IT WAS literally a case of triumph over adversity - and a glowing example of people power.

A few years ago one of Hampshire's activity centres faced almost certain closure because it was too much of a drain on the public purse.

But a campaign involving thousands of people and led by the Daily Echo, ensured the survival of Calshot Activities Centre at the windswept entrance to Southampton Water.

Now 21st century technology, and a £5 million gamble by the county council to give it a new lease of life, has paid off.

Sportsmen and women from across the world have been beating a path to the phoenix-like cen-tre after reading all about it on the Internet.

After closure was averted, the county council decided to rip away the rust from its former flying boat and seaplane hangars and completely refurbish them.

In went new ski slopes, climbing walls and a cycle track, while the centre's sailing and other facilities were spruced up to provide improved sailing and other facilities.

That work, done between 1994 and 1997, has enabled the centre to cater for the needs of Hampshire's schools, clubs and adventurous individuals.

But in the constant drive to increase its busi-ness, Calshot has gone on the Internet and its site it proving a winner, with a group of Icelanders rejoicing in this week's Solent sunshine after finding it on the World Wide Web.

Next week, while Hampshire's schools are on half-term, 100 youngsters from a school in the USA will be there, and the centre has also been used by enthu-siasts from other countries includ-ing Hong Kong, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Denmark, Spain, France and Holland.

"We searched the Internet and I telephoned a lot of schools but they either had no time for us or were too expensive. Then I found Calshot and it has proved to be even better than we expected," said Icelander Benedikt Tomasson.

He and colleagues Gunnar Arnarsson, Boas Valdorsson and Brynja Magnusdottir, all from the sports and youth council in Reykjavik, have revelled in the training they have been given at Calshot.

Small boat sailing, power boating and canoeing have all been put on the agenda and the group have been making use of the centre's climbing facilities as well.

Marketing manager Malcolm Holmes was quick to point out that the range of facilities enables centre staff -- Matt Garfath and Andrew Dickeson were the instructors working with the group from Iceland -- to tailor courses to meet the needs of the groups.

Centre director Brian Lamb commented: "We are delighted with the support that has been given to the centre by the county council.

"It has led us into a new era of being able to supply the best courses and facilities for the young people and adults of Hampshire.

"We are equally delighted our renown has spread around the world and when people come here from abroad they are impressed with the facilities." County council recreation and heritage chair-man Alan Rice has welcomed the outside interest.

"I am delighted that the wonderful facilities available at this uniquely-located centre are not only widely-recognised, but also well used.

"And we are not just talking about a group from Iceland. We are talking about people coming in from various parts of the world, some of them in very large parties.''

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.