West cumbria guide 08 February - March

FEBRUARY- -JANUARY MARCH 2018 DECEMBER 2018

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T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

The

West Cumbria Guide FEBRUARY / MARCH 2018

Managing Director Stephen Murphy

T: 01946 448 001 stephen@theguidemediagroup.com

A Word from the Editor At the moment I’m literally counting down the minutes of extra daylight each evening, in anticipation of the lighter nights.

There’s always a whiff of excitement around when spring is in the air. With spring comes new beginnings and a fresh bout of enthusiasm. And as Easter is early again this year (the eggs have been on the shelves since January, after all), it means that this February/March issue is practically overflowing with all that’s going on over the next few weeks.

Office Admin Manager Steffany Clarke T: 01946 448 001 steffany@theguidemediagroup.com

Graphic Designer Mike Proud T: 01946 448 001 mike@theguidemediagroup.com

It’s been a busy start to the year for us. I was fortunate enough to meet some real west Cumbrian heroes, from the hard-working members of the Maryport Inshore Rescue team (page 18) to the adorable Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs (page 10). Don’t be fooled though, these canines are cute but they’re tougher that they look.

Speaking of heroes, as 8 March is International Women’s Day, it’s the perfect time to Celebrate Women of Cumbria (page 12). The countywide project will see local museums mark the centenary of women first being given the right to vote. From medical pioneer, Edith Brown at The Beacon Museum and Dorothy Wordsworth at Wordsworth House, to the experiences of women in Roman Cumbria, at the Senhouse Museum in Maryport, exhibitions over the next 12 months will celebrate the inspirational women of Cumbria and the remarkable impact they’ve had on our county.

With all this and plenty more to inspire in the meantime, before you know it, spring will have sprung and you’ll be tucking into those chocolate eggs. Enjoy!

Sarah

Digital Content Manager Aiden Forrester T: 01946 448 001 aiden@theguidemediagroup.com

x

Editor Sarah Sinclair T: 01946 448 001 sarah@theguidemediagroup.com

FACEBOOK Advertising/Distribution Paul Seath T: 01900 448 001 paul@theguidemediagroup.com

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Published by EOL Publications, The Guide Media Group, Phoenix Enterprise Centre, Jacktrees Road, Cleator Moor, Cumbria, CA25 5BD. All feature articles and advertising is copyright of EOL Publishing.

Photography - Jim Davis, David Broatch, John Malley and our wonderful online contributers Cover - Bob Nichol

CONTENTS

16

F E AT U R E S 08

Nick Sharratt

14

Rosehill Reimagined

16

Photographer In Focus

18

Maryport Inshore Rescue

28

H E A LT H A N D B E A U T Y 28

S ay Ye s To T h e D re s s

36

Bridget Foster

FOOD & DRINK 38

The Old Posting House

41

Campervan Cooking

52

Ta r a ’ s T i p p l e s

18

14

M OTO R I N G A N D S P O RT 54

Sports Round-Up

56

KIA Stonic

W H AT ’ S O N 68

Songs On The Summits

70

Wo r d s B y T h e Wa t e r

80

Cumbria Coast: Haverigg

24

66 68

41 80

THE ILLUSTRATED WORLD OF NICK SHARRATT

S

arah Sinclair meets some familiar faces from her childhood, as Nick Sharratt brings his famous characters to Whitehaven.

Looking at Nick Sharratt’s drawings takes me on a trip down memory lane. There’s ‘The Illustrated Mum’, ‘Vicky Angel’ and of course, ‘Tracy Beaker’, among all the other characters I grew up alongside. Looking at them, large as life, it’s as if no time has passed since I was hungrily devouring page after page of best selling books by Jacqueline Wilson.

She wrote about uncomfortable topics, adoption, death, divorce and mental health and the characters were so vivid, I experienced it all with them. But still, I couldn’t get enough.

Who would have thought, all these years later I would be speaking to the man whose illustrations helped to create those very characters, ahead of his visit to The Beacon Museum this February? World renowned children’s artist, Nick Sharratt is a bestselling author and illustrator in his own right, having illustrated over 200 books and penned many of his own.

His partnership with Jacqueline Wilson - for whom he has illustrated more than 40 books, including Tracy Beaker, which sold over 35 million copies worldwide - began 25 years ago.

Nick explained: “Jacqueline and I were put together by an editor who we had both worked for separately. He thought I might be a good illustrator to work on the story of Tracy Beaker and I’m delighted that Jackie thought I could do the job. We’ve been working together for quarter of a century, in fact I’m working on a book of hers at this very minute.”

Jacqueline’s books and beloved characters are all featured in the touring exhibition, Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants, on display at The Beacon Museum from 24 February - 15 April. The exhibition tells the story of Nick’s life’s work, from boyhood to the current day, as an illustrator and author.

He said: “I’ve always wanted to be an artist, ever since I was at primary school. I was lucky enough to get quite a lot of encouragement in my school days, which is really important for children who like art. That gave me the confidence to think that perhaps I could do it for a job one day.”

His own favourite books growing up were Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Giant Jam Sandwich, and today he still takes inspiration from his own childhood, as well as from the children he speaks to and the world around him. He said: “When I write my books, I just want to create a book that is going to entertain and amuse the reader...

There’ll be lots of elements to the book that make it a really fun read.”

A good book is something Nick believes, can’t ever be replaced by the virtual world. “There’s room for digital imagery, but there’s nothing like sharing a real book with a child or a friend”, he said. “The whole feel, texture of the book and the turning of the pages together, it can’t be improved on.”

“I was lucky enough to get quite a lot of encouragement in my school days, which is really important for children who like art.”

N I C K S H A R R AT : T H E B E A C O N

Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants will examine how Nick creates his illustrations using various methods, from wax crayons and paint, to collage and computers.

Packed with interactive activities, from dressing up, to drawing, it’s a chance to meet characters you know, some you don’t and even to invent your own. Nick explained: “I’m hoping it will stimulate children’s imaginations and hopefully they will come away wanting to do lots of reading, drawing and creative thinking.

“Using your imagination is just such a fantastic thing to do. I’m always keen to encourage drawing as an artist, because I think it sometimes gets overlooked. To be able to draw is a fantastic thing to do. It involves all kinds of thought processes and has all kinds of benefits and advantages.”

But if you thought picture books were just for children, you would be mistaken. “Picture books are for all ages.

I’m very against the idea that once you are a competent reader you shouldn’t look at picture books anymore”, he said. “Any aged person can get a lot of pleasure and enjoyment from looking at picture books. Pictures are very important. Pictures are for everybody.”

Nick will be signing books and inspiring budding local artists at The Beacon Museum on Saturday 24 February for the launch of Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants.

For more information visit www.thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk

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A DOG’S LIFE M an’s best friend, the Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs have been saving lives on the fells for 25 years.

A few years ago two groups of climbers were stuck on Skiddaw, caught up in a winter storm. The Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs were deployed along with Keswick Mountain Rescue Team. What the team didn’t know is that one of the climbers had left one group to make his way to the other, unsuccessfully. Were it not for the dog, who as an anti-discriminatory air scenting search dog, had been trained to pick up the scent of anybody and trace them, they wouldn’t have found the climber, virtually unconscious and severely hypothermic.

“They saved that person’s life,” said Rob Grange, Chair of Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs. “But the dog doesn’t know, to them it’s all just a big game.”

Rob has been a member of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team for eight years, and a dog handler with his nine year old Border Collie, Rona, for five. All Handlers are operational members of Mountain Rescue Teams within the Lake District and as with the Mountain Rescue, Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs is a voluntary organisation funded entirely by donations. Handlers choose to train a searchdog to assist 10

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their own Mountain Rescue teams, as well as others within the Lakes and even further afield, in adjoining areas such as southern Scotland and Yorkshire.

There are currently 12 operational Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs and they will attend up to 40 additional callouts a year, on top of around 130 with the Mountain Rescue Team. The dogs accompany their handler on every callout because, as with the incident on Skiddaw, they always have an important role to play.

With noses thousands of times more sensitive than ours, their perception of the world is completely different.

Conditions that man would find challenging - strong winds, rain and cold weather - dogs actually find easier to search in and covering the same amount of ground in the same time as it would take 10 men, they save on vital time and manpower.

Then of course, there’s the impact they have on the casualty, Rob explained: “When a dog finds a casualty, they sense relief and their stress levels drop. It calms them down and makes treating them a lot easier, because if they are relaxed as a casualty, they are more compliant and we can get them off the hill much more easily.”

While any suitable breed can be a search dog, they are primarily Border Collies, Labradors, and Springers. However, it is the relationship between dog and handler that is a deal breaker, Rob said: “A lot of its down to the dog’s nature, but you’re grading as a team so it’s how the handler and the dog work together.”

Training usually starts when the dog is one year old and can take anywhere from two to four years, with the help of volunteers, or “dogs bodies” who, during exercises, lie out on the fells and wait to be found. The team must succeed at a minimum of 14 assessments in order to complete the grading procedure. “They are incredibly reliable,” Rob continued. “If there’s a body there and the handler gets the dog into the right position to be able to clear the area, the dog will find them. If you don’t have that confidence as a handler, you would take yourself off the list.”

It may not be a walk in the park, but the experience is incredibly rewarding for both man and dog, Rob explained: “It is a truly amazing experience when your dog disappears, comes back and barks at you to indicate they’ve found something and then takes you off to the body...When that happens and you had no idea there was somebody there, it’s quite amazing.”

Rob’s nine week old Collie Broch, will also train to be a Lake District Mountain Rescue Dog when he grows up, he added: “It’s that love of having a dog and wanting to work with dogs and the feeling you get from watching the dog work and watching it thoroughly enjoy what it’s doing. Because to them, it really is the best game in the world.”

For more information and to donate visit www.lakes-searchdogs.org

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F E AT U R E

Celebrating Women of Cumbria

O

ne hundred years after women were first given the right to vote, a unique collaboration will celebrate the many inspiring, and unsung, women of Cumbria.

From pioneering suffragists, to medical marvels, a number of women well worthy of celebration have come from Cumbria, yet still go unrecognised next to their male counterparts.

Now in 2018, the centenary of the first British women being given the vote, a new project is set to inspire the young women of the county today.

A major artistic collaboration, Celebrating Women of Cumbria is a creative project involving 11 local museums working with girls and women from Girlguiding, the WI, the Trefoil Guild and Soroptimists International. The project, which has been funded by Arts Council England, has seen the community groups work with a Cumrbian artist to create a banner inspired by their local museum’s collection. Each unique banner will be on display at the museums throughout 2018 and will be showcased in a parade in Carlisle on Saturday 3 March 2018, to celebrate International Women’s Day. 12

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Alongside this, a trail has been created by the museums which will reveal several stories of the amazing women in our communities. Throughout 2018, exhibitions and events will be held at each museum, to reflect on contemporary and historic roles women play in our county.

And there is something to be learnt for everyone, as the artist, Karen MacDougall discovered.

“I’ve learnt so much, I’ve been on an interesting journey, discovering all these things,” she said. “Actually seeing some of the wonderful and really inspirational Cumbrian women who have come before, who really wanted to aspire to all sorts of things and couldn’t see why they couldn’t do it. They went out of their way to make it happen, even though society was against them at the time.”

Karen, who also worked on the Hadrian’s Cavalry project last year, has delighted in collaborating with women of all different ages and backgrounds, she said: “It’s challenging, as an artist working with a wide age range, but it’s really interesting because you get different perspectives, particularly when all the groups are together there was a real cross-fertilisation of ideas.”

F E AT U R E

Karen continued: “These projects change people, maybe from this some of the younger women might think about creative jobs or even working with museums.”

With women such as Dame Edith Brown from Whitehaven, the founder of the first medical training facility for women in Asia, celebrated at The Beacon Museum; the Carrs’ Cracker Packers at Tullie House; Women’s Stories from Regiment at The Cumbria Museum of Military Life and of course, Cumbria’s suffragettes. There are simply too many fascinating stories to recount here.

Karen added: “Each museum has a different slant on inspirational women. We hope that lots of people will go and look at them all and enjoy what they find, because there’s a really wide range of interpretation that’s going to be on display.”

Women of Cumbria Events Votes for Women: Suffrage and Women’s Lives All Year Round, Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry Edith Brown: Medicine Woman 13 January - 25 March, The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven A series of exhibitions at the Wordsworth Museum Throughout 2018, Wordsworth Trust, Grasmere Spinning the Colours of Lakeland: Annie Garnett’s Spinnery 24 February - 3 June, The Ruskin Museum, Coniston Women in Cumbria March 2018, Tullie House, Carlisle Lorna Graves: Memories of Belonging 1 March - 1 June, Penrith and Eden Museum Tales of Dorothy Wordsworth and servants’ lives March - October, Wordsworth House, Cockermouth A Woman’s Place: Ambleside’s Feminist Legacy 3 March - 31 October, The Armitt Museum and Library, Ambleside

A Facebook Page “Celebrating Women of Cumbria” has also been created to offer a joint platform for stories from the participating museums. But it is also to encourage the sharing of stories of extraordinary women living in our communities today. Tara Vallente, who is organising the PR on behalf of the project, explained: “One of the things about the project is getting more people to share more stories about more amazing women across the county.”

Tara is hopeful that the project will not only teach young women about their local and social history, but to have a bit more faith in themselves, she added: “Now we are much better at empowering young women and girls to believe in themselves and I think they will be able to take a huge amount of inspiration from the women they learn about.

Follow The Drum - Women’s Stories from the Regiment 8 March - 13 May, Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life, Carlisle Castle Elizabeth Smith 1776 -1806 Blue Stocking, Linguist, Fell Walker 9 June - 9 September, The Ruskin Museum, Coniston The Lived Experience of Women in Roman Cumbria and Beyond June 2018 - March 2019, The Senhouse Museum, Maryport

“Some of these women were real pioneers, it makes any girl believe that she can change the world.”

If you know of an ordinary or an extraordinary woman whose story deserves sharing, upload a photo and the story to the ‘Celebrating Women of Cumbria’ group on Facebook.

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F E AT U R E

ROSEHILL reimagined

T

he redeveloped Rosehill Theatre is relevant for everyone - and it’s bringing high profile performances to west Cumbria.

It’s almost 12 months since the keys were handed over for the reimagined Rosehill Theatre. A two year, £2.7million redevelopment promised to bring an outstanding facility to west Cumbria, at the same time as preserving a local venue with a beautiful heritage.

Built in 1959, the original theatre was the creation of Sir Nicholas Sekers, founder of the West Cumberland Silk Mills at Hensingham. Referred to at the time as a ‘rose-red silk lined jewel box’, the theatre was famous for its striking auditorium, designed by Oliver Messell. As General Manager, David Jane said: “It was a beautiful theatre but the money was never there to keep on top of it, so the refurbishment was a real opportunity to get it to a place where it was much more fit for purpose.”

The theatre has been completely transformed into a contemporary, accessible venue, while preserving the jewel in its crown, the 200 seat, rose-red auditorium. The building now includes full access and facilities for both disabled audiences and performers.

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Rosehill is now a place where everyone has a home, David said: “It’s lovely that we are able to attract people for the first time, as well welcoming back old faces who have been involved with the theatre for a very long time.”

Meanwhile, the addition of the 60 seater Green Room restaurant, with spectacular views over the Solway Firth adds an entirely new dimension. In something which is unique in the area, the restaurant works in partnership with Lakes College, giving the next generation of Cumbrian caterers an opportunity to train and work.

“Now we’ve got this wonderful building we want to play with it,” enthused David. As the programme gradually gathers momentum over the next 12 months, audiences can expect more opportunities to utilise the building as a whole, with events that combine culture and cuisine.

And of course, a chance to see some of the very best quality of entertainment right here on the doorstep. David said: “It’s important to give people in the region that choice of performances and the chance to really engage with music, theatre and the arts.

“The way we approach programming is in terms of quality, we don’t just put on something because it is available, or because we’ll sell tickets - the acts we put on are the best that we can get.”

Richard Elder, Director With many years of experience behind him, Richard joined Rosehill Theatre in July 2008. Having worked for the English National Opera and completed a stint as Executive Director at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), after 35 years in London he returned north and the position at Rosehill fell into place.

Richard said: “I used to go to Rosehill with my Mother as a teenager, it stood for excellence and quality.”

Today though, it’s about striking the right balance between maintaining that standard of quality, while also making Rosehill as accessible and inclusive as possible, he continued: “It’s a much more welcoming and hospitable place than it was before, and yet the centre of it, the jewel in the crown, the theatre itself has been restored so it looks almost identical to the past.”

And he’s hoping to welcome a more diverse audience through the doors, Richard added: “Sometimes theatre is seen as reserved for certain types of people and certain income levels, what we try to do is encourage everyone to give all sorts of different forms of culture a try.”

