Did you know that the first pillar postbox in mainland Britain was erected in Carlisle? Or that the first pop band to feature on Channel 5 was the Spice Girls? Neither did we. We learned some pub quiz-style trivia from the "backstage" of one of the favourite community events in Hanwell: the Quiz Night at the William Hobbayne Centre!

Halfway through the quiz, we were summoned to the kitchen for serving. We rolled up our sleeves and started dishing out compostable plates with butter chicken and veggie chilli for the guests, who praised the meals cooked by chefs Sue, Mandie and Sue. The dinner for roughly 90 guests meant 7 kilos of onions to peel, and not a single tear shed by the relentless Hobbayne team!

After the dinner, came the time for the traditional raffle, in which GoodGymer Maria won a set of lotions and creams. Maria decided to donate her prize to another volunteer and walk home with the takeaway chilli with rice and naan in her hands. Meanwhile, the rest of GoodGymers ate their own portions in the centre, to restore energy before the final task: the clean-up.

After a long day and a succesful Quiz night, the Goodgym crew were in full speed to clear and clean the Hobbayne centre once the hall was emptied. Rubbish cleared from the tables, tables folded, chairs packed and pots all cleaned to eventually calll it a night. Sevan was quite creative when we found some small pots of sauce left but no more lids or containers left to close : runner glove was used(see picture). we all left with some curry and rice take aways. The Grime Reapers disappeared in the streets of Hanwell to go and find their beds.

One, two, three, four, five
Everybody grab the tables, c'mon and strive
At the community hub around the corner
They're gonna have some curry and a quiz
And they really do wanna

Set up tables like we did last time on our Hobbayne streak
I must stay sharp cos wooden knives are cheap
I set comfy chairs, table cloths, runners and markers
And as we continue the work is getting completer

So what can we do, not be bored
To us servin' mint sauce is just like like a sport
Anything spry is all good, let us run it
Before we listen to the quiz questions and try to guess it

Had prohibition hit the Hobbayne Centre's Burns' Night? Like previous years, set up involved preparing bamboo cutlery and napkins and pouring drinks to prepare for the Address to the Haggis.

With the cutlery completed and placed on the tables for the guests, the GoodGymers saw 3 partially empty whisky bottles to pour 90 shot glasses from. Hmm, there didn't look like there'd be enough.

As the first 2 bottles were emptied, 40 glasses had been filled. It was time to open the last bottle and the cork crumbled. A bottle opener was tried and made a hole through the middle of the cork. What to do? Find a strainer and a measuring jug to remove the "bits" from the liquid, of course. Necessity is the mother of invention and keeping everyone whiskied up was also a motivator.

Fifty glasses were filled and then the team had to wait for the next bootleggers to make it through police lines with a new bottle to finish pouring...

As the ceilidh got into full swing (pun intended), Steph Ducat and Iram teamed up with the kitchen crew to clean, dry and clear the dishes, while Kash commandeered a second sink in another room to tackle even more washing-up with help from Sevan.

Once the dancing shoes came off and the party began to wind down, the GoodGymers shifted swiftly into full action mode:

• Folding, wiping and stacking tables
• Stacking chairs as efficiently as possible
• Gently corralling party-goers away from said tables and chairs
• Collecting and packing away the wonderful Burns Night decorations
• Politely distributing leftover sweets (GoodGymers cannot stand food waste!)

Early nerves about running low on whisky were quickly settled when a record-breaking four-litre bottle made a heroic appearance. As the Address to a Haggis got underway, shots of whisky were speedily distributed so that everyone (except the children!) could properly toast the haggis. The performance was poetic, dramatic, and just a little bit violent... exactly as tradition demands.

Then it was full service mode. The team worked swiftly to ensure everyone received their haggis, neeps and tatties with gravy (or a vegetarian alternative). Maria, crowned the Gravy Queen, made sure every table was well supplied, while Steph patiently whipped up an impressively large bowl of cream in preparation for dessert.

Dessert was a mathematical challenge: dividing 80 portions of cranachan so that everyone got a fair share of fruit, cream, oats, and sauce. We did our best and, with only minor spillages along the way, the cranachan crew (Maria, Steph, Sevan, Iram and Kash) got the job done.

After plates were cleared (with thanks to Kash, the GoodGym muscle came into play again as centre tables were swiftly moved to make space for a Cèilidh dance. Little did we know we’d also be called upon to demonstrate the moves. It was a different kind of workout to what we're used to... and let's just say there was mixed success!