West Cumbria Guide 09 April - May

APRIL - MAY 2018

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T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e - S u p p o r t i n g l o c a l c o m p a n i e s s i n c e 2 0 0 7

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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 APRIL / MAY 2018

Managing Director Stephen Murphy

T: 01946 448 001 stephen@theguidemediagroup.com

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

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

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

A Word from the Editor I’m writing this in the week that saw the spring equinox, so I can officially say that spring has sprung (let’s just gloss over the fact that snow is forecast again for next week).

As buds begin to blossom and the trees turn leafy and green, our annual Home & Garden feature is all the inspiration you need to pull on your wellies, go outside and give your garden some much needed TLC. Moota Garden Centre have put together a great guide to getting your garden ready for the warmer weather (ahem), we’ve got the lowdown on what’s hot for your home and some tips for clearing out that clutter - because a tidy home equals a tidy mind, right?

In other news, this issue we’re talking about plastic. According to Greenpeace every piece of plastic ever been made still exists in some form or other on earth. That’s every piece, ever. This certainly puts into perspective how big our plastic problem is, from the single use plastic straws in bars, to the polypropylene found in tea bags (yes, tea bags - and you’ve been chucking them on the compost heap this whole time).

‘Plastic Free Cumbria’ is a Facebook group and initiative set up with the aim to reduce single-use plastic in the county. The group grew to 6,000 members in just three weeks, which shows that there are a lot of people and businesses in Cumbria who want to do their bit. It can be difficult to know where to start though, so on page we take a look at how other people are tackling plastic pollution and what you can do to help.

On a more positive note, this issue harbours exciting news as the Tall Ship Pelican makes Whitehaven its next port of call (page 10), meanwhile a revolutionary new project has set about ensuring the town has a very bright future (page 12). And as always, we showcase local businesses, celebrate home-grown talent and bring you the very best of what’s going on in the west of the county. From family-friendly fun to our big beer festival round-up (I’ll save you time, it’s on page 50.) So sit back, sip up and enjoy April/May. Cheers!

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

FACEBOOK Advertising/Distribution Paul Seath T: 01900 354 005 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 contributors Cover - Harry Baker

CONTENTS

16

F E AT U R E S 10

P e l i c a n Ta l l S h i p

12

The Colourful North

18

Stephen John Guitars

21

Spotlight on Maryport

30

HOME AND GARDEN 24

Spring Garden Tips

30

I n t e r i o r Tre n d s

H E A LT H A N D B E A U T Y 32

New Season Fashion

34

Bridget Foster

10

FOOD & DRINK 41

Lakes & Cumbria Cookbook

48

Jennings Brewery

50

Beer festival Round-Up

50

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

Seascale Golf Club

56

Sports Round-Up

90

W H AT ’ S O N 66

E d i t o r ’s P i c k

74

Ke s w i c k J a z z F e s t i v a l

90

Cumbrian Coast

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Making waves in WHITEHAVEN

T

he town is about to embark on a new adventure as the Tall Ship Pelican docks in Whitehaven harbour.

The magnificent tall ship which docked in Whitehaven harbour over the Easter weekend is set to become a regular appearance. Originally named ‘Le pelican’, the ship was built in 1948 as a fishing trawler in the Arctic. She was later sold to Norway and used for smuggling. When the owner went to prison the ship was confiscated by officials and remained in Norway until 1995, when she was purchased for restoration. 12 years later Pelican took her first voyage as a training ship.

Tall Ship Pelican is now owned and operated by Adventure under Sail, a charity supporting the development of young people through sail training. Since taking on Pelican, the organisation have worked with over 300 young people, taking them on voyages to grow as individuals and learn vital life skills to improve their future.

The concept is relatively unknown here in the UK, but in Northern Europe, countries such as Norway have their own tall ships for training young people, Adventure under Sail

CEO, Adrian Ragbourne explained: “They are way ahead of us in terms of innovative ways of developing young people, particularly social skills and preparing them for a future.”

He added: “It’s about transforming their life from where they were before they came on board to where they are when they leave. To get them thinking ‘I can do anything I want if I set my mind to it.’ We then work with other providers to organise the next steps.”

The project is primarily aimed at young people aged 16 - 24 and not in employment, education or training (NEET), but they have taken onboard people in their 20s or 30s and also work with over 50s who may be suffering from anxiety and isolation.

The experience of being at sea - a typical voyage lasts for five days - with no electronics or home comforts, forces the participants out of their natural habitat. The crew have to work as a team to cover all aspects including sailing, maintenance, cooking, health and hygiene, navigation and even engineering work. They learn to focus their capabilities, communication skills and above all, how to follow instructions - because if they don’t, lives are at risk.