Jon Fell, Head Chef, The Green Room The Green Room’s head chef, Jon Fell has been living in Cumbria for 14 years and has impressed in a whole host of west Cumbrian eateries. The Green Room however, offered up an opportunity for a completely new challenge, he said: “It’s a fantastic place, and an opportunity to be able to run a kitchen and restaurant how I’ve always wanted it to run.

“The fact that we were teaming up with Lakes College and working with apprentices was exciting. I’m very keen on bringing on the youngsters that we need in the industry and to try and inspire them. It’s giving something back to an industry that I love.”

In the open kitchen, Jon leads the team in cooking up old favourites with “a little twist” and an emphasis on the fantastic produce available locally. He may be no stranger to delivering a top quality dining experience, but the dramatic dynamics of the theatre are certainly keeping him on his toes. He added: “Luckily we have a team who really want to push it forward, because everybody sees that end goal, and wants the same thing - for it to be a success.”

COVER

F E AT U R E

STAR

BOB NICHOL Photographer In Focus I

f you follow us on social media, you’ll know that we are all about showcasing local talent and highlighting the very best of our region.

We are regularly overwhelmed by the quantity and quality of the shots we receive from photographers of all abilities.

Bob Nichol is one of those who shared his passion with us. .

Bob from Cleator Moor, has been pursuing photography for the last three years, He uses a Nikon D750 and Canon 750D to capture his stunning shots, including our cover photo, taken at Crummock Water.

When asked what his top tips for aspiring photographers would be, Bob said: “Don’t worry about gear, the best camera is the one you have with you, even if it’s just your phone.

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Bob Nichol “Read some material on composition and look at photographs you like to see how they’re composed. A good composition will often make the photograph.

“Don’t listen to anyone else. You will never please everyone, if you like the photograph you’ve taken then that’s all that matters.”

Find Bob’s work on Instagram @bob_nichol If you would like to get involved head over to @thecumbriaguide on Facebook and Twitter

...And here are a few more of our favourites from other contributers.

Tara Anne McGrady

Paul Hamilton

Jen Spiers

Chris Gouge 17

port of call

T

here are 60 independent lifeboat stations around the country and Maryport has been home to one of them for over 35 years.

At 10am on a miserable Sunday in January, Maryport Inshore Rescue Team are preparing for one of their twice weekly training sessions. An independent lifeboat organisation, the crew is currently made up of around 15 volunteers who take care of everything, from the maintenance and the training to the fundraising, on top of being on call 24/7.

Since there hasn’t been an Maryport RNLI since 1948, the Inshore Rescue Team is the first port of call for emergencies in the local area. Although there are lifeboats along the coast in Workington and Silloth, they are a 20 minute journey away which, to put it bluntly, “can be 20 minutes too late.”

“You never know what’s going to happen and where, so you need to be set up and fully equipped for whatever’s going to happen, at any time,” said Station Officer, Mike Messenger.

“It took us 11 years of meetings and campaigns to get where we are today, but we didn’t give up.”

Set up in 1978, they rely solely on grants and generous donations from the public. Cumbria Community Foundation have been an ongoing support, meanwhile their new station, which was built in 2014 was funded by Britain’s Energy 18

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Coast. Mike attributes this to the support of former MP Tony Cunningham and his wife, Anne, he said: “It took us 11 years of meetings and campaigns to get where we are today, but we didn’t give up.”

On 23 and 24 February, the team will celebrate the annual Go Orange Day, a national event set up to raise awareness of independent lifeboat stations around the UK. Events held at the station and The Wave in Maryport will help to raise the vital funds needed to keep them afloat.

Mike continued: “It can be challenging, we operate differently to the RNLI because it’s the same people doing everything to keep this place running. It’s hard work, but it’s good.”

As well as operating the lifeboat, the team are trained in Swift Water Rescue and run a smaller boat and two emergency vehicles, for responding to inland flood and swift water rescues and searches. Callouts can range from anything from five to 20 in a year, with last year totalling 23. Training Officer, Gary Hampson said: “You don’t know what you’re turning up to when you get that call to get you out of bed, you don’t know what you’re turning up to until you’re there, which makes it all interesting.”

F E AT U R E

The team were heavily involved in rescue efforts in the floods of both 2009 and Storm Desmond in 2015. As well as Maryport, they covered Aspatria, Cockermouth, Penrith and Carlisle, with some members out for five days straight.

Gary said: “The floods were mentally challenging as well as physically...but the relief on people’s faces when you turned up at the door to bring them out.”

It can be challenging and time consuming, with a great deal of training provided to ensure they are prepared for every eventuality. But they promise there’s nothing like that initial adrenaline rush when you get the call at 2am.

And it wasn’t just the people who were pleased to see their boat, Gary added: “I think we turned into Noah’s Ark at one stage, one particular boat load had two parrots, two dogs, a mouse, even a spider in. You don’t know what you’re going to but it was nice for us to be there.”

Follow @maryportrescue on Facebook for updates.

For more information contact 01900 812225 or visit www.maryportrescue.co.uk

Gary added: “Each one is potentially someone’s life, that’s what you’ve got to think about at the end of the day.”

Meanwhile back in their day jobs, the team boasts a wide range of trades between them, from plumbers to printers.

Some have previous affiliations with the sea, although many do not. They all, however, harbour a desire to be part of an organisation which offers an essential service to the community and ultimately, saves lives.

Mike said: “We are always looking for people to join us, from all walks of life, male or female. You just need to be fit and able, with a drive to succeed.”

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F E AT U R E

spotlight on cockermouth

I

n the latest of a new series, highlighting west Cumbria’s towns, we explore why Cockermouth is the hidden ‘Gem’.

There’s more to Cockermouth than meets the eye, although it certainly makes for a picture-postcard sight. This historic market town, situated where the River Cocker meets the River Derwent, is the gateway to the less trodden paths of the Western Lakes. However, it is perhaps better known as the birthplace of not only William Wordsworth but also the famous mutineer Fletcher Christian.

In 1965, Cockermouth, with its pretty Georgian architecture, was made a ‘Gem’ town, one of only 51 towns in Great Britain to be recommended for preservation by the state as part of the National Heritage. As a result of which, the Town Council and Civic Trust work closely together to protect the conservation area. However, while in close proximity to some magnificent lakes, lying just outside the Lake District National Park border, means that the town manages to maintain its charm, without being overwhelmed by the tourist atmosphere.

As with many of our west Cumbrian towns, Cockermouth was once bustling with industry, from milling and weaving, to brewing and cotton thread manufacture. Today Cockermouth is one local town still offering an array of independent shops. From quality children’s shoe fitters, Goody 2 Shoes and unique homewares at White and Green to Limelighting’s dazzling collection of light fittings and every DIY need under one roof at the Lakes Home Centre (to name but a few). Despite devastating flooding and a lack of footfall recently due to roadworks, putting a strain on the town of late, local traders are determined to keep Cockermouth thriving.

Cockermouth Mayor, Cllr Alan Tyson said: “There’s something for everybody in the town, we may miss big outfitters but we make up for it with the variety and number of small shops that are really good quality and lovely little shops to go in.”

The food and drink scene is also something worth shouting about. For the size of the town it boasts an impressive array of cafes, restaurants, bars and bistros - another new addition, Koppers opened its doors just recently, serving up spectacular cocktails in stylish surroundings. And some would go so far as to say it boasts the best fish and chips in the region at Main Street Fisheries. Meanwhile, for the last 190 years, Cockermouth has been home to Jennings Brewery, producer of the traditional Lake District beer, where the brewery tours are as popular as the pints.

Music and the arts also have a prominent place in the town, with the Kirkgate Arts Centre offering a wide selection of theatre and film, and numerous musical societies playing a large part of life in the town. This summer will see another line up of events and entertainment in the and around town centre, from the famous agricultural show to the live music and entertainment extravaganza, Cockermouth Live.

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F E AT U R E

2018 also marks the 35th year of the town twinning with Marvejols in southern France and will see 120 visitors from the town arrive in Cockermouth to mark the anniversary. “It’s a record number for one trip,” Alan said.

“35 years is an excellent relationship.”

Which only serves to demonstrate how warm and welcoming Cockermouth is. And while there are many contributing factors to its charm, it’s the town’s spirit that makes it truly unique. Alan added: “What makes it special is that everybody knows one another. I’ve been here 40 years and I couldn’t imagine going anywhere else.

There’s a lot of goodwill in the town and that’s what we can offer.”

coming up in cocermouth 2018 Spring Fair - 28 May Cockermouth Carnival - 16 June Woolfest - 22-23 June Cockermouth Live - 29 June - 1 July Cockermouth Show - 4 August Northbound Street Party - 4 August The Rotary Club’s Touch a Truck Show - 9 September Taste Cumbria - 28-30 September Fireworks display - 4 November Christmas Lights Switch On - 18 November Taste Christmas - 8-9 December

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MEN IN SHEDS

MEN IN SHEDS

A

new community project for men in west Cumbria has proved to be just the right tool for the job.

Since it started life on the Mirehouse estate in Whitehaven, the Men in Sheds project has seen local men pick up their tools and pitch in. It offers the opportunity to gather in what is essentially, a larger version of the typical garden shed, where individuals can share tools and resources to work on projects in a safe and inclusive environment.

Taking its inspiration from the ‘Men’s Shed’s’ movement which originated in Australia, the Mirehouse shed was originally set up by Age UK West Cumbria to provide men aged 50 or over with a dedicated space where they can work on projects, socialise, share skills, or just enjoy a brew, in the company of others of a similar age. The foundations of the project lie in preventing social isolation.

“the shed was originally set up to provide men with a space where they can work on projects, socialise or just enjoy a brew” A report produced by the Campaign to End Loneliness has found that isolation has a comparable effect on mortality with well-known health factors such as obesity and smoking.

Compared with women, men are at greater risk of isolation and loneliness. Older men are more likely to be socially isolated than women of a similar age due to less contact with family and a greater reluctance to join clubs or ask for support.

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Projects such as Men in Sheds provide men at risk of becoming socially isolated, with a welcoming place to socialise, share interests and form friendships. And potentially with an essential support system.

In recent years the running of the shed was handed over to the Mirehouse Community Centre Association and in 2016 the Copeland Hub - a partnership which brings agencies together to tackle anti-social behaviour and organise community projects - began supporting the development of the project to enable it to offer additional activities and increase capacity. Thanks to the support of local businesses including Morgan Sindall Ltd, West Coast Group, Sellafield Ltd and Travis Perkins, along with volunteers from the community, the construction of a new shed and allotment took place at the beginning of November last year.

Jamie Reed, Head of Development and Community Relations at Sellafield Ltd, said: “I’m proud that Sellafield Ltd is backing the Men in Sheds project, which is a really innovative way of promoting wellbeing in the area. The campaign is doing a fantastic job to raise awareness of issues around social isolation, and is already creating a new sense of community and support for local people.”

He added: “We look forward to seeing how the shed we have provided, and our ongoing support to Well Whitehaven, will contribute to a better quality of life and culture in Copeland.”

F E AT U R E

The group has so far impressed with their handywork. Over the Christmas period, their handmade Christmas decorations proved very popular within the local community. Meanwhile their Facebook page gives an insight into the extent of their woodwork skills, with photos showing all manner of goods from wooden wine holders and children’s toys to bird and bat boxes.

Following the success of the Mirehouse shed, the project is hoping to expand its reach throughout Copeland. The Copeland Hub aims to roll it out to the rest of the borough through the introduction of a Copeland Shed Network.

Louise Coid, Manager of Copeland Hub, said: “There can be little doubt that projects like Men in Sheds add value to a community. But what makes the Sheds so special is that they are not health projects or social care projects for people with a particular label.

“You do not need to be lonely or depressed; you can simply be a retired builder or someone who has always wanted to learn woodwork.”

And just like the craftsmanship, the friendships that flourish are built to last.

To see the work of Men in Sheds visit their Facebook page ‘Men in Sheds - Mirehouse’ For advice on how to develop a shed in your local area, email copelandhub@cumbria.police.uk

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Money matters with the IFA

W

hen it comes to money matters we could all use a little advice, but would you think about seeking it professionally?

If you’re really invested in your future - whether that’s saving for a mortgage or planning for retirement - Lucy McKinley, Financial Advisor at the IFA Company in Egremont, has all the answers.

What is the IFA Company?

The IFA Company is a firm of independent financial advisers.

We’re based in Egremont and we advise clients throughout Cumbria and further afield.

I don’t have any money to invest, so why do I need financial advice?

That’s probably the most common response from people when they learn I’m a financial adviser. Financial advice isn’t just about investing large sums of money, we can advise on a range of needs throughout an individual’s lifetime. For example, a young family may benefit from advice on savings and protection policies whereas an older person might need help with pension savings and retirement options. Financial regulations and products are always changing, as are individual’s financial priorities, so most people will benefit from ongoing financial advice.

range on your behalf so it’s difficult to say without knowing about your circumstances. But we think it’s important to be as clear and affordable as possible so we our initial meeting is always free and we don’t charge anything until you’ve agreed on the fee that you’ll pay for our services.

I think I might benefit from some help, where do I start?

The best place to start is contacting us to discuss your needs. We can arrange a free initial meeting in which we’ll discuss your circumstances and financial priorities.

If you want to know more about the services we offer and the way we work, you can check out our website at www.ifaco.co.uk or call us for a chat.

If most people can benefit from the services you offer, why don’t more people use an adviser?

I think a lot of people have been put off financial advice because of the negative reputation of the financial services industry. We’ve encountered a lot of distrust as a result of the 2008 global financial crisis. We’re actually a very closely regulated industry, all advisers have to obtain minimum qualifications and maintain high standards. We also have to be very clear about what our services entail and how much advice will cost.

Talking of which, what will it cost if I come to you for advice?

The cost of our advice will depend on the products we arT h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

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F E AT U R E

TEXTURES Turns 6 K

eswick’s fabric shop is celebrating six years of bringing texture to the town.

From a single cushion, to a whole house, Textures offer soft furnishings for those who want to create something special with their space. For many local B&B owners Textures is there first port of call when it comes to furnishing. However it is tourists who snap up her designs and then continue to purchase over the phone.

Owner, Tanya Rothwell has been selling fabrics for 20 years, but her background in photography and set design explains the eye-catching window displays. She fell into fabrics whilst working in Spain, she said: “I love putting together colour and textures, I love putting together a scheme for people.

“My background in Spain was the holiday home market, so I know what works and what people are looking for.”

However, it has been a labour of love. The last six years have not been without their challenges, and Tanya would like to see local businesses supporting each other, she admitted: “It has been challenging but it’s worth it because I’ve had the opportunity to run my own business, and I’m still here.

“why jump in the car and go somewhere else when it’s right here on the doorstep?”

“I know that what I do nobody else really does, so why jump in the car and go somewhere else when it’s right here on the doorstep?”

Tanya provides her customers priceless ideas and advice, so they leave the shop with bags of inspiration, if not beautiful fabrics. One of her unique selling points is that she keeps rolls in stock rather than just selling from the pattern book, she explained: “That’s why people come back because they like what I buy. I always try and buy a bit different, a bit quirky. I like to source unusual prints and retro designs.”

Her fabrics speak for themselves, but it’s Tanya’s natural creative flair and eye for design that keep her customers coming back.

She added: “I keep a variety of different designs and various colourways in the shop. I listen to what people like and don’t like. I’m on Instagram a lot and I see what else is going on in the bigger shops, as well as on a local level. A lot of it is gut feeling to be honest.”

For more information contact 017687 80304

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Oakhurst Garden Centre Continues to Grow

A

Cockermouth garden centre is blossoming once more, after the passing of its owner last year.

The sudden passing of owner John Hughes in September, left locals unsure what the future held for the much-loved Oakhurst Garden Centre. However, it seems that the garden will continue to grow, with John’s daughter, Nanette Dolderson taking over the reigns.

After a spring clean and a reorganise, the popular garden centre, is back open for business, and customers are noticing the fresher new look. However, all the routine orders and lines are being continued - which is good news for the red squirrels, who are partial to a nibble of Oakhursts’ famous ‘squirrel mix’, and hazelnuts at this time of year.

Nanette, a Beauty Therapist, is continuing her treatments whilst learning the ropes of a very different trade. But there was never any doubt that she would take on the business, she explained: “These things kind of fall upon you, but you just rise to the challenge.

As well as the loyal, regulars, they want to appeal to some of the newer faces in town, Nanette said: “Our regular customers will always come, but we want to say hello and welcome customers new and old.”

The reputable tearoom will also be back open from 1 February and Nanette is hoping to soon start selling arts, crafts and gifts made by local artists.

She added: “I am looking forward to tweaking the garden centre and introduce some new ideas over the next year.

