HCS chairman David Wyles’ role in organising some great cultural events for Huddersfield

Huddersfield's historic George Hotel. Photo by @andyhirstpr

A running event inspired by one of Huddersfield’s greatest athletes will be held as part of a series of exciting events in Huddersfield town centre.
 
Called the George Hotel Mile, it will be held in honour of the late Derek Ibbotson who set a new world mile record in London in 1957 clocking a time of three minutes 57.2 seconds – a year after winning a bronze medal in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.
 
This is all happening because a consortium, created to prepare and deliver a programme of community-led cultural activities in Huddersfield over the next three years, has been awarded a £90,000 grant from Historic England as part of the Huddersfield High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ).
 
Huddersfield Civic Society chairman David Wyles has played an active role in the group and part of the programme includes initiatives he is co-ordinating on behalf of the Discover Huddersfield partnership (DH).

This will include a number of new and revised printed trails, the launch of a web app based on the 16 trails now in existence and support for further virtual trails being prepared in liaison with Kirklees Libraries. There is also a close connection to a further raft of proposals being delivered by HCS members David Griffiths and Christine Verguson, on behalf of Huddersfield Local History Society and the Kirklees Heritage Open Days committee. 

Huddersfield HSHAZ is one of more than 60 high streets to receive a share of £6m for their cultural programme. Grants of up to £120,000 have been awarded to local arts organisations for cultural activity on each high street.
The consortium, led by the Theatre and Arts Company CHOL and supported by Kirklees Council, is made-up of a diverse membership of local interest groups, businesses, and community organisations.

The programme will run throughout the year with the main concentration of activity in September to coincide with the national Heritage Open Days. Events will include the Woven Festival, local history walks and talks and a collection of ‘memories of the Square’. Events will culminate in a book, music, dance, and theatre festival, in particular celebrating Huddersfield Carnival.

This year a small festival of running, walking and cycling is planned. Hi!HAZ Active will include the George Hotel Mile, celebrating the achievement of local athlete Derek Ibbotson who broke the world record for fastest mile and the Tour de HAZ, a cycling route taking in local points of history and interest. Plus, of course, there will be a celebration of the Rugby League World Cup, with the creation of a Carnival King costume, that will feature at various events, including one of the quarter final games to be played in Huddersfield on November 12, 2021.
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This programme of activities and events is part of the High Streets Heritage Action Zones’ Cultural Programme, led by Historic England, in partnership with Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Cultural Programme aims to make our high streets more attractive, engaging, and vibrant places for people to live, work and spend time.