W H I T E H AV E N TA L L S H I P

Adventure under Sail have teamed up with Disruptieve to bring the organisation to Whitehaven, where young people in Copeland and further afield in Cumbria will benefit from the unique opportunity. Tall Ship Pelican will make Whitehaven its new home, with voyages setting sail for the Isle of Man, Dublin and Belfast, leaving from and returning to the harbour. And while the ship’s objective is to be a training vessel rather than a tourism attraction, she draws huge crowds wherever she docks.

Adrian also wants to cultivate this relationship with the town, he explained: “Giving support to the community, getting local businesses involved, using suppliers and hopefully getting local trades involved in the work we need doing, is critical and really helps us.”

Adrian added: “The one thing about this area is that it embraces the maritime sector, there’s a recognition that there is so much history. The potential here is huge, the building blocks are in place and we want to be part of that.”

As a town with such a rich maritime past and the potential for a thriving future, it’s only fitting that the Pelican would make Whitehaven its next port of call.

Copeland Mayor, Mike Starkie, said: ”The permanent arrival of the Pelican is a major coup for Whitehaven and I know it will be a popular addition to our tourist offer. But in addition to being a tourist attraction, the Pelican and the Adventure under Sail will offer unique training experiences for young people who will spend time onboard and on land learning encouraging life skills in a fun and encouraging environment. “

For more information visit www.adventureundersail.com

“The potential here is huge, the building blocks are in place and we want to be part of that.”

T 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

not so fantastic plastic

By Danielle Murphy

O

ur own environmentalist, Danielle Murphy explores how we can tackle Cumbria’s plastic pollution.

Let’s talk about plastic. The impact that plastic is having on our planet is becoming increasingly more talked about, people are becoming more aware of the amount of plastic we are using, and thankfully, even those people who are pretending that it isn’t a problem are finding it harder to escape the pleas of the planet.

It appears we are waking up to the devastation the manmade product is causing, especially in our oceans. Over the last year awareness of the problem has spread like wildfire and with media influences such as the BBC’s Blue Planet II addressing the issue head on, Cumbria is now getting on board and making distinct efforts to change the way we use plastic.

Cumbria is one of many regions striving to eliminate single-use plastic from our daily lives. Counties such as Cornwall and Devon have been pushing the issue for many years. Surfers Against Sewage was established in 1990 in a small village in Cornwall, their aim was to clean up their beloved coastline. Now they are one of the most prominent and well known eco-action charities in the UK, organising beach cleans across the country and now have a strong presence in Cumbria.

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Carlisle man, Steve Wilson has recently become heavily involved in the campaign to reduce plastic on Cumbrian beaches. After becoming worried about the amount of plastic he was seeing on our beaches, he decided to get involved with the Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) and has now set up a Facebook page called Cumbria Coastline Clean-up.

Steve said: “I originally got involved with SAS through seeing just how bad some of the Cumbrian beaches are.

“They are so often covered in waste - from cans, plastic bottles and fast food packaging from local businesses - but its plastic that we see the most. Some from distant shores, some from local coffee shop, some that is just completely unidentifiable, but just a small chunk of plastic.”

He added: “Through getting involved, I realised quickly that just working alone cleaning beaches wasn’t going to make much of a difference, so I started this page to help raise the awareness and gain support from others interested in doing their bit for the environment.”

Another group of people taking action against single-use plastic are sisters Heidi and Marcia Frith who have set up the Facebook group ‘Plastic Free Cumbria’.

Marcia lives in Cumbria and Heidi in Devon, Heidi said: “We could never have anticipated the response we got when we set up the Facebook group. Nearly 6,000 members in less than 6 weeks and still growing. More than 1 per cent of the population of Cumbria.”

R E C YC L E

“recycling really does work, we can all do it and we can all make a difference.”

Other local organisations such as Cumbria Waste Group are also putting in efforts to make a difference by offering a range of eco-friendly waste solutions such as composting and recycling services. Linda Macilwraith from Cumbria Waste Group commented: “We live in a beautiful place but also in an increasingly fragile world due to overuse of natural resources.

But, recycling really does work, we can all do it and we can all make a difference.

“Help us by making sure your plastic is properly cleaned, the tops are taken off and you only include the items we have listed for collection.”

She added: “Look at what you buy and how it is packaged, but most of all make full use of the recycling services available to you. And please follow the guidelines, the wrong or contaminated material is our biggest challenge in effectively recycling.

Bad recycling can be worse than not recycling at all.”

