AFTER 22 years of owning and running Kendal Physiotherapy & Sports Injuries Centre, the business has been passed on.

Practice principal Alison Bloxham has handed over the reins to co-director Richard Clarke.

Ms Bloxham bought the small part-time business based at 96 Stricklandgate in 1996.

At that time, the physio business occupied only a couple of rooms at the building with the rest of it being occupied by a marriage guidance counselling company.

In those early days, Ms Bloxham also worked at the Kendal Rugby Club covering training nights as well as at Sedbergh School. But in 2002, she concentrated her attention on the main business in Kendal and started to build the current team.

From there, Alison built the practice into a thriving multi-disciplinary business, housing not only a team of five physiotherapists, but also full-time reception and six complementary therapists.

The practice grew steadily and was involved with providing physiotherapy to the Ramsay Treatment Centre at Westmorland General Hospital, providing placements for physiotherapy students, and also pioneering a graduate training scheme for newly qualified Physios.

Alison also volunteered her skills as physiotherapist to the British and World Transplant Games from 2001, and continues to do so.

In 2010, Richard Clarke joined the team, coming from private practice in Cheshire, and quickly took a leading clinical role as Alison focused more on the management of the expanding business.

“There are quite a few mixed emotions,” said Ms Bloxham, who will leave the practice at the end of April.

“I’m pleased I can hand it over to somebody so will look after the business and take it forward, but I’m also very sad in that it’s the end of an era for me. At the same time, I’m excited at what lies ahead.”

When she leaves, Ms Bloxham added she plans on taking some time out to enjoy some travelling with her partner, George. She said: “I will also carry on with the transplant games and do some work, but it’s over to Richard now. I am very confident that he will take the business forward in the way it needs to be taken and he will do that competently."