“Upon doing a customer feedback 99 per cent feel that the garden centre fulfils their needs which has been encouraging. I now have to strive ahead now and uphold my dads reputation.”

Contact 01900 822180, Oakhurst Garden Centre, Lamplugh Road, Cockermouth CA13 0QP

“I’ve got the support of the members of staff who have been here for a really long time and are all really supportive.”

Over the last 40 years, John grew Oakhurst from a small nursery into a flourishing garden centre and helped many people to nurture life in their own backyards. Today, open seven days a week, they remain dedicated to catering for all garden and outdoor needs. And with spring just about to bloom, it’s the perfect place to stock up on potatoes, spring bulbs and seasonal bedding plants.

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SAY YES TO THE DRESS

I

f you are planning a wedding in 2018, exploring the trends of the year is a good place to start. From the dress to the décor, we’ve compiled some of this year’s upcoming trends to ensure your wedding is a show stopper.

Last year saw the rise of metallic, a favourite being gold and rose gold. 2018 is set to withhold the trend, but with fashions delving back into the 70’s style, it seems silvers and chromes are likely to be popular. Another colour which has been splashed across the bridal runways is surprisingly black. Black bows, accessories and straps seem to be making a statement in 2018. Expect to see more black than ever before.

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TThhee W Weesstt C Cuum mbbrriiaa BGr ui di de e

By Danielle Murphy

WEDDING SPECIAL

Of course, lace will always hold a strong place at the top when it comes to wedding dresses. The elegant look of a lace dress is timeless and beautiful. But another material which is set to be a 2018 favourite is satin, Ailsa Taylor from The Wedding Warehouse in Carlisle said: “I think satin is definitely going to be popular over the next year, which I’m really happy about, its one of my favourite materials to work with.”

And as the 70’s is coming back, it’s all about Boho. Ailsa said: “We are seeing a lot of floaty dresses. Everything comes back around and the 70’s is well and truly coming back in 2018.”

There is no better representation of a bride than that of a veil and it seems two tier veils are also set to make a comeback this year. The veil can really make a dress and it’s also nice to venture back into some traditions, Ailsa said: “The two-tier veil is lovely and its nice to see some traditional items coming back.”

It isn’t all about the bride’s dress, the fashions for bridesmaids are also having a change-up for 2018. In the last few years we have had pastel colours taking centre stage, however this year it is the stronger, richer colours which will be making it down the aisle. Ailsa said: “I think we are definitely going to see more deep colours, lots of wine reds, and berry colours.”

If you are set to get hitched this year then we as always encourage our readers to shop local. Here in Carlisle you can find everything you need to make your big day special.

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WEDDING SPECIAL

the blushing bride

G

etting married this year? Our resident Make-Up Artist, Bridget Foster, offers her exclusive advice for getting your skin ‘wedding ready’.

Most of you turn to me for make-up advice and probably don’t think to ask about skincare. But before I launch into my recommendations (and rants), it’s probably a good idea to tell you a little bit about my training in make-up and skincare.

After graduating from London College of Fashion, I applied to work in my favourite store, Space NK Apothecary, a boutique store selling 60 brands under one roof, hair, skincare, make-up and bath and body. To this day, I continue with Space NK’s strategy of offering an “unbiased” opinion.

Products were expensive and exclusive, we had to know our stuff. Our training was fantastic,we were constantly learning and clients knew to trust us. I would say my time working for Space NK was just as valuable as my degree in make-up, as I learnt so much about skincare and make-up for everyday people and so many faces of different ages, cultures and taste. The majority of the girls working in Space NK were also freelance make-up artists, like me and we learnt from each other.

Your Wedding Skin Regime Six months to go?

If you are less than six months away from the big day, don’t change anything. Just exfoliate a bit more and stay hydrated.

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1 Year to go?

If you’ve got a year or more to go, you can start practising good habits. Many people worry about wrinkles and aging but sometimes they are dehydration lines and just simply changing your skincare can make all the difference.

Cleanse

The most important skincare item you should invest in is a cleanser. Your cleanser will ultimately determine your skin condition. Imagine putting on a £70 moisturiser onto your skin you quickly wiped with a baby wipe. What a waste.

Cleanse your skin properly and your other skincare items will work much better. Some cleansers strip your skin of its natural oils leaving you dull and dry looking.

I recommend a balm based cleanser for all skin types, even oily skin. Balms are healers and will heal the skin as well as balance it out so you can determine your skin type. Most come with a cloth to exfoliate and buff and you can apply the balms at night to nourish the skin. You may reconsider that botox or fillers you have been saving for once you really see the difference a proper cleanse can make.

Serum Serums are the product to buy if you have any issues, such as pigmentation or wrinkles. These work in the deeper layer of the skin. Your moisturiser works on the outer layer, protecting and defending your skin from life’s elements.

Mask There are three types of masks, so it’s important to know what you’re treating your skin for.

Moisture Exfoliate (glycolic peel) Detox (a mud mask) Some are a combination and often exfoliate and detox are combined. Don’t just buy a mask from social media if you don’t know what it’s treating.

But the first thing I would advise brides-to-be to do is to go and invest in a good balm cleanser. You wouldn’t paint a painting on a dirty canvas, would you?

FB video’s Bridget Foster Make Up & Hair Artist Web: www.bridgetfoster.co.uk insta: @Bridgetfos Photography by: Emma Stoszkowski T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

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WEDDING SPECIAL

countdown to the big day

J

ust got engaged? Congratulations! Now there’s just the small matter of planning the happiest day of your life. No big deal, right?

We asked a professional wedding planner what you should do and when, to ensure it all goes without a hitch.

12 months • •

•

Set a budget. Put a budget in place early on so you’re less likely to get carried away with table decorations and wedding favours.

Pick a date. Choose several options so you’re not left disappointed and check with the venues to see what’s available. Don’t forget to make sure your important guests are available too.

Book a venue and contact the registrar if necessary

9 months

• • • • • •

Research and book wedding professionals, photographer, caterers, music, entertainment, room decoration Start making a guest list Decide on your best man, bridesmaids, ushers, canine and so on Think about, shop for and order your dress and your bridesmaid dresses Take out and confirm insurance Book your honeymoon or a romantic mini-moon while you save for the big getaway

6 months • • •

Book transport to the church and/or venue. You might want to look into this sooner if you really want to travel in style Register your gift list, if applicable Choose a florist and place your order

4 months

• • • •

Research and order your cake Choose the menu for the reception Order wedding stationary Shop for and buy the rings

3 months •

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Send out wedding invitations, with a list of nearby accommodation for guests who might need it

Aromatherapy Matters... ...

... ...for the mind, body and spirit... .

Pamela Fleetwood MIFPA, MFHT Clinical Aromatherapist Tel: 07930 432683

2 months • • • • •

Chase up guests who have not RSVP’d and give a final guest list to the caterers or venue Finalise your table plan, making sure to avoid any family feuds Arrange your hen do (the Maid of Honour may have already taken care of this for you) Book your hair stylist and make-up artist - and go for a trial run Buy gifts for your attendants, your family and each other

1 month • •

Have a final dress fitting, take your Maid of Honour along with you and make sure the bridesmaids have their dresses Book in final meeting with your suppliers and venue to make sure the day goes without a hitch

2 weeks • •

Get your last haircut/colour before the big day Organise a ‘must-have’ shot list for the photographer and videographer and a song list for the DJ or band.

Make sure to highlight the special songs and include any absolute no-gos.

HEALTH SPAS

In need of a little pampering and relaxation?

Visit Oxley’s at Underscar to relax, unwind and rejuvenate

1 week • •

Plan your journey to make sure you’ll get to the church on time Call all wedding professionals to confirm and then give a final list of arrangements to the venue

2 days • • •

Give name cards, menus, wedding favors and any other items for the table settings to the caterer or venue manager Have your dress pressed or steamed if necessary Don’t forget to pack for the honeymoon

* Spa Days * Massages * Men's Treatments * * Holistic Therapies * Neom Treatments * Facials * GEL Nails *

Oxley’s at Underscar - 017687 71500

www.oxleyshealthspa.co.uk

drated. Olay Spa Exfoliating Body Scrub is great for sensitive skin d can be used as a daily scrub.

H E A LT H A N D B E A U T Y

get them tinted.

RevlonMake Colour Lip-liners FACEBOOK: Bridget Foster Up Stay & Hair Artist are brilliant and long-lasting at only

urt’s Bees Sugar Scrub £12.99 or Sanctuary Sugar Scrub 11 are my current favourites but its best to only use them a few mes a week.

£3.98.

BEHIND THE SENCES

The Carlisle Guide

B

ridget Foster gives us a glimpse behind the scenes of her one-to-one make-up tutorials, with friend Emma Stoszkowski.

With the start of a new year, and the quieter weekends, I have been booked out with my one-to-one make-up tutori-

www.bridgetfoster.co.uk

By Bridget Foster

als. I get a lot out of doing these, teaching women to look their best every day and feel good about themselves.

Personally, I have been glued to ‘Sali Hughes Beauty’ on YouTube where she interviews iconic Make-Up Artists such as Bobbi Brown , Charlotte Tilbury, Mary Greenwell and Val Garland. They all have a unique style and business ideas but the passion is the same; “making women feel beautiful” and “the best version of themselves”. This is what make-up is really about.

So I wanted to show you what happens in my own one-toone tutorials, as this is where I show local women how they can make the best of themselves.

I met my friend Emma Stozkowski, a well-established photographer working on many weddings. Most of the time it was a quick “hello” and then cracking on with our job, focusing on the client.

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H E A LT H A N D B E A U T Y

At Elly Bowness’ wedding she watched me apply her make-up in fascination and asked if she could get it done for an occasion. Emma came to my make-up room and we just clicked. We have similar values with our businesses and personal lives. It was Emma who taught me the value of social media.

Emma follows all my tips and tricks and buys a lot of my recommendations. I Introduced her to brands such as Nars and Laura Mercier which is not available in Cumbria but accessible online or in nearby cities. I thought she would be the ideal person to record what happens during a one to one tutorial.

Name: Emma Stoszkowski Age: 36 Occupation: Freelance photographer Concerns: Needs to look polished and presentable all day for business purposes. Concerned about her smile lines and make-up creasing.

Me: Right, let’s see what you have, and tell me about your typical make up regime.

Emma: This is what I wear everyday but not to a wedding I am photographing. Just everyday stuff.

Emma likes the more defined brow and darker shades on her eyes but was worried the make-up would come off on her camera. Luckily, the majority of brow products are smudge proof so should be okay.

What we added to her make up bag: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Brushes (Brushes are essential to applying good makeup. They do the majority of the work for you, making everything easier and quicker. I suggested three face brushes, and three eyeshadow brushes and an eyeliner brush.)

Eye Primer by Urban decay £16.50 or Mac paint pots £16. This is the key to good eyeshadow.

Laura Mercier mineral powder, to set and also be adaptable to wear alone in the day or gym.

Softer paler bronzer such as Laura Mercier Mocha Spice or Charlotte Tilbury First Love, both £30.

Emma loves a sparkle so I suggested go for matt eyeshadows to shape and add depth to her eyes and then add a touch of sparkle after. My favorite is Dior Mono Fusion, £25.

Photo credit: Emma Stoszkowski

Me: Okay, great so what do you wear when you’re photographing someone’s wedding or going out?

Emma: I wear foundation and these eyeshadows. I like a smokey eye. I have this Powder by Nars and this eye primer but I think it creases and doesn’t sit well on my skin. I have a few products I have bought but was never told how to use them.

Me: Okay, it might just be how you apply it.

Throughout the tutorial I tried different products on one side of the face, while also making sure she was evenly matched. The difference was very subtle.

Emma became quite focused and quieter than normal. At one point she looked at me and said, “you will write this all down won’t you, I’m not good at remembering everything.

It’s so overwhelming.”

After a basic look we added more drama around the eyes.

Emma has a look of Snow White about her, with dark hair, pale skin and blue eyes. I used a simple black kohl pencil smudge around the eye line, which was simple but suited Emma’s style perfectly. I did notice Emma is quite ‘slap-dash’ when it comes to applying make-up, so I needed to make sure she had products which could be applied quickly and easily.

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WEST CUMBRIA

CAMPERVAN

COOKING FIRST CLASS DINING AT THE OLD POSTING HOUSE

WORLD MARMALADE

AWARDS 2018

TARA’S

TIPPLES RECIPES

MENUS

LOCAL FOOD

COCKTAILS

INTERVIEWS

FOOD & DRINK

first class dining

W

hether you’re looking for a quiet pint or a hearty home-cooked meal, The Old Posting House delivers.

This 400-year old coaching inn in the village of Deanscales, still boasts the original post boxes which are protected by English Heritage, beamed ceilings and period features which have been carefully preserved.

Located 3.6 miles outside Cockermouth, unless you’re lucky enough to live in the village itself, the Old Posting House is something of a destination pub, but one it’s worth making the journey to.

Nicola Hoggarth and Terry Franks took over the pub at the beginning of July last year. With many years of experience in the industry between them, they have created a desirable local for residents in Deanscales and the surrounding villages, as well as a comfortable place to eat and stay for visitors from further afield.

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“We want to offer people a cosy place to eat and drink. It’s a relaxing environment and it’s somewhere different.”

With six letting bedrooms, bed and breakfast will no doubt be popular with people planning a getaway to the Lakes, but their main market lies with the villages and towns of West Cumbria. Terry explained: “We want to offer people a cosy place to eat and drink. It’s a relaxing environment and it’s somewhere different. You don’t have to come here just to eat, you can come in for a drink in the bar where dogs are also welcome. It’s about providing a facility for the local people more than anything else.”

After a full refurbishment of the restaurant and bar area, and the introduction of a new menu, the couple have spent the last six months building up the business and it has gone from strength to strength. The result is a traditional pub, with a contemporary twist, conveniently split into two parts.

FOOD & DRINK

The cosy bar area welcomes people in for a drink and a snack, meanwhile in the dining area oak tables are set for those with a larger appetite. The menu lists modern takes on pub classics, Terry commented: “It’s traditional pub food with a twist, I don’t like the word Gastro, that’s not us, we’re just traditional English fare with a warm, friendly ambience.”

Food is served every evening from 6pm - 9pm, and lunch is served on a Sunday from 12-2pm. Lunches will be served every day from the Spring.

Through enhancing the building’s historic features and adding their own homely decor, it looks like they are firmly on track for turning the Old Posting House into a pub on the map, and one that locals can be proud of.

Terry added: “We offer comfortable surroundings, great home-cooked food, a wide selection of drinks and obviously good service to go with it.”

For more information or to book a table contact 01900 823278.

New website coming soon at www.oldpostinghouse.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK

marmalade a-PEEL

T

he 13th annual World’s Original Marmalade Awards, is set to take place on 17 March, with entries already flooding in from around the globe to Dalemain Mansion in the Lake District.

Founded in 2005 to help to preserve, grow and widen one of the most British of customs – marmalade making - the awards have since gone from strength to strength. As well as showcasing thousands of lovingly created homemade marmalades, the Artisan competition is now recognised as a key event for quality producers.

This year will welcome new artisan judges, most notably talented chef and main food columnist for the Saturday Telegraph, Xanthe Clay and consultant pastry chef to Waitrose, Will Torrent. They will join the small panel of experts in finding the best marmalades in the world for 2018.

Last year’s awards attracted entries from over 30 countries including Japan, Columbia, Singapore and Canada and with a new ‘Commonwealth Competition’ in 2018 organisers are hoping that this will be the most international year yet.

Founder and marmalade lover, Jane Hasell-McCosh said: “It is always so exciting to see all of the wonderful flavours and ingredients that are sent from all over the globe. I love to see exotic versions of such a quintessentially British product arriving at my home, which every spring becomes the centre of the Marmalade world. We look forward to welcoming many more international Gold winners to the Awards ceremony at the Festival.”

The Awards also remain hugely popular locally, with entries flooding in from across Cumbria, and entrants keen to help raise funds for local charities. The Awards & Festival have raised more than £200,000 for Hospice care, and hope to significantly add to this amount in 2018, with the full donation for every homemade entry going directly to charity.

At the heart of the Awards & Festival is Dalemain Mansion - a Georgian stately home and the holder of a rich archive of early marmalade recipes - where all the glorious, golden homemade entries will be on display, with a selection of the artisan marmalades available to taste and buy.

For more information visit www.marmaladeawards.com 40

MEALS ON WHEELS

campervan cookbook

I

n a new cookbook, two Cumbrian foodies, authors and explorers, offer their favourite recipes for eating well on the road.

Having spent months exploring the world in their trusty VW camper, Megan Winter-Barker from Kendal and Simon Fielding, who grew up in Keswick, are experts at putting together incredible food equipped with just a two-burner camping stove and a tiny fridge or cool box.