It is clear that the community in Cumbria is beginning to come together to take action against plastic and becoming more aware of the importance of saving our planet.

What can you do to help?

Below is a list of simple and easy changes you can make to your lifestyle to contribute to minimising plastic.

1.

Refuse plastic straws in restaurants, instead buy reusable straws and take them out with you.

2.

Invest in a reusable water bottle, they may seem a bit expensive but they have a dramatic effect on plastic waste.

3.

Pick up at least three pieces of plastic every time you visit the beach and recycle them.

4.

Buy fruit and vegetables loose from the local market (reduce plastic and help your local economy)

For eco-friendly packaging and supplies visit www.blueplanetecosupplies.com Thanks to Workington Nature Partnership and Cumbria Coastline Clean-up for images.

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F E AT U R E

THE COLOURFUL NORTH

W

hitehaven could be in for a bright future thanks to a new initiative aiming to transform the town centre with ‘urban art’.

Bringing a revolutionary concept to west Cumbria, The Colourful North is an urban art project who believe they can brighten up Whitehaven town centre. But we’re not talking flower boxes and painted shop fronts, The Colourful North want to transform bland, undesirable buildings and spaces into canvases for urban street art.

Behind the project is local, Matthew Labourne, who has been living in Australia for the last four and a half years.

Matthew first came across the concept while studying Engineering at university in Melbourne, he said: “I lived in a suburb about 100 metres away from a huge graffitti area and I was just amazed by it. I noticed that the whole area had the same industrial landscape you could probably get from Whitehaven and I thought if I ever go back I would take it with me.”

Don’t worry. By graffiti, Matthew doesn’t mean young people skipping school to tarnish their local bus stop with obscenities. Think more along the lines of Banksy. He wants to bring word-class, professional urban artists to White12

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

haven, he explained: “We’re not talking about people who only picked up a paintbrush a few years ago, I’m looking to try and contract some of the best in the world.”

The project will kick off with a design to commemorate Whitehaven Rugby League Football Club’s 70th anniversary this year. The artist designing the piece was the official designer for the London Olympic Games 2012 and has worked for numerous notable clients including; London Harlequins, BBC, ITV, Universal Studios and Walt Disney among others.

Matthew added: “I’m looking for the first one to be really effective and to really hit home and get the word out, so hopefully people will get on board with the idea and we can take it further.”

After completion of the Rugby League inspired design, The Colourful North will contract artists for the 14 advertisement boards on New Road (entering in to Whitehaven from the Pelican Garage direction). The design would be a tapestry depicting Whitehaven from 15th - 21st Century, restoring a desolate entrance to Whitehaven with professional urban art.

There is evidence from elsewhere in the world that this urban art can vastly transform desolate communities, inspiring young people and generating tourism. Matthew said: “When I lived in Perth I worked with a Brazilian guy from one of the favelas in Rio. They legalised graffiti art there to change the community and it went from being one of the worst areas of town, to a bustling tourist area, relinquished of poverty. I’m hoping that on some level this could be Whitehaven.”

It’s not just about what’s on the surface though. The Colourful North are also applying for funding to provide workshops and establishing graffiti clean up teams. “The idea of it is to create a community that is inspired by the work to then go and actively do it themselves in the workshops,” Matthew explained. “To create teams that will then help target their own communities.”

Members of the local community have already shown their support for the project - which will be entirely grassroots financed - and Matthew is hoping local businesses will get behind it when they see the potential it could bring to the town. They have already secured the backing of Copeland Borough Council and even Copeland MP Trudy Harrison has expressed interest.

“In the cities you get the one-offs, but this is a completely unique project to the UK,” Matthew said. “I’m hoping to get in there first, to establish Whitehaven as an urban art area and to promote the tourism aspect in the town.”

The future for Whitehaven looks bright, literally.

Follow The Colourful North on Facebook

T 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

HARRY BAKER 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. Harry Baker is another one of those who shared his passion with us.

Originally from Croydon, Harry was working in the special effects department on feature films in London before moving up to Cockermouth. He now pursues photography full time after receiving his first DSLR for Christmas in 2016. He now shoots with a Nikon D800 and edits with Photoshop and Lightroom.

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Harry Baker Harry said: “My advice would be to make sure you are taking photos for yourself first and foremost. Always have your camera accessible - forget the tripod if it means missing a moment. Be open to constructive criticism and literally just take photos of everything to practise.”

