flashback 20 years...

This story caught my eye last week, it revolves around a pub that survived the Blitz only to be knocked down illegally has been rebuilt, brick by brick, exactly how it was before.
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The Carlton Tavern in Maida Vale had been bulldozed by developers looking to convert the space into flats in 2015 despite community resistance.
But campaigners and English Heritage appealed to Westminster Council, who unbelievably heeded their residents’ demands and told the developers to replace every single brick.

This is a picture of Personal Best Studio from February 2001, before floors, fixtures and fittings and gym equipment had been installed. Paul Bradley, the original owner of PB and I had studied together in Cheltenham, headed off in different directions, before the move to South Woodchester.
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I had given up a 10-year teaching career to follow a new path at PB. With the promise of a few clients, no website, no marketing, we set about building a client base. Word got out, reputation grew and before long we were busy and taking on another trainer.
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I left PB after 3 years and headed back to the South Coast, I had bought a house with a self-contained annexe/gym in the back garden, with a large mortgage, zero clients, but a lot of enthusiasm and still no website, I set about growing a business.

​Within a year I was busy and had met Kristine, (but not together yet). A year later, PB was up for sale and I decided to buy the business. After a year and a half of commuting between the two, I finally sold up the house, Kristine sold her clinic and I moved back to the Cotswolds with Kristine in tow.
Since then, Kristine and I have grown our team, our client base, our business, and our family! Lockdown has been comparable to the demolition of the Carlton Tavern. We have had to watch all those years of risk taking, work, investment and time being taken away brick by brick. 

But, just like the Carlton Tavern in Maida Vale, with thanks to our team, our clients, and your support, we will rebuild, we will grow back, and we will flourish in the months ahead. ​