Start the day with one-pot Mexican poached eggs with chorizo, tuck into satay chicken for lunch and enjoy an alfresco feast under the stars with ideas for Spanish meatballs, Asian stir fries, fiery curries, and more. No longer does food on the road have to involve yet another portion of beans on toast.

Here they’ve given us a little taster, to inspire your own campervan cooking...

Megan and Simon, whose family own The Apple Pie Café & Bakery in Ambleside, are keen travellers and big foodies. The Clever Camper Cookbook was born out of a recent roadtrip around Europe in their campervan ‘Pip’.

The Cookbook features over 20 of the best recipes they came up with on their travels. No fuss, nothing too fancy, just deliciously simple cooking. Whether you’re on top of a mountain, down by the water’s edge or setting up for a few nights at a festival, they’ve got all your food needs covered.

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FOOD & DRINK

FAJITAS WITH SALSA & HOMEMADE WRAPS

T

his is a great dish when you’re starving and need food on the table quickly.

Here we’ve gone for a traditional filling, but you can add whatever you like to your wraps and use up leftovers.

Try frying some chorizo for a bit of extra spice or throw in a few cherry tomatoes for some sweetness.

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FOOD & DRINK

Ingredients for fajitas • • • • • • • • • •

Olive oil 2 chicken breasts (optional), cut into thin strips 1 onion, cut into strips 1 clove of garlic, crushed 1 bell pepper, cut into strips ½ zucchini (courgette), cut into strips 1–2 tablespoons fajita spice mix ½ x 14-oz (400-g) can of mixed beans, drained (optional) Crème fraîche (or sour cream), grated cheese (optional), and scallions (spring onions), to serve Cilantro (coriander) and fresh red chili, to garnish (optional)

Method for the fajitas 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Heat a splash of oil in a non-stick skillet (frying pan) over a medium-high heat. Add the chicken, if using, to the pan. Stir regularly so the meat doesn’t catch and cook until sealed.

Once the chicken is sealed, add the onion and the garlic and fry for 5 minutes to soften. Once soft, add the pepper and zucchini (courgette).

Cook for another 5 minutes and then add the fajita spice mix to the pan. Stir so it coats all the chicken and veg. If you’re going veggie, you could add half a can of mixed beans at this point to bulk up the dish.

Cook for a few more minutes until the chicken is definitely cooked through and the spices have turned sticky and delicious.

Serve on wraps (see below) with a good helping of your homemade salsa (see below), a dollop of crème fraîche, a sprinkle of sliced scallions (spring onions), sliced chilis, and a few cilantro (coriander) leaves. Finish with a grating of cheese if you’re feeling extra hungry.

For the full recipe head over to www.cumbriaguide.co.uk T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

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FOOD & DRINK

rocky road

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FOOD & DRINK

N

o baking, no fuss, these are the perfect campervan treats for picnics or refueling on long walks.

Don’t worry about measuring ingredients precisely, rough amounts will work just fine.

Ingredients • • • • •

3 ½ oz (100g) your favorite cookies (biscuits) 5 tablespoons (70g) butter 3 ½ oz (100g) chocolate buttons 2 tablespoons honey 3 ½ oz (100g) marshmallows, chopped into small pieces

Method 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Place your cookies (biscuits) in a sandwich bag or wrap in a clean kitchen towel and bash up into different sizes, from dust to small chunks.

Melt the butter in a pan with the chocolate and the honey over a low heat.

Take the pan off the heat and add the broken cookies and the marshmallows and mix together well. You could also add nuts, dried fruit, or even popcorn to your rocky road bars at this point.

Tip the mixture into a foil-lined tin or plastic container—anything that you can put in the fridge. Squash the mixture down so it will stick together when it sets.

Place in the fridge for at least 2 hours. When it has set, cut into squares and tuck in. Enjoy!

Mix it up

Try substituting 2 tablespoons of peanut butter for 2 tablespoons of the butter to make your bars extra moreish!

Recipes extracted from The Clever Camper Cookbook

by Megan Winter-Barker and Simon Fielding.

Published by Dog ‘n’ Bone Books on the 13th March and available from all good book retailers.

T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

45

Celebrate at The Gincase

T

he Gincase which reopens on 6 February is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion this season.

Located just one mile from the picturesque Solway Coast and in close proximity to the Lake District, the coasts’ great day out is famous for its farm park but it also boasts something to keep all ages entertained, for any occasion. Reopening in February after the winter break, The Gincase is just the place for little ones with a special day coming up, where a whale of a time is to be had with a fun-filled, farm themed birthday party in the private party room.

Meanwhile, make this Mother’s Day extra special, with a trip to the renowned onsite Tea Room. With its inviting atmosphere and a menu filled with homemade dishes, made fresh each day in the farmhouse kitchen, it is an attraction in itself.

Alongside the traditional Cumbrian delicacies, you can treat Mum to a choice of Afternoon Teas, Celebration Teas with Bubbles and Sunday roasts, as well as the lighter, hot and cold lunches and delicious cakes and puddings. And it’s all served on charming china tea sets.

Speaking of which, the Gift Barn showcasing a selection of some of Cumbria’s finest crafts and gifts, is a must visit. Stocking everything from home and garden wares to children’s toys alongside a selection of cards and wrap for birthdays and special occasions. And as of February, a whole host of new ranges will be in stock including handbags, scarves, candles and wedding gifts just in time for the season of nuptials.

The barn boasts two floors filled with gorgeous goods, many of which were handcrafted right here in Cumbria. You can even buy some of the delicious treats that are served in the tearoom, so take a jar of that tantalising chutney home with you.

For more information contact 016973 32020 or visit www.gincase.co.uk 46

FOOD & DRINK

TICK TOCK,

IT’S RosÊ O’CLOCK

By Gerard Richardson

A

h, Spring is in the air folks and with Spring comes the annual urge to try a rose wine again.

I know, I've never been one to promote the pink stuff, but it's either getting more interesting every year or I'm just getting softer. Rose comes in a wide range of colours these days from pale salmon pink to a sort of wishy washy red and the flavours go from peaches and raspberries in the lighter coloured versions to strawberries and red currants in the darker ones. Roses are actually cool wines and make great partners for food as long as you remember not to overpower them. Try the lighter Provence type roses with a seafood salad or shellfish while the more full on Malbec and Cabernet Roses from South America are really good partners for barbecued food.

The salmon pink roses tend to come from the old world i.e Provence, Spain and Italy using grapes as varied as Mouvedre, Grenache, Pinot Grigio and Tempranillo, while the best of the darker roses are hailing from South America. The latter use the big meaty varieties such as Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet but the most outstanding ones that I've tasted in a long time are made from Malbec at present. They tend to balance fresh strawberry flavours with crisp acidity and they tend to have far more depth to the palate.

One thing I should point out however is that rose wine takes a lot more skill and quality fruit to get right so please please avoid the rubbish of which there's plenty on the shelf. Aim for a tenner or more and you will be pleasantly surprised.

T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

47

Ant Brown’s

Roast Squash, Chilli and Parmesan Soup

C

umbrian private chef, Antony Brown, has worked with such greats as Pierre Koffmann, Tom Kitchin, Tom Aikens, and Mark Edwards of Nobu.

Having trained in London, he now lives in our neighboring county Durham, where he manages the food and hospitality offering for some of the most prestigious Country Estates in the UK. Ant's food draws on broad influences, but at its core relies upon the best quality ingredients sourced from the North of England's wonderful (and largely untapped) natural larder. His dishes are focused on seasonal produce and he is passionate about exploring the future of food and ideas around sustainable eating.

Here, he will serve up some regular, seasonal dishes and explore through food and flavour what it really means to be a cook in our region.

Facebook @antbrown www.antbrown.co.uk

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C aerslti sCl eu m G bu ri di ae G u i d e TT hh ee W

OO OD D & & D DR R II N NK K FF O

A rich warming soup that brings a bit of a wow-factor to the table. Don’t forget the sweet tender flesh of the pumpkin once you’ve finished the soup.

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • •

1 whole winter pumpkin 25g unsalted butter 1 red chilli, sliced 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped 1 banana shallot, sliced 1 x whole nutmeg One thumb sized piece of parmesan rind 1 glass of white wine 1 litre of good vegetable or chicken stock 250 ml of double cream 100g cashew nuts, roasted and chopped 1 tbsp of chopped chives

Method 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C To make the soup, cut the top off the pumpkin, remove the seeds and stringy pulp, and then hollow out as much pumpkin flesh as possible without damaging its outer skin. Take the hollowed out Pumpkin, rub the inside with a little vegetable oil and salt and pepper, place the lid back on and wrap in tin foil. Bake on a tray in the pre-heated oven for 1 ½ hours, or until tender but not falling apart Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat, add the shallot and cook slowly to soften without burning for 3 minutes. Add the chilli and garlic, and cook as the same speed for a further minute. Add the Pumpkin flesh, stir well, and continue cooking for a further 3 minutes – if things are beginning to gently stick to the bottom of the pan and taking on a caramel colour your in the right place. Add the wine and de-glace the pan (using the liquid and steam to lift the sediment with the help of a wooden spoon) and when the wine has almost completely evaporated add the stock Bring the soup up to the simmer, throw in the Parmesan rind and add a third of a whole nutmeg grated on the finest grater you have. After about 15 minutes the Pumpkin should be tender so take the pan off the heat and blend the soup to a smooth consistency, having already removed the Parmesan rind When back on the heat add the cream and mix well, pour into the baked Pumpkin shell and sprinkle the top with the chives, chopped toasted cashews, a drizzle of extra cream and a fine grating of Parmesan T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

4499

A TASTE OF THAILAND T

his recipe for Thai Massaman Curry with Chicken is a really popular dish at the Star of Siam.

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1/2lb Chicken fillet cut into small pieces 3 tablespoons whole raw peanuts 4 cups water 1 large potato cut into 1 inch cubes 1 tablespoon of cooking oil 3 tablespoons Masaman Curry Paste - we use Mae Ploy 2 cups of coconut milk Chaokoh Brand 6 whole Thai cardamom seeds cracked and dry roasted 1 inch piece of cinnamon stick dry roasted 2 tablespoons of Thai Fish Sauce we use Squid Brand 1 tablespoon of palm sugar 2 tablespoon of tamarind water 1/4 of large white onion cut into small pieces 1 carrot cut into small pieces

Preparation 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

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The Best Cumbria Guide

Open the coconut milk and scoop the thick coconut cream from the top and set aside.

Put 4 cups of water, the chicken pieces and peanuts into a pan and bring them to boil skimming the scum from the surface for about 5 minutes. Lower heat to medium and continue to cook at a low boil uncovered for approx. 1 hour. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Separately cook the potatoes and carrots bringing them to boil.

Heat oil in a large heavy bottom pan over medium heat, add the curry paste and cook briefly until fragrant stirring constantly. Add the thick coconut cream you set aside and fry until it begins to separate, stirring constantly. Add the boiled chicken pieces and peanuts in its broth and add remainder of coconut milk, fish sauce, palm sugar, tamarind, cinnamon stick, potatoes, carrots and onion. Bring to boil continue to keep stirring.

Reduce heat to low and cook for 10 minutes.

Adjust seasoning with fish sauce, palm sugar and tamarind water to taste. Massaman Curry should be slightly sweet with a very subtle sour note from the tamarind.

This curry recipe serves 4 people.

T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

FOOD & DRINK

Tara’s Lovely Tipples No matter how you choose to celebrate this season - be it a toast to romance with your nearest and dearest or a special soiree with your best friends - these deliciously boozy blends will guarantee love at first sip.

Love isn't always on Thyme

The Hottie

Ingredients • 20ml thyme infused sugar syrup • 20ml chambord • Prosecco or Champagne • Thyme to garnish- optional

Ingredients • 50g white chocolate chips • 20ml double cream • 20ml Bailey’s • 15ml Tia Maria (or any coffee liqueur) • 1 tsp Vanilla essence • Whipping cream to serve

Method Combine the sugar syrup and the chambord in a shaker and shake for 30 seconds over ice. Strain into a chilled flute glass and top with Prosecco or Champagne. Peg a sprig of thyme to the glass to garnish.

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T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

Method Place all ingredients (apart from the whipping cream) in a saucepan and simmer on a very low heat until the chocolate has melted and all ingredients have blended together. Serve hot and ladle into mugs. You can add whatever desired topping you wish, but for the classic boozy hot chocolate add whipped cream and lashings of chocolate sauce.

Strawberry Blonde Ingredients • 30ml strawberry gin • 15ml lemon juice • 10ml sugar syrup • Pink lemonade • Egg white Method Add the egg whites to a cocktail shaker and dry shake (If you add ice at this stage the egg whites will not produce a fluffy consistency) for 30 seconds. Then add the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup, along with ice and shake for a further 30 seconds. Double strain into a chilled saucer and top with pink lemonade.

T h e WTeT hshtee C Cuaam G uu ii dd ee C rr llbii ssrllieea G For more great cocktails and recipes visit www.cumbriaguide.co.uk

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M OTO R I N G A N D S P O RT

West Cumbria’s sports bulletin

Workington TOWN WORDS: JOHN WALSH

T

here’s an air of expectancy around Derwent Park as the new League One season fast approaches.

Coach Leon Pryce has admitted himself well satisfied with the two pre-season warm up games.

Admittedly the opposition wasn’t the hottest or most experienced, but Town could only beat what was put in front of them on the day and they beat both comfortably.

Pryce is experienced enough to know that nothing has been achieved until the first League points are on the board. But with his players showing plenty of enthusiasm and commitment, and buying into how he wants to play the game, there’s plenty who feel that Town might be about to stir again after too long in the doldrums.

Oliver Wilkes has been named captain for the new season and he is looking to prove that he still has plenty to offer the game despite the fact he will turn 38 in May. Wilkes was a member of the Barrow side which won promotion into the Championship last season so he knows what it takes.

Scott Leatherbarrow, Jamie Foster and Sean Penkywicz, along with Wilkes form a much-experienced group who will be invaluable to the younger players in Pryce’s squad.

Town travel to Keighley for their opening game in League One when the proper test will start.

Workington Reds

WORDS: JOHN WALSH

W

orkington Reds appear to have taken their eye off the main prize while chasing extra cash in a national competition.

Three successive defeats in the Evostik Premier League have seen Reds slip out of the promotion play-odd places.

Yet Reds have already netted £25,000 in the FA Trophy competition ahead of Saturday’s third round tie at home to Bromley.

When Reds took on Whitby Town at Borough Park on New Year’s Day they were on a 17-match unbeaten run in all competitions. Whitby hadn’t won in 16 games and were slipping towards the foot of the table. But it finished 3-1 to the visitors and since then Reds have lost 2-0 at home to Barwell and 4-1 at bottom club Sutton Coldfield.

Also in January, Reds travelled to Weston-super-Mare and after a creditable 1-1 draw won the Borough Park replay 2-1 to set-up an FA Trophy date with Bromley.

It’s going to be very tough. Bromley are from the National League, two levels higher than Reds and have moved to the edge of the play-offs with some stirring results.

Workington need to be at their very best, and enjoy some good fortune, to upset the Kent side.

There’s another £8,000 to be won, another valuable addition to club coffers, and a place in the quarter finals would really heighten Wembley fervor.

Hopefully not at the expense of progress back up the League table.

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T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

M OTO R I N G A N D S P O RT

HAVEN

BY CRAIG WISHART

The pre-season preparation is now well under way as Haven eye up promotion into the Championship next year.

Already the team have played a friendly against Widnes, unfortunately the score was a little lopsided at 62 -0 but Widnes are a Super League side and a great result was always unlikely.

Coach Carl Forster was pleased with his side’s effort. He said: “We can only take positives from today’s game, we weren’t kidding ourselves coming down here. I’m happy with the effort and our enthusiasm especially from our young lads and can only look forward from here.”

There are other games against Swinton at home and Barrow away before Haven play Workington for the Ike Southward Memorial game on February 4.

Forster knows building confidence in these matches is key.

He added: “We have to approach the Swinton game differently, we had a laid-back approach which we could afford today (against Widnes) but the Swinton and Barrow games are winnable then we head on to the derby fixture.”

Marc Shackley has taken over the role of Captain this year from Scott McAvoy who has retired and he’ll also be keen to get his side playing at their best.

The season proper will begin on the 18th of February against Oldham.

T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

5 55 5

M OTO R I N G A N D S P O RT

KIA STONIC

T

he all-new Kia Stonic is an eye-catching and confident compact crossover, and is set to become an important conquest model for Kia in one of Europe’s newest and fastest-growing vehicle segments.

The B-SUV segment currently accounts for 1.1 million new car sales in Europe each year – around seven per cent of the market – and is forecast to expand to more than two million annual sales by 2020.

Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors Europe, commented: “The Kia Stonic will be one of the most compelling new cars in this rapidly-expanding class, backed by Kia’s unique warranty, and the brand’s reputation for reliability, quality and contemporary design. As the segment expands, the Stonic looks set to become one of our best-selling cars.”

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T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

The design of the car is one of the brand’s most striking to date, yet it is immediately recognisable as a Kia thanks to key signature design elements, such as the ‘tiger-nose’ grille. Designed in Europe, in collaboration with Kia’s Korean design studio, the body blends sharp horizontal feature lines with softer sculpted surfaces. Individuality is important to many customers in the B-SUV segment, and the Stonic’s ‘Targa’-style roof enables buyers to choose a two-tone paint finish, inspired by the design of the 2013 Kia Provo concept.

It will be available in Europe with up to 20 two-tone colour combinations, with a choice of up to five distinctive colours for the roof.

A range of lightweight, downsized, turbocharged petrol and diesel engines are available, each paired with a manual transmission, maximising driver engagement and efficiency.

Buyers have the choice of Kia’s lightweight 1.0-litre T-GDI (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine, producing 120 ps, as well as 1.25- or 1.4-litre naturally-aspirated MPI (multi-point injection) petrol engines. An efficient 1.6-litre diesel engine completes the range, offering the lowest emissions in the line-up.

M OTO R I N G A N D S P O RT

The car’s European-tuned steering and suspension are designed to offer an exciting drive, with immediate handling responses and a stable ride. The car is fitted as standard with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), ensuring the front-wheel drive Stonic remains enjoyable and confidence-inspiring to drive in all conditions. Specific functions of VSM include Torque Vectoring by Braking, Straight Line Stability, and Cornering Brake Control.

The Stonic’s European-designed cabin places technology and ergonomics at its heart, offering buyers as much potential for individuality as the exterior with a range of vivid colour packs for buyers to choose from. One of the smartest cars in its class, it provides owners infotainment technologies designed to enhance safety, comfort and convenience. The car gets Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ as standard, bringing seamless smartphone functionality to the touchscreen infotainment system. Like other Kia models, it is available with a broad range of technologies to enhance comfort and convenience, including heated front seats, cruise control and keyless entry.

Within its compact exterior dimensions, the Stonic’s smart packaging maximises interior space for all occupants. The car offers class-leading shoulder room and generous leg- and head-room, while the versatile 352-litre (VDA) boot has a two-step boot floor.

The car is built on a strong, safe and lightweight platform and bodyshell, with Advanced High Strength Steel accounting for 51 per cent of materials used. The body ensures driving confidence, passenger comfort and refinement in all conditions. Buyers can choose from a selection of Kia’s DRiVE WISE Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to further enhance active safety. These technologies include Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian recognition and Forward Collision Alert; Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert; and Lane Departure Warning System. Backed by a new fusion camera system, Stonic offers High Beam Assist and Driver Attention Warning to further satisfy the safety needs of customers.

Backed by Kia’s quality promise, the car will be sold as standard with the company’s unique seven-year, 100,000 mile warranty.

For more information contact 01900 358717 or visit Walkingshaw, Joseph Noble Road, Workington CA14 4JH

T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

57

Word search

Search Words

Kid’s soduko

Solution On Page 91

ACROBAT - BIG TOP - CLOWN - DAREDEVIL - ELEPHANT - HIGHWIRE - LIONS - MAGIC MONKEYS - PEANUTS - RINGMASTER - STRONGWOMAN - TIGHTROPE - TRAPEZE

Congratulations to last issues competition winner Astrid Ratcliff who has won herself an art set.

Keep sending those lovely pictures in.

58

Roberts The PUZZLE Reptilian THE GUIDE’S COLOURING COMPETITION Can you colour in this picture and send it to us for the chance to win an art set?

SEND TO SARAH Address............................................................................................... The Guide Media Group .............................................................................................................. Phoenix Enterprise Centre Cleator Moor .............................................................................................................. CA25 5BD Name........................................................................... Age...............

59

F E AT U R E

Easter Egg-tivities

A

s the chocolate eggs have been on supermarket shelves since January you might be sick of Easter before it’s even begun. But the Easter Bunny is out in full force across the region, with lots of egg-cellent (sorry) events going on - there’s even some without a chocolate egg in sight for when they’ve had enough E Numbers to last until Christmas.

peter rabbit egg hunt lake district

100 special eggs are hidden around the Lake District, with some with top prizes up for grabs, will you find one? The ‘Where is Peter Rabbit Treasure Trail?’ is a digital egg hunt across the Lake District.

On the day of the trail, treasure hunters choose their starting point and using a live Google map, start their day of fun searching for one of 100 beautiful ceramic Peter Rabbit eggs. The Treasure Trail goes live online at 10am on Wednesday 4 April via a secret link. To join in, treasure hunters need to register online prior to the event. www.hop-skip-jump.com

teddy fest

ravenglass and eskdale railway Take your BFF (Best Furry Friend) along for a ride on the La’al Ratty, as ‘Teddy Fest’ returns this Easter. From 30 March - 15 April, all children with a teddy bear travel for free when accompanied by a full fare paying adult. Keep an eye out for our teddy trail clues around the railway too to win great prizes and there is also some colouring activities at Dalegarth station. www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk

muncaster giant easter egg hunt muncaster castle

Don’t miss the famous Muncaster Giant Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday and Monday. The hunt kicks off at 12.30pm, but participants must Register at the Carriage House gift shop by 12.15pm on the day, and places are limited so turn up in plenty of time. Not to worry if you miss it though, there’s free entry to the Castle for every child with a teddy over the Easter weekend 30 March – 2nd April, and lots of other fun to be had with your furry friend. www.muncaster.co.uk 60

illustrate with tim stead the beacon museum

Local children’s author and illustrator Tim Stead is heading to The Beacon Museum to guide budding young artists in how to learn the basics of illustration.

On 6 and 13 April, Tim will tell his own fascinating story as demonstrates how to draw a pair of socks, and then bring them to life. Sounds weirdly appealing? Pre-booking is essential as places are restricted. £8 per person, suitable for ages 6+ To book call 01946 592302 or email thebeacon@copeland.gov.uk

little mermaid the circus sensation theatre by the lake

Spectacular circus and spellbinding songs combine in this extraordinary new adaptation of a well-known fairy-tale. This breathtakingly beautiful production from the award-winning Metta Theatre will enchant everyone from ages eight to 108.

With awe-inspiring acrobatics and beautiful original music, it is a show for everyone; a triumphant tale of love overcoming all showing from Friday 23 - Saturday 24 March to get your holidays off to a magical start.

Suitable for ages 8+ www.theatrebythelake.com

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Whitehaven Coast

This unique egg hunt, organised by the National Trust, offers complementary fresh salty breezes and cliff top views with family fun Easter activities and Cadbury chocolate prizes. Held on Sunday 31 March, the Easter hunt is totally outdoors, so be prepared for anything. Waterproofs and wellies are always a good idea, but picnics are also brilliant.

The hunt takes place largely over a flat grassy area overlooking the sea. There are sections of the trail which are steep but are on good paths. From 11am - 2.30pm, £2.50 per child.

T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

6611

PUZZLES

Catch-Words Test your knowledge.

Answers on page 81 ALPHA SUDOKU Place a letter from A to I in each empty cell so every row, every column and every 2x3 box contains all the letters A to I.

62

T hTeh W e satr lCi sul m e C e bGrui ai d eG u i d e

Across 1 7 8 9 10 12

14 16 19 20 21

Malicious talk (10) Sea seen from Bari (8) Upper permitted limit (4) Shout (4) Period in prison (7) English stage and film actor, d. 1990 (3,8) Clairvoyant (7) Cordial (4) Decamp (by moonlight?) (4) Airedales, for example (8) Organised card-playing event (5,5)

Down 1 2

3 4 5 6 11

12 13 15 17 18

Pal (5) Calm down and take it easy (informal) (7) Two considered together (4) Not saying much (8) Cheek (5) Bird with a colourful beak (6) People who make and serve coffee (8) Outcome (6) Language of East Africa (7) Concealed difficulty (5) Amalgamate (5) Reared (4)

SUDOKU Place a number from 1 to 9 in each empty cell so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains all the numbers 1 to 9.

PET’S CORNER

Dogs vs Cats: Which makes the better pet?

T

he Cats Vs Dogs controversy has gone on for thousands of years, ever since they were domesticated. But which makes the best pet?

The answer depends largely on the owner’s personality and requirements for animal companionship.

Dogs are intensely loyal to the people who feed them. They can be hostile to perceived “invaders,” and a goodly number of them have shown a willingness to put their own lives on the line to protect their owners.

The downside to this behavior is that they demand lots of attention. An owner can sit and scratch a dog’s ears for hours and still receive a hurt look from the animal when it’s time to do something else. Cats, although also attention seekers, seem much more aloof and independent. Just don’t expect them to be there for you if a burglar breaks in. An intelligent, well trained dog makes a great hiking companion.

Cats couldn’t care less. This is why the owner’s preferences are an important part of the Cats Vs Dogs debate.

Cats are complete carnivores, and can digest only meat.

(You may have seen a cat eating green grass, but that was probably because its stomach was already upset by something else.) Dogs, like people, are omnivores able to metabolize a variety of foods. The difference is in the body chemistry of the two species. The bottom line when considering Cats Vs Dogs is this: although some dogs may develop a taste for some cat foods, the two types of food are not interchangeable.

The biggest factor in choosing between Cats Vs Dogs may be the environment of the prospective owner. Do not try to keep a large dog in a small apartment, even if the landlord allows it. You will all be miserable as a result. Cat urine smells worse than dog urine, is more likely to occur indoors and must be dealt with. Dogs are not adept at hunting mice, so rodent control is generally left up to cats, who will also catch lizards, birds and young rabbits. In a rural setting, however, be aware that cats are susceptible to being picked off by owls (yes, owls) and other predators.

Pet article courtesy of www.pet-articles.blogspot.com

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Coming up in February-April at Theatre: Harbour Tales February 14 • 2pm Tickets £10 U26 £8 • U5 Free Taking Part: Mini Messels Makers: Spring Into Crafts Thursday 15 February • 1-3pm Tickets £5 per person • U5 free Music: Mark Morriss Friday 16 February • 8pm Tickets £12 Theatre: The Chef Show Sunday 25 February • 4pm Post theatre Indian-inspired supper available Tickets £15 • £8 U26 Show plus supper £35 £28 U26 Talk: Kendal Mountain Festival UK Tour 2018 Friday 2 March • 7.30pm Tickets £15 • U25 £10

Music: AKA The Music of Noel Gallagher Friday 9th March • 7.30pm Tickets £15 Music: WAOS Present An Evening of Gilbert & Sullivan Saturday 10th March • 7.15pm Tickets £12 Comedy: Shappi Khorsandi Mistress and Misfit Friday 16 March • 8pm Tickets £15 Music: Paul Lewis Haydn’s piano sonatas Wednesday 21 March • 7.30pm Tickets £25 • U26 £12 Music: Emma Johnson Clarinet Goes To Town Sunday 15 April • 3pm Tickets £25 • U26 £12

More shows are being booked all the time.

Check rosehilltheatre.co.uk for up to date information.

thegreenroom restaurant

“Another fantastic meal at The Green Room Restaurant - Rosehill Theatre. Would definitely recommend to eat here! Great service and food! Will be back again soon!”

Customer review on Trip Advisor

Call the restaurant on 01946 514574 or go to rosehilltheatre.co.uk Carlisle

To book call 01946 692422 thegreenroom restaurant rosehilltheatre.co.uk 64 T h e Theatre, W e s t C u m b rMoresby, ia Guide Rosehill Whitehaven CA28 6SE

A595

Whitehaven

A66

The Lake District

A590

Penrith

M6 Kendal

ART FOR ALL

T

he Derwent Pencil Museum is offering local children and their families huge discounts, in a bid to make art accessible for all.

The local attraction is encouraging creativity in Cumbrian children by giving their family the opportunity to purchase a yearly admission ticket to the Pencil Museum for just £10. The ticket, which includes two adults and up to three children, also gets them 10 percent off in the cafe and retail shop - but it is only available until the end of February.

The offer is available to every child under the age of 11 and living within the CA postcode. Museum Manager, Dawn Walker explained: “We know that art isn’t necessarily a top priority in schools, due to lack of resources, and we know that art materials are quite expensive. This is a way of us trying to engage with our local, Cumbrian schools and community, to get them to move away from the idea that we

are just a tourist attraction, that we are actually a facility for everybody to come and enjoy.”

Through the scheme, the museum is hoping to encourage children to ditch the virtual world of gadgets and online gaming - at least for a little while anyway - and let their creativity flourish.

Dawn said: “It’s about encouraging children to get in touch with their arty sides, at school and outside of school as well, it’s making art accessible to everyone.”

The offer is available until the end of February, take proof of your address and the school your children attend to the Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick to purchase the £10 ticket.

For more information visit www.derwentart.com

Museum - Art Classes - Tuition & Demonstrations - Children’s Art Club - Artisan Café Derwent Shop - Yearly Membership – Join us on a journey of graphite and pencil discovery. Located in Keswick - the home of the first pencil.

– Enter the museum through the replica graphite mine and take your picture with the worlds largest colour pencil.

– Discover the secret maps and compasses stored in pencils that were used by fighter pilots in WW2.

– Miniature pencil sculptures, the Queens diamond jubilee pencil and historical displays of pencil packaging.

– Learn how pencils are made and try out your art skills in our art room.

– Visit the Derwent Art shop and enjoy lunch in our Artisan Café.

There’s so much more to a pencil.

Derwent Pencil Museum Keswick CA12 5NG - Tel 017687 73626 | www.derwentart.com

W H AT ’ S O N

BOB CHEEVERS

Celebrating 50 Years in the Business

By Paul McGuirk

F

ew musicians can claim to have penned over 3,000 songs in a career spanning five decades.

Fewer still can claim the plaudits of writing for some of the biggest names in country music (Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings) – but for Bob Cheevers, it’s all about the present.

In anticipation for his forthcoming UK tour, which includes a special performance at the Lowther Club, Whitehaven, Bob speaks exclusively to Paul McGuirk about life on the road and a lifetime in music.

They don’t make ‘em like Bob Cheevers any more that’s for sure. As one of the hardest-working men in music, it’s testament to his non-stop ethic that he considers a month on the road, three-thousand miles away from home, as “a very comfortable length of time”.

Of course, it may well be a walk in the park in comparison to previous tours, where Cheevers would play more than 65 shows in a row without much more than a day-or-two here and there to relax. But as Bob enters his fifth decade in the business – and his 13th year of touring Europe with his trademark contemporary country-folk sound - he shows little sign of slowing down.

“Over the years I’ve played in the UK, Luxembourg, Holland, Sweden, France and Italy,” explained Bob, with the enthusiasm of a man who really seems to enjoy the opportunity his music gives him to travel and engage with people. He added: “I know I’ll be seeing many familiar faces as well as new folks.”

Memphis born-and-raised, Bob grew up on a steady diet of Elvis, Billy C Riley and the Burnett brothers, and credits the 50’s rock ‘n’ roll explosion with kickstarting his love of songwriting, he said: “Had it not been for the rock and roll, I’d never have been completely taken over - I’d probably [have] never thought about becoming a singer.”

After relocating to California in the 60’s, Bob received his first big break when working in the stockroom at Capitol Records. “I met the girl in charge of publishing and asked her if she'd listen to my original songs. An independent producer heard my voice, and within a few weeks I had a major deal”, he explained.

Since then, Bob has travelled the world with his own style of inimitable country, blues and rock, settling in Nashville and Texas along the way. But the next leg on his journey takes him to Whitehaven, where he will be performing alongside veteran blues guitarist and long-time friend and collaborator Geoff Hawes.

It’s testament to his passion for music that he’s still excited to be performing to new audiences, even after all these years, he added: “When we are in your part of England I’ll be easy to recognize - I’ll be the guy with the great big smile ‘cause I’ll be so happy to be back in the UK.” We look forward to seeing you too Bob, the pleasure’s all ours.

Bob Cheevers plays the Lowther Club, Lowther Street, Whitehaven on Sunday 25th February.

