Hundreds flock to Hobbies Exhibition
More than 220 visitors attended the Goole and District Hobbies Exhibition in search
of new hobbies, volunteering opportunities and organisations to join.
Goole Civic Society revived the event, which was once a popular fixture of Goole’s
annual calendar, and 30 stalls took over The Courtyard, Goole, on Saturday (August
9 th ).
It was opened by the Mayor of Goole, Councillor James Cooper, who stressed how
important arts, hobbies and sport were to the life of the town. He commended the
Civic Society for organising a fantastic event and bringing so many organisations
together.
The Mayor toured the stalls and was asked to judge the best for a special award. He
said he found it difficult to choose just one, adding: “I could give it to 10”.
He decided on Goole Gymnastics Club, which was founded 42 years ago by Peter
and June Brooke, who still run it with their daughter Peta.
Thousands of youngsters have passed through the club, now based in First Avenue,
many competing in national and international competitions. The club’s stall included
an array of trophies won by club members in the last 12 months.
Councillor Cooper praised the Brookes for having such a positive impact on children
for so many years. He said: “If you get children into things as early as possible, it will
stay with them.”
The Mayor also gave a special mention to the work of Men In Sheds.
To accompany the exhibition, the Civic Society created a Goole & District Hobby &
Leisure Directory, listing details of 30 local community organisations and clubs.
Copies will be made available from Goole Library.
The Chair of Goole Civic Society, Margaret Hicks-Clarke, said: “It has been a long-
time ambition to relaunch the Hobbies Exhibition, which was hosted successfully for
many years by the Rotary Club. We are pleased to see how well attended it was and
to receive such positive feedback from exhibitors and visitors.

“I’d like to give special thanks to Stephen Walker, one of our trustees, who threw
himself into getting this event off the ground, applying for funding, contacting so
many wonderful organisations and making it such a success on the day.
“I’d also like to thank East Riding of Yorkshire Council for providing funding through
the Do It For East Yorkshire Community Fund, HEY Volunteering for sending along
three excellent volunteers and The Courtyard staff for making us so welcome.”
The Civic Society hopes to run the event again next year as part of the town’s
Bicentenary programme. Expressions of interest can be made now.