CLIVE TEMPEST is a Senior Resources Assistant with Audio Visual Aids in Union Road and he's the sort of person who enjoys giving others a helping hand - a lift in life you might say. For Clive helps run a weight lifting cub that in recent years has walked off with a few records one way and another.

Clive, who is 35 - and a friend, Dave Wallis - has been coaching at the club for four years now, four nights a week between 7 and 9.30 pm. Weight training forms only a small part of the 300 plus club but regularly attracts around 25 youngsters a night – though adults are catered for as well.

Olympic lifting, power lifting, and general weight training are covered as well as training for sport, body building and remedial weight training.Last year club members set no less than 107 new records, 36 British and 71 Yorkshire and North East Counties records - "they are not necessarily records we still hold, but records we set at the time," says Clive. "This year so far we have set 55 records."

For the past two years the club has won the British Amateur Weightlifting Association National Odd Lift Competition.

One way and another weightlifting takes up all of Clive's spare time - he is a British Amateur Weightlifting Association National and International Referee, an International Weightlifting Federation and International Powerlifting Federation referee, coaching secretary of the Yorkshire and North East Counties and he is involved most nights and most weekends.He has been involved in the sport for around 15 or 16 years.

And what's the big attraction? "I think it's a sport where one can achieve better development. acquire more strength and of course you can see this."It is not say like playing football where you don't always score a goal. And of course I gain a great deal of satisfaction from the lads doing well.''

If any members of staff would like to take up weight training by the way they can contact Clive on Sheffield 50174.

Meynall Club meet Monday, Wednesday. Thursday and Friday evenings.

From Town Hall Talk, Summer 1976 (page 4) (Sheffield Local Studies Library: 352.042 SQ)