Introduction to Square Peg

Richard is a 47 year old husband and father to 3 boys. He moved to Huddersfield in 2002 after meeting his wife Jude in the Police Force where they both served as Officers In Huddersfield. Richard was a very driven man; dedicated to his work as a Detective Constable, a very keen runner and keep fit enthusiast, a committed and loving Father and also an enthusiastic coach for his sons’s football club at Hepworth United.

2 weeks after completing the Edinburgh marathon on 09 June 2012 Richard woke up at home with an excruciating headache, moments later he collapsed on the bathroom floor. His then 4 year old son, Oscar shouted his Mummy and Jude found Richard crying out for help before lapsing into a state of unconsciousness.

Richard’s diagnosis after arrival at HRI was not at all clear and it took some time before an urgent transfer to Leeds Royal Infirmary was made and Jude was told that he had a blood clot completely blocking his brainstem - a very rare and the most catastrophic magnitude of any type of stroke.

A pioneering procedure known as clot retrieval was made and for the following 72 hours the family waited to see the outcome, none of the medics expected Richard to live.

Richard did survive but was left locked like a prisoner inside his own body unable to move anything other than his eyes. 

Jude remembers taking their young sons to see their Daddy accompanied by some close friends for the first time approximately 3 weeks after his stroke. “I placed some football kits on his bed so that the boys were slightly distracted by the presents.  

Absolutely everything was affected by the stroke; Richard had to learn to breathe independently, to communicate (which he initially did via various eye controlled devices), he even spent the first 5 months of his stroke recovery without being able to eat of drink anything. The family had to get used to 9 long months of hospital visits in Leeds before Richard was eventually discharged and he returned home to his family.

With drive and determination Richard has made some slow and steady progress, his previous strong willed personality has enabled him to work hard at his physiotherapy and recovery. Although Richard now uses an electric wheelchair full time and is still several affected both physically and verbally as a result of his stroke this hasn’t stopped him in his determination to help others and enrich their lives.

Richard was awarded an assistance dog, a black Lab called Maggie in June 2016 from the charity Dogs for Good. Straight away he was determined to give something back to the charity in recognition of the difference that Maggie has made to his life. Richard and Maggie regularly collect for the charity at supermarkets, shopping centres and garden centres; Jude and the boys are usually roped in to help too. Jude said “it gives our boys a greater understanding of the work that this amazing charity do. The boys need to know that if it was not for people raising money for us that we would not have Maggie in our lives. Maggie is such a wonderful girl, we are truly blessed to have her and the way that she helps Richard is magnificent, she is not only good at helping but she is good company for him too whilst I am out at work.”

In one sponsored walk alone Richard raised in excess of 750 pounds for the Dogs for Good charity. He also likes to promote the charity and has attended the Crufts dog show as a volunteer in an attempt to highlight the good work that the charity do. The family have given various interviews to magazines and newspapers always insisting that any fees are donated to this charity too.

In March 2017 Richard was introduced to a representative from Disability Sport Yorkshire who through an initiative known as Opening Doors Kirklees was looking for volunteers to come up with ideas in order to start up community groups.

After considering several options Richard believed that his local church at Holmbridge might be the perfect place to host such a group; the church have an ideal room at the rear of the church with a kitchen, there is a large parish hall adjacent for hire for larger events, the venue is fully accessible with a disabled toilet, it is located on a bus route with a stop outside yet there is also a very large carpark and as a bonus the church already have a well established lunch group who use the room over a Wednesday lunchtime shortly before Richard’s group meet. In fact some of the groups members now join Richard for lunch beforehand.

Square Pegs was the name given to the group by Richard and this name seemed an obvious choice. The group is open to all and everyone is given a warm and friendly welcome. Richard hoped to reach out to those who were lonely, those whose social interactions and outings were hampered by a either a physical or learning disability, mental illness, anxiety and also to those who simply didn’t feel as though they ‘fitted in’ to other social activities offered locally. The group now has a regular weekly attendance of approximately 10 - 15 people and they engage in activities such as table top games, boccia, quizzes and bingo as well as group trips out. So far they have visited a local artists studio, the Holmfirth vineyard and they’ve even visited the hallowed turf of the John Smith’s Stadium and were shown around by none other than Andy Booth. 

The group is not only beneficial to those seeking social company but also to their families and carers. Members can talk freely about their daily challenges due to their illnesses which breaks down a lot of taboos surrounding what are perceived to be very harrowing conditions.

To give some idea of the dynamics of the group there are regular attendees who suffer from motor neurone disease, blindness, depression, anxiety and learning disabilities as well as other conditions.

The group is becoming more established as time goes on and they now have a regular timetable of planned events in addition to the activities previously stated. On the first Wednesday of every month Richard hires the large church hall for an all inclusive activity, recently the group have tried archery and next week are giving curling a go. “ If it is good enough for the olympics then it is good enough for us" says Richard!

Richard has also organised a well being Wednesday once a month where the group will take part in activities which enhance emotional and mental well being, next Wednesday the group are hosting a mindfulness session run by a local lady.

Members pay a small donation every week which pays for refreshments. Richard is attending a lions event this week where he will bid for some money to keep the group running, in addition some money is gifted from trusts and also Disability Sport Yorkshire.

Due to the funding cuts in Kirklees this group offers vital support and much needed company, the members rely on it so heavily for support and friendship.