The Cast
Minus Dee and Norman~
Why? Read on ......
Photo: Merrian Lancaster

With an 'audience' of over 450 hot, thirsty walkers and runners expected at that well known theatrical venue, Weald Memorial Hall, BBN CP3 at 21 miles on the Kent LDWA Hunnypot 100 the cast must, of course, deliver a star performance whatever hiccups  may occur behind the curtains.

Expertly stage managed by our director and producer Jim, the well versed team of 14 BBNers and friends soon got hard to work. With keys to the venue only available three hours before the curtain rose they fathomed how to store a great deal of food (some chilled) and equipment in a small kitchen with only one modest fridge and no freezer and a small room half filled by a giant piano whilst leaving work surfaces free to chop, peel and all the other preparations needed to serve a walkers’ feast including wraps, dips and fish finger baps.

The original script was adapted to suit the available limited props which included a small microwave. Scrambled eggs proved just as good as boiled ones in the egg mayo wraps!

Concerns were raised when two of the stage hands failed to show. After cheering off friends from the start HQ, Norman and Dee had suffered a puncture en route to the hall. Of course understudies worked even harder to cover their roles but the water jugs in their ill fated car could not be so easily replaced! The situation was eventually resolved after Norm was forced to leave Dee and travel with the Green Flag man to a far away tyre garage. Hero Alan picked up lots of water jugs and a solitary Dee sitting by the roadside, delivering the essential equipment 10 mins before the curtain rose.

The stage was calm and all looked perfect as the first walker took their seat and surveyed the wonderful spread, There then followed 4½ hours of successful, well organised mayhem. Hands temporarily left their designated roles to 'muck in' as and where required. At one point it was feared that jugs and kettles could not be filled quickly enough from two slow, low pressure taps to meet the demands of both the outside and inside water/juice stations and the needs of the tea and coffee makers. Supplies were not interrupted.

Medics dealt with three walkers who fainted in the hall and sadly 25 walkers retired.

As the last walker set off to next be welcomed by our friends and neighbours Essex & Herts at CP 4, the great clear up began. Excess supplies which could be used at future checkpoints were collected by the food wagon but sadly a great deal of sausage rolls, scotch eggs and quiche were forced to be binned having, due to lack of fridge space, been out in the heat for over seven hours. A mountain of lettuce was collected, it seems we had received enough for every walker to eat a whole one!

As his team cleaned, washed, swept and tidied up, the captain produced a delicious veggie chilli and rice for his crew. Sadly the accompanying dips came without the Nachos which had mistakenly been put in the food wagon. The show ended with the perfect finale of the happy, tired cast enjoying their well-earned meal.

The next performance will be held at CP 3, Axmouth Village Hall, 21 miles on the Devon & Cornwall Jurassic 100 2027.

Dee Brockway