..when Goodgym Waltham Forest are on hand?! Four happy Goodgymmers walked, cycled and ran to the Walthamstow Toy Library this evening to help the ever-wonderful Helen organise the walk-in craft cupboard. The Toy Library provides craft workshops and activities for visiting children and receives donations of all kinds of lovely creative supplies. From paints, pom poms and playdough to stickers and stencils, pipe cleaners and pencils, glitter and glue, you name it – the Toy Library has it. In fact, the cupboard was so full it was ready to burst!

Two hours of sifting and sorting, consolidating and amalgamating, packing, labelling and shelf-stacking, and the cupboard was, even if we do say so ourselves, unrecognisable! An organisational miracle to behold! Space was saved, clarity was achieved and Helen was beyond delighted. In fact, after all had left and she and I were turning lights out and getting ready to lock up and go home, she turned the light back on, looked at me slightly sheepishly and said, “sorry, but I’ve just got to go and have another look at it!”.

Well done GGWF – we did a good thing this evening. Special welcome and congratulations to Vicky on her first mission – it was super to have you on board.

A shining light was extinguished today for Goodgym Waltham Forest as we learnt of the sudden passing of Raymond Umunna, dear friend, Goodgym stalwart and excellent human being. Ray (with Julia) was the first Goodgymmer I met when I joined GGWF on arrival in London late in 2021 and he’s been at many of the tasks I’ve participated in since. We quickly developed a rapport of gentle teasing; he ribbed me for working too hard, I feigned complaint that he wasn’t pulling his weight. We shared a love of the trampolines at Cheney Row park, detouring a social run there one evening for a quick bounce. And a mere two days ago I enticed him to sign up for this evening’s task at Walthamstow Toy Library with a promise of mince pies. When I read the message today I simply couldn’t comprehend it. I went to the Toy Library numb and in shock yet in part somehow still expecting Ray to be there, smiling broadly and telling me there had been a mistake.

As always, the Toy Library continues to do wonderful and much-needed work, which is especially important at this time of year, providing a huge range of toys and play facilities for families in need, in a low-cost, ethical and sustainable way. This evening, new GGWF member Anna, her friend Eliza and I helped Helen, who runs the Library, to clean the toy store room and organise the many shelves and boxes. As usual, we made short work of the task and Helen was, as ever, hugely grateful. I of course worked hard (but not too hard!) for Ray, and tried to make sure that Anna and Eliza felt as welcome and appreciated as he would have made them feel.

While I’m not lucky enough to have known Ray as well as many GGWF friends did, he made me feel instantly welcome here and I will be forever grateful. He treated me like a friend whenever our paths crossed. His warmth, energy and enthusiasm lit up every task we did, with his trademark enormous smile to rival that of the Cheshire Cat. I know that Ray has very close friends at GGWF, who are reeling today, trying to make sense of this unfathomable loss. To them I send love and strength. When the place and time are right, I know that together we will find a way to pay a fitting and lasting tribute to him. For now, I sign off this final “run report” for 2024 with words I couldn’t have imagined writing a few hours ago: Thank you, Ray, for everything you gave. I know you will be greatly missed by many. I, for one, am struggling to imagine Goodgym without you. May you rest in peace, dear friend.

Four jolly Goodgymmers (and a bump – extra well done to heavily pregnant Charlotte for joining the task!) made their way this frosty evening to Walthamstow Toy Library for some festive fun, to wrap presents for Santa, who is apparently scheduled to visit quite soon, although we’ve no idea why as it can’t possibly be almost December already?! We were greeted by the ever lovely and brilliant Helen, who runs the Toy Library and supplied us with everything we needed to wrap lots of lovely books. We wrapped and chatted happily, good company making light work of the task! The Toy Library is always a joy and it was lovely to be back and once again able to support this incredible project, which has been part of the Walthamstow community for almost 50 years!

Sadly it seams Waltham Forest did not have any volunteers to help at this community mission

Unfortunately, no one showed up at 11, so whilst waiting I did a little bit of litter picking for 15mins (forgot to take a photo!) and then left to explore the William Morris gallery. I saw that I missed a text from Helen (11.09:)) but we managed to get together later for a catch-up! Helen then did more litter picking!

Part 1 of the report: On a sunny and summer-like warm day, I arrived on location very early at 15.40, receiving a text from Raymond saying he'll be late:) So I read the instructions on the door, asking us to knock on a neighbour's door who explained what needs to be done. There were some tools left, however a chain, broom and more green waste storage is needed. I got to work straight away and for 45minutes battled the ivy from one side, clearing the rotted wood of the trellis. the higher an thicker branches of the Ivy were a tad difficult for me to tackle so I left them. Still no sign of Raymond after that!:) So I finished up, leaving the other half for Ray:)

Par 2 of the report: over to Raymond:) With only a few limited tools to work with, it seemed like no time at all before the remaining Ivy arch was laid bare... After a quick tidy and a courtesy call her neighbour's I took my leave.