GoodGym Stage a Stunning Performance to Avoid Making a Drama Out of a Weedy Crisis

The first thing to say about last night’s run is that we had thirteen, lucky for us and definitely lucky for the task provider! Another attendance record for Huddersfield GoodGym.....we are certainly on the up! Some Huddersfield old timers, Kati Law, Ben Godfrey, Louise Galvin, Heather Wilshaw Jones, Mark Donnelley, Wendy Redmire, Vicki Knight Phillips, Peter Phillips and David Bilton were joined by GoodGym newbie Rachel McCormick and second time GoodGym returnees Richard Byrne and Laura Merriman. It was fantastic to see so many people up for a run and doing a good deed in our town.

And what a good good deed we had lined up. Longtime Huddersfield GooodGymmer Louise Galvin also spends her spare time volunteering at the Lawrence Batley Theatre and had got us a great gig clearing weeds from its impressive courtyard. Seldom has GoodGym Huddersfield done job in such a stunning location. But as ever before the work came the play, and we had 3.5K curtain raiser run to get there first. Fortunately it was a very flat 3.5K along the canal towpath into the town centre, and making good time we arrived at the theatre a fraction after 7pm.

Without any drama and with typical commitment the GoodGym crew were straight into the night’s main performance, grabbing the available tools and swiftly getting on with the job. The theatre which was formerly a Methodist Chapel is arguably one of the grandest buildings in Huddersfield, with an imposing frontage and a large courtyard area paved with Yorkshire stone. However it is these Yorkshire stone slabs which gave us our task. Weeds, moss, dandelions and various other unwanted vegetation needed scraping from the cracks between them, so the crew divided into four teams of three and immediately set to work. It was actually quite relaxing sat on the stone, warmed from the August sunshine chatting away as we wheedled the weeds from the crevices. Fortunately the recent rain had softened the soil making the weeds easier to remove, and with so many hands at work progress was relatively rapid.

After 60 minutes of endurance weeding it was pretty much job done, and following obligatory group photographs to mark the occasion the final act was to run the 3.5K back along the canal from whence we came. A stretch in the sunshine and a standing ovation from the assembled GoodGymmers almost concluded the night, but a final encore was provided by Kati who had kindly organising a ten pin bowling tournament. Eight GoodGymmers contested the inaugural Huddersfield GoodGym 10-Pin Trophy, with Wendy Redmile narrowly beating Heather Wilshaw Jones to the title.

Thanks to all 13 of you who took part in yet another top evening, I hope to see you all again next week.