Most budding gymnasts would bend over backwards to meet a national coach.

So the visit of British Olympic team coach Nik Stuart, in 1976, was a great chance for Abingdon's young gymnasts, writes Andrew Cherrie.

He was officially launching the Old Gaol Gymnastics Association.

Here he is pictured coaching four of the club's 220 members, most of whom attended the opening ceremony.

Mr Stuart led younger members in a warm-up session, then did some training on the high bar with the club's two contenders in the Berkshire championships, Michael Stewart (under 16) and Jonathan Cobb (under 13).

After a display of his gymnastic skills, he spent a long time signing autographs.

Old Gaol coach Ian Hammond told the Oxford Mail afterwards: "It was a tremendous evening."

Gymnastics was one of many activities held at the Old Gaol in its more recent role as a sports and leisure centre.

It began life in 1805 - as the name suggests - as a jail.

Abingdon was then the county town of Berkshire, the centre of local government, and a jail was needed to house criminals.

It was seen as a modern prison back in the early 19th century - a place of correction rather than punishment.

It served as a jail for 50 years, until Reading became the county town, then began life as a granary for the storage of grain and wheat for more than 100 years.

In 1975, the building was converted into a sports and leisure centre, with a gym and swimming pool.

However in the 1990s the popularity of the Old Gaol began to wane as new sports centres opened, and it closed to the public in 2002.

The Vale of White Horse District Council has invited expressions of interest from developers who want to play a part in a project to revitalise the Old Gaol, and is understood to have received more than 100 replies.

Townspeople have formed a group called COG (Community in the Old Gaol) to try to ensure that the development process takes account of the wishes of the community.

One thing is certain - the Old Gaol still has plenty of life in it yet.

Do you recognise yourself or anyone else in the picture?