QE2 Activity Centre, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), provides activity opportunities for people with additional needs in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving conditions for life. We are raising funds for a new wheelchair accessible boat to be named Peter Gardiner, in memory of the son of the founder of the Centre.

The idea for the Centre came from Chris Gardiner, a former army PT instructor, who had also run a sailing school at Hamble, and was responsible for water-based activities at Fairthorne Manor in the 1960s. His son, Peter Gardiner, was born with Downs Syndrome, but Chris did not see that as a reason to exclude him from family activities including sailing, horse-riding and camping.

It was the pleasure and personal growth that Chris saw in Peter’s participation that inspired the idea for a centre dedicated to providing activities for people with disabilities; activities that may be taken for granted but were impossible to access, at that time, for many people with disabilities.

Forty years later the Centre has grown to become one of the leading centres in the country dedicated to providing activity opportunities for people with additional needs. There have been changes – including the name, which is now simply QE2 Activity Centre – but at its heart the guiding principle remains enabling people, looking beyond the disability and giving opportunities to achieve.

“Peter was a regular fixture at the Centre in the early years,” says Centre manager Phil Oates, “enthusiastically taking part in activities like canoeing and riding. In those days the Centre was very much a family affair, with Peter’s father running it, his mother Phyllis taking care of the evening clubs, his sister as secretary and everyone mucking in to make things happen.”

Sadly, Peter passed away in February, another victim of Covid, much missed by all who knew him. But he won’t be forgotten. QE2 Activity Centre is fundraising for a new wheelchair accessible motorboat which will be named Peter Gardiner in his honour.

“He loved the Centre, the woods and the river. This will be a fitting tribute to Peter and will make sure he will be remembered for years to come”.

If you would like to help remember Peter please donate here