Having talked about the visit of the Bishop of Wakefield, I’m reminded of a very different visitor we had a few weeks ago. Thursday evenings are go out for a jog time at One 17. If you’re anywhere near the office between 5.45 and 7.15 you may encounter a very mixed bunch in various states of collapse making their way round the highways and byways of Armitage Bridge, Beaumont Park, South Crosland and parts in between. We are invariably led by Paul Dallas, a man far too fit for his age, who spends a big part of his time turning people on to the joys of physical activity. But I digress.
As we came out of the back door, Lycra’d up to the nines, a skinny figure with a shock of black hair, glasses, and a rucksack the size of a removal van, approached us and asked if we knew of a garden or field where he could pitch his tent. The fact that he had a strong French accent gave us a clue that he was not from round these parts.
As it turned out, he was a student from Geneva who had crossed to Dover, hired a bicycle (complete with trailer for all his gear) and cycled all the way to sunny Armitage Bridge. Why, you may ask? Well, our Swiss friend plays the banjo and it just so happens that Armitage Bridge is home to Eagle Music, which is apparently the UK’s leading supplier of banjos, mandolins and ukeleles. So there you go.
Emile (not his name, but one I like the sound of) spent two happy nights camped near our infamous pond, availing himself of our facilities and having his banjo fettled before saddling up to head further north. To Glasgow to be precise, where he was to have bagpipe lessons. Just another day at One 17.
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