Find Harry’s work on Facebook @HarryBakerPhotographer or visit www.harrybakerphotography.co.uk www.instagram.com/harry.t.baker

For more amazing snaps visit Cumbria Guide on instagram @thecumbriaguide

Chelsea Lyle

Chris Mitchell

Phil Lewthwaite

Greg Scholey

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

Share your pictures with us on Facebook @thecumbriaguide

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how to save a life

By Paul McGuirk

I

n an area with a lower survival rate for cardiac arrests than the national average, a team of local first-responders have their hearts set on improving the chances for the people of West Cumbria.

The North West Ambulance Service has announced plans to host a free training session in Whitehaven to help provide residents with the skills needed to save a life.

The awareness course will take place in Whitehaven Civic Hall on Tuesday 15 May and its organisers aim to increase the knowledge of local, publicly accessible defibrillators in the area.

In addition to this, the course which is spearheaded by Lauren Watson, the Chain of Survival lead in Cumbria – is designed to increase the number of local people trained in the use of CPR and defibrillation devices.

As well as learning vital life-saving CPR and first-aid skills, attendees can expect to learn about the importance of placing defibrillators in strategic places, as well as gaining an understanding of the signage used to help direct them to the nearest one in the event of an emergency.

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Life-saving technology A defibrillator is a device which is used to deliver an electric shock to a person who is suffering a cardiac arrest. The current delivered by the defibrillator can help to restore normal rhythmic pulses to the heart, and this can prove crucial prior to hospital treatment.

Defibrillators are very easy machines to operate and provide clearly spoken instructions on how to use them once activated.

Although raising awareness of just how easy it is to save a life is the order of the day for the North West Ambulance Service. “Without a defibrillator to hand, the chances of survival of a cardiac arrest is around 10 percent, this increases to 70 percent when a defibrillator is used and even higher if the patient is reached within three minutes,� explained Lauren Watson.

Heart health According to an overview of avoidable mortality in Cumbria, cardiovascular diseases and injuries are the second most-common contributor to early loss of life in the county.

F E AT U R E

“Everybody is welcome. We deliver life-saving advice in a friendly and informal setting.”

Lauren added: “Everybody is welcome. We deliver life-saving advice in a friendly and informal setting.”

The four core aims of the course are to: • • While these levels are falling, Cumbrians are still statistically more likely to die from cardiac arrest than the national average. This highlights the importance of educating the public as to the whereabouts, signposting and usage of defibrillators, in both the public and private sectors.

Many public spaces, such as train stations, libraries, leisure centres and shopping districts are home to public access defibrillators. These can be used by anybody in an emergency and with its latest programme, the North West Ambulance Service wants to make sure that members of the public have the confidence to use these devices in an emergency.

• •

Increase awareness of local publicly accessible defibrillators in Cumbria Increase the amount of people trained in CPR and the use of defibrillators Increase the number of defibrillators in strategic places Increase the amount of signage throughout Cumbria to easily direct the public to the nearest device.

The FREE CPR & Defibrillator training session takes place on 15 May at Whitehaven Civic Hall, between 6-8PM. For further information, or to book a place on the course, contact Lauren via email at Lauren.Watson@nwas.nhs.uk

“Nobody should be afraid to use a defibrillator if they think somebody has had a cardiac arrest,” said Lauren. “It’s free to learn valuable life-saving skills with us and we encourage as many people as possible to come along.”

Average age increase According to figures from the Office of National Statistics, the majority of people residing in Cumbria will be over 50 by 2029. With an increasingly older population comes an increased likelihood of cardiac-related issues, highlighting the importance of people of all ages to be able to use defibrillators.

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F E AT U R E

STRIKING A CHORD

S

tephen Terry traded in fitting kitchens to pursue his passion full time - now he handcrafts bespoke guitars from his back garden in Keekle.

Stephen is in his studio, where he spends a great deal of his time these days. Purpose-built by his own two hands, its filled floor to ceiling with instrumental creations, indistinct tools and wood cut-offs in all shapes and sizes. The window looks out onto the long stretch of fields, where sheep idle away the day. It no doubt beats being at the office.

He built the studio last year, part of a set of two ‘his and hers’ for him and his partner Kelly, when he decided to give up the day job and make a living from what what was becoming a rather expensive hobby. Thanks to the financial backing of a sponsor, Stephen has been able to concentrate on making guitars full-time, there’s little money in it so far, but then he never has been “driven by the dollar”.

“I love making them. It’s better than fitting kitchens,” said Stephen, who has worked with wood all his life, training as a cabinet maker and then doing general joinery work. “I’ll always be poor, poor but happy. If I can make a living - and when I say a living, I mean just enough to pay the bills and get by - that’s all I’m after. It’s living the dream, that’s the idea anyway.”