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W H AT ’ S O N

MUSIC / COMEDY /THE ATRE / FILM / OTHER MUSIC

February

17

Hammerhead & Mythra T h e C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n

07

K M S Yo u n g M u s i c i a n s C o n c e r t T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

17

Northern Threads Florence Arts Centre,Egremont

07

Music For The Mind & Soul T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

17

Lee Patrick T h e Ye l l o w E a r l , W h i t e h a v e n

08

J i v e Ta l k i n T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

17

Rogues Joe Bananas,Whitehaven

09

And Finally Lionel Richie The Solway Hall,Whitehaven

18

Elaine Davidson Florence Arts Centre,Egremont

09

Blueway Jane T h e Ye l l o w E a r l , W h i t e h a v e n

18

10

Pons Aelius Florence Arts Centre,Egremont

Secure Unit The Lowther Club,Whitehaven

20

10

Jon Mcclure ( DJ Set ) T h e Ye l l o w E a r l , W h i t e h a v e n

Daniel Shao Flute & Daniel King-Smith Piano Cockermouth United Reformed Church

21

10

Plastic Paddy The Lowther Club,Whitehaven

Open Mic Night Florence Arts Centre,Egremont

23

Tr u e H e i g h t s a n d A l l E a r s A v o w L o u n g e 4 1 , Wo r k i n g t o n

24

Don Macay The Lowther Club,Whitehaven

24

Collison Live T h e Ye l l o w E a r l , W h i t e h a v e n

24

The Quo Experience C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n

24

Sam Davidson T h e M i d d l e Ta p , M a r y p o r t

25

C h a s i n T h e Tr a i n The Navy Club,Mar ypor t

H a l f Te r m F a m i l y C o n c e r t 11 T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k Sunday Social Presents Sally Thompson 11 T h e Ye l l o w E a r l , W h i t e h a v e n H a l f Te r m F a m i l y C o n c e r t 11 T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k 11

Jess Gilliam (Saxophone ) T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

Open Music Session 13 The Moon & Sixpence Coffee House ,Cockermouth 15

T h e Wo r l d ’s G r e a t e s t M u s i c a l s T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

15

Z o e Wa r r e n T h e Ye l l o w E a r l , W h i t e h a v e n

16

ELO Encounters The Solway Hall,Whitehaven

16

Mustagnz ( Rock n Roll Party ) T h e Ye l l o w E a r l , W h i t e h a v e n

16

Sam Davidson T h e Ke e k l e I n n

16

Mark Morriss The Rosehill Theatre , Whitehaven

F E AT U R E

songs on the summits

O

n the centenary of the Great War, the National Trust is set to revive the “world’s greatest war memorial”.

Every year, hundreds of people brave the November weather to climb to the summit of Great Gable on Remembrance Sunday. However, few people know that Great Gable was one of 12 Lakeland summits given to the National Trust in the years after peace was declared, becoming Britain’s most spectacular and unique memorial to those lost in World War One. Shortly after Peace Day 1919 Lord Leconfield, an honorary member of the Fell and Rock Climbing Club, donated Scafell Pike “in perpetual memory of the men of the Lake District who fell for God and King, for freedom, peace and right in the Great War.” The gift of the 12 peaks to the Trust by the Fell and Rock Climbing Club was made later, in 1923. The fells are Lingmell, Broad Crag, Great End, Seathwaite Fell, Allen Crags, Glaramara, Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Green Gable, Base Brown, Brandreth and Grey Knotts.

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This “Great Gift” was one of the largest ever donations to the Trust, ensuring that each year, hundreds of thousands of Britons can freely walk the mountains. Now, 100 years on, the charity is expressing its gratitude with a series of commemorations. As well as work to repair paths on Scafell Pike and Great Gable, these include the rebuilding of a summit cairn on Scafell Pike and an exhibition of war poetry at Wordsworth House in Cockermouth.

In addition, a unique, ‘leave no trace’ art project supported

by Arts Council England and the Arts and Humanities Research Council will bring together musicians and choirs for a ‘song cycle’ across the 12 peaks. The project, named ‘The fellowship of hill, and wind, and sunshine’, will see the National Trust working with leading local professional musicians and amateur singers from community choirs in Cumbria, to create a series of mountain-top performances in May, June and July.

Jessie Binns, Visitor Experience and Engagement Manager for the National Trust explained: “For a group of people, after the difficult experiences of the First World War, to

F E AT U R E

On Saturday 13 October, a special ‘singing picnic’ is set to be held at Peace How, a tiny hill at the south end of Derwent Water, given to the National Trust in 1917 so that servicemen from the trenches could experience peace and tranquillity. This accessible, but poignant location, means that anyone who was unable to make it up the hills, can still take part in the project.

Jessie added: “I think it could be deeply moving, there’s an extraordinary powerful feeling that happens when people sing together and to sing together in the outdoors in a place that has such resonate meaning will be quite extraordinary.”

For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk get together and dedicate the mountains to the nation, to freedom, so that everybody can come up here and experience that sense of freedom, was such an incredibly visionary act.”

She added: “We’ve been recruiting singers from communities across Cumbria, who love the mountains and love singing and wanted to give up their time to mark this special moment in the history of the Lake District and Cumbria.”

Leading the song cycles, is Cumbrian songwriter, musician and teacher Dave Camlin. As part of the project, Dave has created a new arrangement of the moving speech by poet, climber and FRCC member Geoffrey Winthrop Young, given on the summit of Great Gable at the dedication ceremony, which will be performed as part of the song cycle.

“...being up in the hills is where I feel happiest, you leave all your cares below you and feel that sense of freedom.”

Jessie said: “The first time I read the dedication speech by Young, I was so moved. For me personally, being up in the hills is where I feel happiest, you leave all your cares below you and feel that sense of freedom.

“It’s reestablishing that sense of fellowship and connection with each other, but with the spirit of the place and celebrating the emotional effects that these places have on our lives.”

Although only limited numbers can be taken up the mountains, each song cycle will be recorded and available to watch on the National Trust website. A partnership with the University of York will allow one of the performances to be recorded in virtual reality, allowing a wider group of people to be able to enjoy the experience.

Places available for

September 2018 Call 01228 550760 to request a prospectus or to book a personalised tour of the Junior or Senior School.

T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

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W H AT ’ S O N

Words by the Water

T

he north-west of England's premier festival of words and ideas returns to Keswick this March.

Held at Theatre by the Lake for over 15 years, the festival has seen hundreds of authors and thousands of audience members converge at the awe-inspiring setting, close to Derwentwater Lake.

This year, taking place from 9 - 18 March, the festival once again promises to awaken the imagination and stimulate with exciting new ideas and information. In a time when so much of life is conducted online, it is a rare opportunity to engage with live speakers and words. And as the Festival President himself, Melvyn Bragg said,“…Words By the Water is simply the best Literary Festival in the country.”

Here’s a glimpse of what we’ve got to look forward to this year.

Peter Snow & Ann MacMillan

Wartime Tales of Bravery, Suffering and Humanity Following the turbulence of war, countless stories remain untold. In a celebration of courage, innovation and compassion, Peter Snow returns to the festival with spouse, Ann MacMillan to re-live accounts of civilians in the midst of conflict. Each vivid and gripping narrative moves between tales of spies, escapes and uplifting acts of humanity spanning centuries and continents.

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W H AT ’ S O N

Hunter Davies

Love and the Sixties Cumbrian author and former editor of The Sunday Times magazine, Hunter Davies shares some of his colourful memories reporting on and partying with the likes of the Beatles, Michael Caine, George Best, Melvyn Bragg, Joan Bakewell and Sean Connery. He also reflects on his years spent with the love of his life, the bestselling Carlisle writer Margaret Forster, who passed away in 2016.

Vince Cable

From Fact to Fiction Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Sir Vince Cable drew on his experience in politics to write ‘Open Arms’, a thriller which moves from Whitehall to the slums of Mumbai and combines political detail with international intrigue, desire, and the quest for power.

Michael Rosen

Michael Rosen From the Beginning: Michael Rosen Remembers Former Children’s Laureate, novelist and poet, Michael Rosen recalls dreaming of a socialist revolution and casts his mind back to his journey of radical self-discovery – running away to the Aldermaston March to ban the bomb, and writing and performing in experimental political theatre.

Claire Tomalin

The Royal Literary Fund Lecture Triumph and Tragedy Acclaimed biographer Claire Tomalin turns her critical eye to her own fascinating life. She recalls moments of intense personal emotion: the death of her first husband and the suicide of her daughter. She reflects upon moments of national literary history and shares memories of her neighbour Alan Bennett, working with Christopher Hitchens, Julian Barnes and her husband, Michael Frayn.

Michael Buerk

Reasons to be Cheerful After a working lifetime spent reporting disaster and predicting doom Michael Buerk has had a change of heart. He will argue that we are living in the safest, most prosperous, most sensible and happiest period in human history and that despite Brexit, Trump and Kim Jong-un the world is full of reasons to be cheerful.

Tickets and full programme are available at www.theatrebythelake.com

Shappi Khorsandi

Mistress and Misfit Comedian Following a stint on 2017’s ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’, author and comedian, Shappi Khorsandi pays a visit to the Cumbrian countryside. She presents England’s unsung heroine and Nelson’s mistress, Emma Hamilton, who has gone down in history as a bit of a harlot. Emma struggled to haul herself from scullery maid to Lady Hamilton – and yes, she occasionally danced on tables naked to get ahead in life, but who hasn’t?

T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

71

W H AT ’ S O N

CumbriaN choir markS10 YEARS OFByrock Paul McGuirk

T

he last thing most people associate with the idea of a choir is rock n’ roll, but for one talented bunch of Cumbrians that’s precisely what their ensemble represents.

Now they’re ready to party, with a series of ten-year anniversary concerts in the pipeline.

Cumbria’s Committed 2 Rock choir – the brainchild of leader Cath Marcangelo – was formed back in 2008 with the intention of bringing people together for the sheer enjoyment of performing contemporary rock and pop without necessarily having to play an instrument or read music.

When was the last time you heard the Stereophonics, Slade or Guns ‘N’ Roses on Songs of Praise?

Since its inception, the choir has gone from strength-tostrength, with chapters of the group regularly meeting in no less than three Cumbrian towns, Whitehaven, Keswick and Penrith. In total, Committed 2 Rock now has over 300 members, something Cath Marcangelo had never anticipated ten years previously.

“My dream now is to have all three choirs perform together and to find a venue large enough to for our 300 members,” enthused Cath. “It would be a great way to celebrate the anniversary.”

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She added: “I hear stories from members about how joining the group has given them a new lease of life, or has helped them to focus on something new after a difficult time, or just that they have tremendous fun. They do not realise what a huge impact their voices, personalities and their efforts to achieve excellence has had upon me. I am truly blessed, long may Committed2Rock continue.”

The choir is also recognised for its fundraising activities.

Over the past decade, the team has raised well over £100,000 for deserving causes through its performances across the county. To mark a milestone in music, the choir has something special planned in the form of Celebration Rocks, which encompasses two 10th anniversary gala performances at the Theatre by the Lake, Keswick in aid of West Cumbria Youth Projects, Air Ambulance, Blood Bikes Cumbria and Mountain Rescue.

The concerts promise to be an opportunity for the team to celebrate the past and look forward to the next steps as the choir continues to grow, with a future that looks “rock” solid indeed.

The Committed 2 Rock choir will be appearing at the Theatre by the Lake on Thursday 29 March and Friday 30 March 2018. Tickets are £12.

For further information call 01768 774411 or visit committed2rock.co.uk

Got an Event?

TO L I S T YO U R E V E N T F O R F R E E EMAIL: info@theguidemediagroup.com March

18

Sam Davidson The Puncheon,Whitehaven

18

Thirteen Stars The Lowther Club,Whitehaven

22

P a u l L e w i s - H a y d n ’s p i a n o s o n a t a s Rosehill Theatre ,Whitehaven

01

Crow Dog Shills,Cockermouth

22

Kathr yn Rober ts & Sean Lakeman T h e C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n

02

Luke Matear Live T h e Ye l l o w E a r l , W h i t e h a v e n

23

One Night of Adele C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n

03

Vo o d o o B l o o d L o u n g e 4 1 , Wo r k i n g t o n

03

Ke n t D u C h a i n e Florence Arts Centre,Egremont

24

Bob Marley Experience The Solway Hall,Whitehaven

03

24

Reggie

G o o s e y Ty s o n Joe Bananas,Whitehaven

03

Jania The Lowther Club,Whitehaven

24

Grimethrope Colliery Band

04

Vo o d o o B l o o d Fletcher Christian,Cockermouth

24

Queensferry

10

WA O S P r e s e n t A n E v e n i n g w i t h Gilbert & Sullivan Rosehill Theatre ,Whitehaven

24

10

Kit Holmes T h e G a t h e r, E n n e r d a l e

10

Rock For Hereos C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n

10

The Northern Threads Joe Bananas,Whitehaven

13

R a u t i o P i a n o Tr i o Cockermouth United Reformed Church

15

Derek Ryan The Solway Hall,Whitehaven

16

Solitaire – Carpenters story The Solway Hall,Whitehaven

16

Lee Adams K o p p e r s B a r, C o c k e r m o u t h

17

Joe Bananas,Whitehaven T h e C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n P a r k H o r s e , Wo r k i n g t o n

West Cumberland Choral Society - A Howard Goodall Evening Rosehill Theatre ,Whitehaven

24

Solomon

24

Dave McPherson

24

Big D The Lowther Club,Whitehaven

24

Red Butler

25

Fletcher Christian,Cockermouth Tr a c t o r S h e d B r e w e r y , S e a t o n

The Navy Club,Mar ypor t

Bob Cheevers

The Lowther Club,Whitehaven

29

Celebration Rocks

Pot Luck The Lowther Club,Whitehaven

29

The South C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n

17

D u b l i n R a i d e r s – S t P a t r i c k ’s S p e c i a l The Solway Hall,Whitehaven

30

Wannabe – Spice Girls Show

17

V a l e n t i n e s P a r t y Tr i b u t e N i g h t The Lowther Club,Whitehaven

30

Howaysis, (Oasis tribute band)

17

Heartbreak Remedy T h r e e Tu n s , W h i t e h a v e n

30

The Mustagnz

18

Sam Davidson The Puncheon,Whitehaven

30

Gorthmania ll

18

Thirteen Stars The Lowther Club,Whitehaven

31

Brawl in the Hall 4

T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k 2 9 t h - 3 0 t h

The Solway Hall.Whitehaven T h e Ye l l o w E a r l , W h i t e h a v e n T h e G a s l i g h t B a r & B i s t r o , Wo r k i n g t o n M o n r o e s B a r, W o r k i n g t o n The Solway Hall,Whitehaven

Visit www.cumbria guide .co.uk for the latest what’s on

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F E AT U R E

Sunday 17th June

what a feeling, cumbria will be

Dancing on the Ceiling T

he Legendary Lionel Richie will have Cumbria dancing All Night Long this summer.

The International superstar will visit the county, with a show at Brunton Park, the home of Carlisle United FC on Sunday 17th June.

The date is part of a summer tour which will see the singer return to the UK, visiting iconic venues across the country.

Performing hits from his extensive and much loved repertoire spanning decades, all the way from the Commodores to the present day, Richie’s shows are world renowned for their party atmosphere. Fans will be able to enjoy timeless mega-hits and sing along to classics such as ‘Lady’, ‘Truly, ‘Dancing on the Ceiling’, ‘Say You Say Me’, ‘Hello’ and ‘All Night Long’.

Speaking of his return, Lionel said: “I’ve been missing the UK and can’t wait to make my long awaited return and to see parts of the country I’ve never made it out to before. The fans are always incredible and they make the atmosphere at every show electric, so I look forward to singing along with them soon.”

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These will be Lionel’s first UK shows since receiving glittering reviews for the ‘All The Hits’ tour. The dates followed a phenomenal Glastonbury performance which drew the biggest crowd of the weekend as over 200,000 people flocked to the Pyramid Stage. The incredible success continued as his album ‘The Definitive Collection’ topped the charts and provided his first UK Number 1 in 23 years.

Lionel went on to receive British GQ’s Icon Award adding to a celebrated career which includes the four GRAMMYs, a Golden Globe and even an Oscar as well as the prestigious Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Award. Having sold over 100 million albums worldwide he recently joined the judging panel on ABC’s American Idol.

Phil King, Sales and Marketing Director at Carlisle United said: “We are delighted to be able to welcome Lionel Richie to Brunton Park. Lionel is a major international artist, and we are excited to see him here in Carlisle. This will be the third successive year we have held concerts here, and it's great to see things going from strength to strength - it's fantastic for the club and for the city” Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com

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OH YES IT IS

Familiar Faces at Keswick Film Festival

A

host of familiar faces will be appearing on the big screen at Keswick Film Festival this year.

Back for its 19th year, the annual celebration of cinema brings you the very best films from the world’s greatest festivals – as well as some very special guests – in the stunning surrounds of one of the most picturesque places on Earth. With the view is as good outside as it is on screen, it’s not hard to see how Keswick Film Festival has developed a burgeoning reputation and why so many film buffs flock to attend each year.

Taking place from 22 - 25 February, this year one of the country’s most popular actresses, Sheila Hancock will open the festival with a rare big screen appearance in ‘Edie’. Introduced by Director Simon Hunter, the film tells the story of 84 year old Edie, who released from the ties of a difficult marriage, decides to fulfil a lifetime’s ambition to climb a mountain in the Highlands. With its mountainous settings

and inspiring storyline ‘Edie’ was made for the Keswick Film Festival.

