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Outdoor gym opens in honour of Darth Vader actor

Harrison GallivenLocal Democracy Reporting Service
LDRS A group of people use the outdoor bar‑based fitness structure in a park. Some individuals are hanging from the bars, one is positioned upside down, and another is holding themselves above the bar. Others stand or lean on various parts of the structure. The scene takes place on a rubber‑surfaced exercise area with trees and grass in the background.LDRS
David Prowse moved to Addiscombe in the 1960s and was an advocate for wellbeing and fitness

A new outdoor fitness gym has opened in south London named after David Prowse, the actor who played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy.

The David Prowse Gym also recognises the actor's long-standing connection to the Addiscombe area in Croydon and his work promoting fitness and well-being in the community.

Located in Addiscombe Recreation Ground, the workout space has been designed as a free, accessible space for people of all ages and abilities.

The gym will, perhaps unsurprisingly, formally open on 4 May - also celebrated by by science fiction fans as Star Wars Day.

LDRS Prowse in a short, light‑coloured hair is seated indoors at a table, wearing a light blue polo shirt. Behind the person are tables, signs, and other individuals in a softly lit room, suggesting a public event or gathering. One sign in the background contains text in blue lettering.LDRS
David Prowse died in 2020

The decision to name the gym after Prowse was proposed by Addiscombe & Shirley Park Residents' Association and approved by Croydon mayor Jason Perry.

Born in Bristol in 1935, Prowse moved to Addiscombe in 1963 and died in 2020 aged 85.

Perry said: "David Prowse was a true local legend, not just for what he achieved on screen, but for the way he inspired people to stay active and give back to their community."

While best known internationally for Star Wars, he was also widely recognised in the UK as the Green Cross Code Man, teaching road safety to generations. Locally, he was a familiar figure who promoted healthy living and community spirit.

The gym is part of Croydon Council's wider investment in parks, aimed at encouraging more outdoor activity.

Local fitness group Croydon Calisthenics helped shape the design of the bar-based gym. The group has evolved from informal meet-ups into an organised community interest company.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service earlier this month, founder Theo Dopson said: "I got a little bit of say in the design, and told them to add another bar on to it."

LDRS Theo Dopson wearing a dark hoodie stands in the foreground of an outdoor fitness area. Behind this person, several others are gathered around metal workout bars. The ground is covered with rubber safety surfacing, and leafless trees and nearby houses can be seen in the background on an overcast day.LDRS
Theo Dopson started calisthenics in Croydon

"Some of my people are beginners and they will struggle to even jump up because of how high it is," he said.

Dopson described how the group grew organically. "Croydon Calisthenics started from me and the boys working out in the park," he said.

He added: "There was a lot of people that would come through and randomly do their own workout on their own bar, so I thought why not put it all together and create something like this."

Further park upgrades are expected as part of the council's long-term strategy to revitalise public spaces.

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