars of the Brentham Club including cricketer Mike Brearley, footballer Peter Crouch and tennis player Fred Perry, the last British man to win the singles title at Wimbledon.

Other local sporting heroes include runner Mo Farah; cyclist Eileen Sheridan; and one of the founders of the London Marathon, John Disley CBE.

Also featured is Sir Bevys, a champion horse from the Rothschild racing stud at Gunnersbury, who won the Derby in 1879.

Come and share your sporting memories and the sporting heroes which have inspired you. Our Sporting Life wants everyone to get involved. Leave your thoughts and ideas at www.oursportinglife.co.uk.

Sir Bevys, the Rothschild champion

Sir Bevys, the Rothschild champion

Our Sporting Life has been funded by Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) through its Innovation and Renaissance programmes, and created by the Sports Heritage Network, which comprises all the UK’s major sports museums and archives.

at Gunnersbury Park Museum, open daily, 11.00-16.00 (and until 17.00  from 1 April), admission free