Elisabeth Moss (of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and ‘Top of the Lake’ fame) shows off her lesser known comedic talent as the star of ‘The Square’ a biting satire on the art world which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2016. Meanwhile ‘Loves, Lies and Records’ actor Mark Stanley, plays a young farmer trying to hold on to the farm tenancy after the death of his father in Dark River, a gritty drama set in Yorkshire.

Most poignantly of all, however, the festival will see Sir John Hurt in his last leading role. ‘That Good Night’ is the tale of a writer with a terminal illness who hopes to put his affairs and family in order before he passes. With Charles Dance playing opposite him, the interaction between two giants of the stage and screen is said to be magnificent.

Festival Director, Ian Payne, said: “I hope that the chance to see these household names in quite different guises will tempt people to come and sample the programme in February.”

He continued: “For anyone who likes good plot-driven drama on TV or the cinema, these films will both entertain you and at the same time put your emotions through the wringer.”

For the full programme and more information visit www.keswickfilmfestival.org

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WW HA HTA’TS ’ SO N ON

MUSIC / COMEDY /THE ATRE / FILM / OTHER FILM

THE ATRE

February

February 14

Don’t Dribble on the Dragon T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

14

My Little Pony - Free Movie Day Helena Thompson Museum, Workington

14

The Chit Chat Chalk Show T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k 1 4 t h - 1 6 t h

16

Mar y Poppins (U) T h e a t r e B y T h e L a k e , Ke s w i c k

17

They’re Behind You T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

16

17

Throne Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth

Paddington 2 (PG) Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth

20

Windrush, Calyx & Shadows T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

19

Wo n d e r ( P G ) Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth

21

Dance To The Music C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n

22

Ke s w i c k F i l m F e s t i v a l T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k 2 2 n d - 2 5 t h

26

The Greatest Snowman (PG)

22

Cat On a Hot Tin Roof (National Theatre Live) Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth

22

U n d e r M i l k Wo o d T h e a t r e R o y a l , Wo r k i n g t o n

24

The Sagas Of Noggin The Nog Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth

25

The Chef Show Rosehill Theatre ,Whitehaven

27

W. A . D . A . O . S . p r e s e n t S i s t e r A c t Solway Hall,Whitehaven

16

Star Wars - The Last Jedi (12A)

27

Nina T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k 27th-3rd March

19

Darkest Hour (PG)

26

Phantom Thread (15)

March 02

The Bench

03

Chip Shop Chips

10

Tom Thumb

10

The Chef Show

16

The Best Of Times

20

Ladykiller

23

Little Mermaid - The Circus Sensation

23

Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth Bassenthwaite Parish Room

Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth

Charity Screening of 2 7 Murder on The Orient Express P l a z a C i n e m a , Wo r k i n g t o n March Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri 0 5 (15) Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth

Got A Date For Here? email info@theguidemediagroup.co.uk ...and be seen in the largest read publication in West Cumbria

Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth Brigham Memorial Hall C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n 1 6 - 1 8 T h e a t r e R o y a l , Wo r k i n g t o n Theatre By The Lake ,keswick

Hymn To Love

T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k 23rd-10th April

For information on all upcoming GIGS head to www.cumbriaguide.co.uk

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W H AT ’ S O N

OTHER

February

Running until 25th March Edith Brown - Medicine Woman The Beacon,Whitehaven

Running until 18th Feb Auschwitz: Understanding the Past, Facing the Future

February 02

Ke n d a l M o u t a i n F e s t i v a l U K To u r The Rosehill Theatre ,Whitehaven

02

Jennings Quiz Night

03

Sportman’s Eveening with Leon Pryce

The Beacon,Whitehaven

Whitehaven Rambling Club Lecture - Montana 1 4 Glacier National Park, USA United Church Hall,Whitehaven

15

Mini Messels Makers: Sping into Crafts

16

Evening with Jason Robinson OBE

The Rosehill Theatre ,Whitehaven Marchon Club,Whitehaven

Unicorn Workshop 17

D a r l i n g M a n o r, W h i t e h a v e n

Whitehaven Rambling Club Walks

A- Blencathra Centre, Longsdale Fell,Latrigg B - M u n g r i s d a l e , B o w s c a l e Ta r n , B o w s c a l e Ta r n C - Ke s w i c k , R a i l L i n e , B r u n d h o l m e , L a t r i g g

J e n n i n g s B r e w e r y, C o c k e r m o u t h Wo r k i n g t o n C r i c k e t C l u b , Wo r k i n g t o n

Whitehaven Rambling Club Walks

A - Bowness Knott,Haycock, 0 4 C aw, C r a g F e l l B - B o w n e s s K n o t t , L i t t l e G o w d e r, H a y c o c k C-Bowness Knott, Memorial Bridge 07

Charge

07

Quiz Night

T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k Florence Arts Centre,Egremont

Whitehaven Rambling Club Lecture

0 7 - A Year in Bee Keeping United Church Hall,Whitehaven 09

Words By The Water Festival

10

Safety Net Charity Evening

U - Dance 21

11

Afternoon Tea with Julieanne

Whitehaven Rambling Club Lecture - Club 2 1 Members Photograph Competition

12

Lakes College Exhibition

Civic Dinner - The Mayor of Workington 23

1 4 - Red Squirrel Conservation United Church Hall,Whitehaven

18

T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

United Church Hall,Whitehaven H u n d a y M a n o r, W o r k i n g t o n

Nick Sharratt- Pirates Pants and Wellyphants

2 4 Launch Event The Beacon,Whitehaven

Whitehaven Rambling Club Lecture - Wainwright

2 8 Fell Wanderer United Church Hall,Whitehaven

T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k 9 t h - 1 8 t h The Solway Hall,Whitehaven The Solway Hall,Whitehaven Florence Arts Centre,Egremont

Whitehaven Rambling Club Lecture

Whitehaven Rambling Club Walks

A-C2C St Bees, Dent (Parking Longlands Lake) 18 B-C2C St Bees, Cleator (Parking Longlands Lake) C-C2C St Bees, (Parking Longlands Lake)

Whitehaven Rambling Club Lecture

2 1 - The Story of Whitehaven Rambling Club United Church Hall,Whitehaven

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26

An Evening With Carl Froch

26

U Dance Cumbria

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Henry Vlll: The First Brexiteer

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Brawl in the Hall

The Solway Hall,Whitehaven C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n The Solway Hall,Whitehaven

W H AT ’ S O N

GET UP OFF THE COUCH!

I

f your New Year’s resolution was to get fit but you’re struggling to get off the sofa, a Couch to 5K course is guaranteed to get you moving.

The St Bees Triers Running Club’s Couch to 5K, due to start on 22nd February, is aimed at new starters who have never thought running possible.

The course which runs each year over 10 weeks hopes to get participants up to the standard to be able to join the club’s regular 6pm or 7pm sessions.

The St Bees Triers’ course follows the progressions of the NHS Couch to 5K programme, enabling users to download the app and track their progress. However, there are added benefits to completing the course as a group, as Courtney Deakin, Public Relations Secretary for the club, explained: “We run the programme as a group so participants can support and encourage each other, while also gain training tips, advice and support from our qualified run leaders and club members.”

At the end of the course, runners will take part in the 5K Workington Park Run together, to show just how far they’ve come.

Courtney added: “You may not think it’s possible, but you’ll never know until you try.”

The course costs £10 and runs for 10 weeks. If participants decide to join St Bees Triers at the end of the course, membership fees will be reduced by £10.

To sign up to the Couch to 5K course email triersct5k@gmail.com T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

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C WOHAASTT’ SS EORNI E S

CumbriaN Coast: Haverigg

By Dave McMillan

O

n our next port of call along the Cumbrian coast, Dave McMillan explores the spectacular sand dunes of Haverigg.

Nestled on the edge of the Duddon estuary, just a stones throw from the town of Millom lies the peaceful fishing village of Haverigg. Tucked away under the shadow of Black Combe, this rare gem is a haven for a spectacular variety of wading birds and breeding terns.

Derived from the Norse language, Haverigg can be translated as ‘the hill where oats are grown’. You can be guaranteed a warm and friendly welcome to the village from both the locals and the wildlife of The Hodbarrow Nature Reserve.

It is one of the quieter areas of the Lake District and is sure to make you feel at home. Well suited to cyclists, walkers and bird watchers, the RSPB Nature reserve was once the site of the Hodbarrow Mine which was in operation until the late 1960’s. Remnants of Haverigg’s industrial past can be found hiding in among an array of beautiful wild flowers

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and rare flora and fauna along the many winding footpaths surrounding the Hodbarrow Lagoon.

As a site of Special Scientific Interest, the Duddon Estuary is home to around 50 percent of the country’s Natterjack Toad population. Should you arrive in April onwards you could be greeted by a chorus of these nocturnal creatures as the males call can be heard up to a kilometre away. It is also an important habitat for tern and waterfowl. Butterflies, peregrine falcons and crested grebes are a favourite sight for many.

With its many enticing attractions, from the open sands and sweeping dunes of Haverigg Beach to the ‘hidden treasures’ waiting to be found around the Hodbarrow Lagoon Nature Reserve, you’ll be spoilt for choice when visiting with the family. Haverigg beach is also of Blue Flag status, making it an ideal place to bring the kids and perfect for kite flying and horse riding. The small beach café offers warm meals, sandwiches, ice creams and non-alcoholic drinks and is just a few minutes from the holiday caravan park.

Adrenaline junkies will easily get their fix here, thanks to an abundance of watersports on offer at the Port Haverigg Wakepark. Surrounded by the sandy beaches and breathtaking scenery, speed demons can try Cable Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Kneeboarding, and Wakeboarding, as well as Stand Up Paddle-boarding and Banana Rides, on the freshwater lake. And it’s also worth noting that Port Haverigg is the only venue in Cumbria to offer boat sports without a speed restriction.

Newly installed in 2016, the addition of the The WakeStation, a two tower cable pulled system is a great way to learn to Wakeboard if you’re new to the sport. Meanwhile those already established riders will enjoy its third cable, a Smart-Tensioning system which is fantastic for air tricks. But if you’re not quite ready to dive into the unknown, there’s lovely large veranda to watch friends and family from.

After a leisurely stroll or fun filled day of adventure, the village offers a wide range of accommodation, along with cafes and pubs. The Harbour Hotel is perfect for a pint in the sunshine with it’s large welcoming beer garden and hearty meals. Or why not make your way down to the Ski Bar of an evening. Tucked away on the shore of the lagoon this quaint ski bar is livelier than it appears and plays host to an extensive variety of live music and special events throughout the summer months.

With Millom close by there are many options when it comes to accommodation. From camping at one of Haverigg’s quiet campsites and holiday parks to a range of hotels and B&Bs close by, this new home away from home will assure a content nights sleep leave you wanting more.

Haverigg truly is one of Cumbria’s hidden gems, not convinced? Go see for yourself.

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WILDLIFE

WILD about cumbria: otters

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n this installment of our Wild About Cumbria series, Danielle Murphy delves deeper into the lives of Cumbria’s otters.

There are few people that can honestly say they don’t experience the heartwarming feeling that comes over most of us at the sight of otters holding hands. Let’s be honest, when Blue Planet 2 featured otters cuddling each other, it is fair to assume in every UK household the scene was met with a rally of involuntary noises, much to the sound of “awww” and “eeeep”. We love them, and luckily enough here in Cumbria the chances to see a wild otter aren’t as slim as many believe.

Here in Britain the only species we have is the Eurasian Otter (Luntra, Lutra). They are part of the weasel family and typically grow to be anything from 70cm to 1m long. They can be identified by their brown, white and grey fur.

Being semi-aquatic they thrive by the rivers and lakes, which we know Cumbria is not short of. While their diet consists of primarily fish, they will occasionally take small birds and during spring time they rely quite heavily on frogs.

Known for their playful disposition and juvenile appearance, otters are very intelligent but know how to have fun. Unfortunately they are among many species that have faced hard times in the past. The 20th century nearly saw to the end of Britain’s otter population with numbers almost completely depleted by the 1980's. With habitat destruction, pollution and pesticides being the primary exterminators of otters.

Luckily recent years have been kinder to the lovable otter and conservation efforts have paid off with reports stating otters are now present in every county in the UK. Although this is a victory in some ways, in others there is still a long way to go. The habitats which the otters are currently inhabiting still need to be cautiously managed to ensure success for the otters as the numbers are still relatively low in Britain.

Otters have been recorded in the Eden valley and some of its tributary rivers. They have also been recorded in Ullswater, Derwentwater and Longlands Lake between Egremont and Cleator.

These lovely, playful creatures are a wonder to watch, however are very elusive. Sightings in Cumbria are rare, but they are here, so if keep your eyes open and your ears alert you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of an otter.

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(Please be aware that these animals scare easy and can become very stressed, so if you do see them, we urge you not to try to approach them or get close for a photo, instead take your photo from a distance and enjoy the moment.)

Start creating family memories here.

2018 Holidays 25% OFF Self Catering Holidays OR 15% OFF Camping & Touring Holidays.

Promotion Code:

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Expries: 31/03/18

Indoor & outdoor swimming pools, gym, Jacuzzi, sauna & steam room. Family entertainment & adult cabaret 7 nights a week!

Self catering accommodation, Camping pods & fully serviced pitches for tents, touring caravans & motorhomes. Caravans for sale.

www.stanwix.com | 016973 32666 Stanwix Park Holiday Centre, Silloth, Cumbria, CA7 4HH

WHERE ARE YA? Someone has been to a town in West Cumbria and they have been messing with the signs.

Can you unscramble the letters to find out where you are?

MOTORCAR OLE

They have also been messing with our street signs. Unscramble the street/lane signs and save the town.

CELLO FIEND ....................................................................................................

A REDACTS JOKER ..........................................................................................

BROAD RISK .....................................................................................................

CARGO DRAG ...................................................................................................

ADORNED LEANER ........................................................................................

WARM RAVIOLI SLIME ..................................................................................

AREA DRIVE HIKE ...........................................................................................

BALD LINEN .....................................................................................................

SORDID ALFRESCO ........................................................................................

ELEVATOR MAN ..............................................................................................

Answers on page 91

F E AT U R E

stepping up to the challenge

T

his year our Editor, Sarah Sinclair is stepping out of her comfort zone for a cause very close to home.

Every two months, Sarah visits the hospital where she receives an in intravenous infusion of a drug which (so far) keeps her well enough to enjoy a normal quality of life. She was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in 2015, a condition that causes inflammation of the digestive system or gut. Crohn’s is a chronic condition, it is ongoing and life-long, although there can be periods of good health, as well as times when symptoms are more active.

In the UK, someone is diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease every 30 minutes.This often comes after a period of severe illness and before what will inevitably be an even longer process of finding a treatment that works for them. And even then, it’s not always a permanent solution.

8 out of 10 sufferers will have surgery at some point. Almost everyone will experience flares which will leave them too ill and exhausted to do many of the things most take for granted, like going to work, taking a shower or even getting out of bed.

In what she describes as a “moment of madness”, last October Sarah signed up to take part in the Great North Run, on 9 September this year, she explained: “Having stopped pretty much all physical activity when I became ill, I was anxious that I needed to get my body moving again but at a complete loss of where to start. I reasoned that a challenge, and an opportunity to do something positive with my experience was just what I needed.”

Running the half marathon on 9 September, Sarah is hoping to raise £400 for Crohn’s and Colitis UK, the UK’s leading charity in the battle against IBD. She added: “Crohn’s and Colitis UK are committed to treatment, support, research and ultimately finding a cure for a disease we still know relatively little about.

“They want to see a world in which people’s lives are not limited by Crohn’s and Colitis, and so do I.” To sponsor Sarah and to donate to Crohn’s and Colitis UK visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sarah-l-sinclair 84

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Challenging Waters

By Danielle Murphy

O

ne Carlisle man took his love of the Lake District and soft spot for swimming to the next level.

Defying expectations and fulfilling a dream, 62-year-old John Mather has conquered 13 of Cumbria’s lakes and bodies of water. Over the course of three years John has swam the equivalent of 40 miles and after completing the challenge he decided to share his experiences in the form of a book titled 'Challenging Waters: The Diary of a Lake District Swimmer’.

John successfully completed some of the biggest lakes in England, he even managed to swim the length of Windermere which spans a whopping 10.5 miles. John said: "I absolutely loved it. Swimming is a passion of mine and has been since I was a child. I also have a huge love for the Cumbrian lakes and combining the two was fantastic."

For John swimming isn’t just a hobby to fill the time, it is a pleasure which he relishes and wants other people to benefit from in the same way, he said: "I was a quiet child and enjoyed playing cricket but i found so much solace in swimming. I would visit the baths often, I felt I could truly express myself through swimming and it really helped with my self-esteem. It can also be really peaceful as well as social."

One of John’s biggest achievements was undertaken last year when he successfully swam Ullswater lake and raised over £1000 for Wigton baths after the floods of 2015. John said: "I was delighted to see the kindness of people. We received so much support it was amazing."

John’s book will take you across each of the lakes he swam with implements of history, information and facts surrounding each individual lake. Filled with wonderful sketches hand drawn by John himself as well as tips for swimmers who fancy giving wild swimming a go. The book will be ideal for adventurers and swimmers alike. He also aims to raise awareness of the lakes and their conditions, giving information on how we can help protect them and the wildlife that inhabits the surrounding areas.

John added: "I want people to realise the beauty that the Lake District has to offer, but respect it at the same time.

We live in such a fantastic place and there is so much history, I really want to be able to share that with others."

'Challenging Waters: The Diary of a Lake District Swimmer’ will be available to purchase as of March in local retailers.

John will be appearing as part of Words by the Water, at Theatre by the Lake on Tuesday 13 March from 10.45 - 11.45am.

For tickets visit www.theatrebythelake.com

CUMBRIA CASTLES

Cumbria’s castles: penrith

By Danielle Murphy

C

umbria’s landscapes are adorned with the ruins of castles, in this issue we will explore the history that surrounds Penrith Castle, built in the 14th century and housed one of England’s most infamous kings, King Richard III.

For many years the whereabouts of the body of King Richard III remained unknown. However, in 2012 an archaeological dig in a car park which was believed to be the former grounds of the church, revealed what historians have been eager to find for centuries. The body of the lost king.

The castle is situated on the outskirts of Penrith in Penrith Castle Park and still retains its original height in some areas.

Although the castle is merely remnants of what once was, you can still get a good idea of how the castle stood when it was built.

Various tests were undertaken and revealed that the body found suffered from scoliosis, this new information gave yet more reason to believe this was the body of king Richard III. The king was depicted by many as having severe deformities including a hunched back.

Constructed in the late 14th century by Ralph Neville, the Castle acted as one of many fortresses defending England from the Scots. The castle later became the long-term residence of The Duke of Gloucester who would later be crowned King Richard III. The infamous king reigned for only two years before his death at the battle of Bosworth in 1485. His death made him the last king to die in battle and also marked the beginning of Tudor rule as it was Henry VII who took to the throne.

The King is believed to have died in an extremely brutal way, being struck on the head with blunt force several times as well as receiving “humiliation” injuries.

Following his death his naked body was taken to Leicester and buried in a crude grave in the grounds of the Greyfriars Friary church.

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Further testing revealed that the remains were that of King Richard III. When samples of DNA were successfully extracted from the bones, the next step was to locate a descendent of the king. Luckily, a 17th generation descendent was located and after a long search, they got the results that they had hoped for.

The discovery of a body shed light on the life and death of notorious King Richard III. His body was reburied at Leicester Cathedral, with his tomb being built by a company in Penrith.

It is believed that the King was popular among the people who lived in Penrith at the time. Records indicate that 400 Penrith men marched to see his coronation in 1483. Cumbria has many connections with the past and Penrith castle holds one of the most significant.

Maryport Aquarium spring 2018

By Mark Vollers

M

ark Vollers gets ready for a busy season at the Lake District Coast Aquarium.

Spring starts earlier than on land in our local Solway Firth marine environment as rapidly increasing light intensity and hours of daylight trigger the first plankton bloom. This in turn supports the growth of countless millions of newly hatched fish fry that have synchronised with this event.

Simultaneously in the Lake District Coast Aquarium at Maryport, there is always an early season bustle of activity as we make use of the relatively quiet period between New Year and Easter to complete any works which would otherwise effect the visitor experience.

Within our aquarium displays there is a continuous upgrade process to not only improve our fish care but also to improve public engagement and levels of approval.

Regular visitors will soon find our new Solway Habitats Island tank in place, the largest all glass tank we have ever constructed, holding nearly 4 tons of water.

Sometimes we get calls from members of the public wishing urgently to find a home both for fish and unwanted aquariums and - provided we have space available - this can lead to a spontaneous ‘unplanned’ new displays like our new African Cichlid exhibit housed in our Wild Solway extension. These fascinating multi-coloured fish from Central Africa’s Rift Valley may be a departure from our mainly native species policy but are already proving a popular new attraction.

For more information visit www.coastaquarium.co.uk or contact 01900 817760

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W IHLADTL’ ISF EO N

Solway Fir th

WILDLIFE OF THE SOLWAY FIRTH NUMBER 51 THE SCAD (TRACHURUS TRACHURUS)

By Mark Vollers

E

ven as a maritime nation with a long history of fishing we are inexplicably conservative about what fish we eat and this fish falls into the category of being rarely available even if delicious to eat and seasonally abundant in our waters.

It is generally all exported to other nations that rate it highly.

They are not currently listed as a species under threat from over fishing. Scad have a silvery greenish appearance with large eyes and prominent fins, growing up to 40cm long and weighing more than a Kilo.

It has similar feeding habits to the better known mackerel, hunting down smaller fish and sandeels close inshore in Summer so is often caught at the same time.

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They can also filter feed through swarms of minute plankton.

Scad are also known as Horse Mackerel although they are not closely related to the latter.

The name ‘Horse Mackerel’ derives from an idea in former times that small fish rode along on their backs. This misconception must have arisen as they had been observed by fishermen plunging through shoals of their prey.

At our aquarium in Maryport we have a new excellent circular display tank that is ideal for maintaining the health and wellbeing of such open water fish so they are generally on display (with mackerel) for the public to see.

We think they show an unusual awareness of their surroundings and environment.

The Carlisle Guide

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SHOW YOURSELF Here are the answers to WHERE ARE YA? CLEATOR MOOR Leconfield - Jacktrees Road - Birks Road - Cragg Road - Ennerdale Road - William Morris Ave Keir Hardie Ave - Blind Lane - Crossfield Road - Montreal Ave

Solution to Crossword

Solution to Sudoku

Solution to Alpha Sudoku

Solution to Kids Sudoku

COMMUNITY

Volunteering is Priceless F

or anyone looking to get back into work, volunteering could play a pivotal part.

When it comes to Age UK West Cumbria, volunteers in any of their shops or warehouse help them raise vital funds for services throughout Allerdale and Copeland, supporting older people to remain active and independent.

However, volunteering can also be a worthwhile experience for the individual, particularly if they are looking to get back into work or to take on a new challenge.

Age UK West Cumbria is a registered charity, No 1122049

Everyone loves a bargain! Why not help someone to find one?

We need volunteers in our shops & warehouse to help us raise vital funds to support older people in your local community!

This is just one of the ways our volunteers help make a difference! Come and join us!

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To learn more about our volunteering opportunities call us 08443 843 843 or visit our website www.ageukwestcumbria.org.uk

Shop volunteers help the charity in a variety of ways. Responsibilities include sorting donated goods, displaying items for sale, operating the tills, serving customers and sorting items which might be suitable for sending to auction or sold on eBay and other similar sites. Some even enjoy using their artistic flair for window displays.

Meanwhile, In the warehouse volunteers help to sort donated items ready for delivery to the shops, and organise storage systems.

Both of these roles offer volunteers opportunities to use their skills or learn new ones. And of course, it can do wonders for building confidence. Any type of volunteering looks good on a C.V and will impress future employers, but getting some experience in the area you wish to work in, is invaluable.

For anyone thinking of going into retail or warehousing work, they can get good experience of customer service, stock control and rotation systems and working in a team, through volunteering with Age UK West Cumbria.

Peta Leigh, Volunteering Manager at Age UK West Cumbria said: “Although the shops are an important source of income, they also provide a link to the community and many older people who are feeling lonely regularly pop in for a chat while they are out shopping.

“In common with any of our volunteering roles, it’s a great way to meet new people, make friends and do something really worthwhile.”

For more information about volunteering visit www.ageukwestcumbria.org.uk or contact 08443 843 843

Challenge yourself in 2018

C

harity runners are being urged to get on their marks for on the biggest events in Cumbria’s fundraising calendar.

Thousands of people are expected to turn out for the Carlisle Colour Run on Sunday 13 May to raise money for Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice and Eden Valley Hospice.

More than 1,300 people took part in last year’s event raising almost £60,000 to help the care, support and activities provided to local children and young adults with life limiting illnesses. Since launching in 2015 the three Carlisle Colour Runs, hosted at Carlisle Racecourse, have raised £190,948 in aid of Jigsaw and Eden Valley Hospice.

2018 Events List Sunday 13 May – Colour Run, Carlisle Racecourse Sunday 20 May – Great Manchester Run Sunday 19 August – Morecambe Bay Walk Sunday 9 September – Great North Run To find out more contact the Fundraising Team on 01228 817656 email fundraising@jigsawhospice.org or visit www.jigsawhospice.org

The fun 5km event, which sees entrants bombarded with brightly coloured paint and foam at Carlisle Racecourse, is just one of several fundraising events hosted by Jigsaw over the next 12 months.

Also in May, the charity has secured 10 places in the Great Manchester Run as well as 25 charity places in the everpopular Great North Run on Tyneside in September.

Sam Johnston, Community Fundraiser at Jigsaw, explained: “The Colour Run is a brilliant occasion which really pulls the community together to help raise money for the hospice. It is our signature event and the biggest of the year for us.”

She continued: “We already have some people signed up for the Great Manchester Run which is a good start. It is the first time we have had places in this event, so we are very pleased.

“We have 25 places for the Great North Run in Newcastle.

To enter is £50 with the requirements to raise at least £300 for the hospice, however in previous years runners have gone above and beyond this target.”

The local children’s hospice will also be hosting a Morecambe Bay Walk on Sunday 19 August. The picturesque walk will be led by the Queen’s Guide to the Sands Cedric Robinson.

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W H I T E H AV E N M A P

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WORKINGTON MAP

Parking B and Q 1 Parking Parksafe 4 Steve’s Tiles 5 Lister’s Furniture 6 Steve’s Paints 7 Matalan

www.visitworkington.co.uk 01900 702986 office@workingtontowncouncil.gov.uk

The Workington Handy Map

1 2 3 4

Supermarkets Tesco Store Marks and Spencers Morrisons Asda Superstore

Information 1 Visitor Information

1 2 3 4

Points of interest Town Hall Allerdale Borough Council Workington Library Law Courts Army Reserve Centre Workington Hall The Old Brewery

Attractions Carnegie Theatre Eclipse Bowling Helena Thompson Museum Theatre Royal

Sports Grounds 1 Rugby League Ground 2 Workington Comets 3 Workington Reds Football

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Places of worship 1 Our Lady and St Michael’s 2 Church 3 St John’s Church St Michael’s Church

1 Rail Workington Railway

1 Bus Bus Station

1 Parks 2 Curwen Park Vulcans Park

1 Fast food Mc Donalds 1 Seating Seating Area

1 Shop/Retail 2 Retail Park 3 Washington Square

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COCKERMOUTH MAP

The Cockermouth Handy Map

7/Lowther Went, South St CA13 9 Cockermouth Phone 01900 827099 Mon - Sat 9:00am - 5:00pm

BEATFORDS café LUNCH AND DINNER

Supermarkets 1 Sainburys 2 Aldi Supermarket

Information 1 Tourist Information

Sports Grounds 1 Cricket Ground 2 Leisure Centre and Pools 3 Cockermouth Rugby Union FC

Shop/Retail Lakes Home Centre Oakhurst Garden Centre Limelighting Billy Bowman’s Music

Eat/Drink Bitter End Pub Trout Hotel The Fletcher Christian The Castle Bar Points of Interest Mayo Statue Cockermouth Castle Mitchells Auction Room Lakeland Livestock Centre

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4

Attractions Wordsworth’s House Castlegate House Gallery Percy House Gallery The Kirkgate Centre Jennings Brewery

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 5

Business 1 Lakeland Business Park 2 Derwent Mills Commercial Park

Accommodation 1 Travelodge

Car sales 1 Lloyd Motors

Local Amenities 1 Police Station Parking

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KESWICK MAP

THIS WAY R TO HONISTE

The Keswick

Handy Map

Supermarkets 1 Booth’s Supermarket

Information 1 The Moot Hall (Tourist Info.)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Points of Interest Rawnsley Centre Library Keswick Convention HQ War Memorial Museum Square Packhorse Court

Attractions The Pencil Museum Mini Golf Theatre by the Lake Lonsdale Alhambra Cinema Peter Rabbit and Friends Keswick Brewing Company Keswick Museum and Art Gallery Keswick Ferry Landing

Sports Grounds 1 Rugby Ground 2 Cricket Ground 3 Keswick Leisure Pool

1 2 3 4 5 6

Camping 1 Derwentwater Caravan/Camping 2 Lakeside Caravan Park

Parks 1 Crow Park 2 Hope Park 3 Fitz Park

Shop/Retail 1 Spar Convience store 2 Derwent Frames Ltd

Local Ameneties 1 Post Office 1 Police Station Parking

Churches 1 St John’s Church

Playgrounds 1 Children’s Playground

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WAHRAYTP’ O M S ROTN M A P

The Maryport Handy Map

Maryport Town Council Senhouse Street Maryport maryport.council@talk21.com

1 2 3 4

Points of interest Candlestick Lighthouse Harbour Marina Office Memorial Park Gardens Public Library

Attractions The Lake District Coast Aquarium The Wave Centre Maryport Maritime Museum Senhouse Roman Museum

Marina 1 Maryport Harbour and Marina 1 2 3 4

Sports Grounds 1 (to) West Coast Indoor Karting 2 Rugby Ground 3 (to) Maryport Golf Club

Rail 1 Railway Station

Places of worship 1 Our Lady and St Patrick’s Priory

Information 1 Tourist Information

Local Amenties 1 Co-op 2 Chemists 3 Chemists

1 Post office

1 Fire Station

Parking

01900 813205

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W H AT ’ S O N

HANDY NUMBERS ACCOMMODATION

Chase Hotel, Whitehaven Gosforth Hall Hotel Ennerdale Country Hotel Hundith Hill Hotel Irton Hall Hotel Lismore Guest House Lodge In The Vale, Nr Keswick The Sally, Threlkeld

ATTRACTIONS

Eclipse Bowling

Helena Thompson Museum King Kong Climbing Wall Lake District Coast Aquarium Maryport Maritime Museum Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Senhouse Roman Museum The Beacon, Whitehaven The Rum Story, Whitehaven

01946 693656 019467 25322 01946 813907 01900 822092 019467 26025 01946 328384 017687 73331 017687 79614 01900 872207 01900 64040 017687 75907 01900 817760 01900 813738 01229 717 171 01900 816168 01946 592302 01946 592933

COUNCIL & OTHER SERVICES Allerdale Council Enquiries Cockermouth Town Council Copeland Council Cumbria County Council Egremont Library Maryport Town Council Whitehaven Credit Union Whitehaven Library Workington Information Point Workington Town Council

0303 123 1702 01900 821869 01946 598 300 01228 60 60 60 01946 820 464 01900 813205 01946 667 55 01946 506 400 01900 706170 01900 702986

MEDICAL & SUPPORT SERVICES

Cumbria Health on Call (CHOC) 111 Domestic Violence Support 07712 117 986 NHS Direct 111 Non-emergency Police 101 OutREACH LGBT Helpline 0800 345 7440 Samaritans 116 123 (Free call) West Cumberland Hospital 01946 693181 Workington Community Hospital 01900 705000

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SERVICE LISTED HERE PLEASE CALL: 01946 448 001

SPORTS GROUNDS & CENTRES Cumbria Sports Academy Whitehaven Sports Centre Hensingham Swimming Pool Workington Leisure Centre

01946 694 411 01946 695 666 01946 696 049 01900 878 718

THEATRES & CINEMA

Solway Hall Carnegie Theatre & Arts Centre Alhambra Cinema, Keswick Florence Art Centre Gaiety Cinema, Whitehaven Kirkgate Theatre, Cockermouth Plaza Cinema, Workington Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven The Wave, Maryport Theatre by the Lake

TRANSPORT

Downton Travel M & I Travel Northern Rail

01900 602122 017687 72195 01946 824946 01946 748507 01900 826448 01900 870001 01946 692422 01900 811 450 01768 77 44 11 0800 118 2891 01900 603317 0800 200 6060

TRAVEL & WEATHER Bus Timetables Lake District Weather Service Train Timetables

0871 200 22 33 0844 846 24 44 08457 48 49 50

TOURIST INFORMATION Cockermouth Egremont Keswick Maryport Siloth Workington Whitehaven

01900 822 634 01946 820 693 0845 901 0845 01900 817 760 016973 31944 01900 706170 01946 448001

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