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Stephen built his first guitar 10 years ago and has been hooked ever since, making them on and off in his spare time. It takes around 120 hours from start to finish and he’s not one to cut corners, doing everything by hand, from carving the necks to making all his own polish. “They are about as handmade as you can get in this day and age...I make everything except the strings,” he said. “The beauty of a handmade guitar is that they are all different. I couldn’t make two the same.”

As we speak, ‘Narnia’ sits majestically in the corner. Just one of the guitars he crafted out of a mahogany Edwardian wardrobe, he explained: “I got given the wardrobe as a gift, it was a beautiful piece of furniture but it was too big to go in the house. I reused that wardrobe for a good purpose instead of just burning or painting it.”

I suggest that he could be onto something, as people become increasingly dispirited by mass consumerism and our ‘throw-away’ culture. “I’ve noticed there seems to be a resurgence in crafts in general,” Stephen agreed. “People now have got much more of an appreciation of handmade things.

However much money you spend on a high-end guitar from a major brand, it’s still mass produced at the end of the day, whereas mine are all made individually.”

“The idea is, that at the end of it all you get your dream guitar.”

But that’s not to say that just because it doesn’t have Gibson or Martin on the headstock, the quality is any less exceptional, he added: “People can appreciate the tonal qualities that I get out of mine. I’ve had a lot of really good feedback that mine sound as good, if not better than the top end brands.”

Meanwhile, the real draw for guitar fiends of course, is the idea of having a one-off, where everything from the type of timber to the thickness of the top, is designed just for them.

They don’t come cheap, with handmade acoustics starting at around the £2,000 mark, but then you are buying more than just an instrument. You’re buying skill, dedication, attention to detail and desire. This isn’t a guitar you take gigging down the local pub, it’s a piece of craftsmanship, a work of art, to be treasured both aesthetically and aurally.

As Stephen said: “The idea is, that at the end of it all you get your dream guitar.”

Find out more at www.stephenjohnguitars.com

“There is so much to know, from the science behind it all to the theory of acoustics, I don’t think I’ll ever get bored.”

Albert Lee has played one of his guitars after all, and is believed to have said some favourable things about it. Stephen, however, still considers them to be a work in progress. “As much as people say how nice my guitars are, I don’t think they’re good enough yet. I’m striving for perfection,” he said.

“There is so much to know, from the science behind it all to the theory of acoustics, I don’t think I’ll ever get bored.”

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M A RY P O RT

spotlight on marypOrt

I

n the latest of our ‘Spotlight’ series we discover a quaint coastal town with a rich past and a wealthy future.

It was in the 1700s that Maryport began to thrive. A local landowner Humphrey Senhouse began developing the town as a port and in 1749 an Act of Parliament was passed allowing the creation of the town. It was Humphrey Senhouse who gave the town the name Maryport, naming it after his wife Mary.

The town was home to a glassworks, paper mill and iron works in the mid-late 1700’s but none of them lasted and it was not until 1765 when William Wood opened the first shipyard that the town began to truly prosper. The town’s second shipyard was opened a few years later in 1780, by John Peat with a third yard following in 1810 opened by the brothers Joseph and Isaac Middleton.

Joseph Middleton was the great-grandfather of Thomas Henry Ismay, the founder of the White Star Line - the shipping company who built the Titanic.

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This is by no means Maryport’s only claim to fame. The potato riots that spread across the country and led to the introduction of rationing in 1918, actually began one market day in the west Cumbrian town in January 1917. It was home to Lieutenant Edward Smith, the youngest ever recipient of the Victoria Cross, as well as Douglas Clark, the former world champion of Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling.

Overflowing with history as it is, Maryport is not short of places in which to explore this rich heritage. The Maritime Museum and the Senhouse Museum are both bursting with stories just waiting to be explored. This year will see the final installment of the Maritime Museum’s First World War exhibition, marking the centenary of the end of the war.

Maryport Maritime Museum’s Linda Wyatt said: “We get enquiries from all over the world from people who want to trace their ancestors. Sailors back in the 19th century would sail off to Japan or somewhere and set up a family. It’s fascinating really.”

F E AT U R E

For a small town of only 11,000 people Maryport harbours an impressive interest in the arts scene, with a huge offering of clubs and groups covering topics from history to art and operatics. It has been painted by L.S Lowry and renowned local artist Percy Kelly, meanwhile the famous annual Maryport Blues Festival has brought names such as Jools Holland, Dionne Warwick and Elkie Brooks to the town.

“There’s all sorts of new ventures coming to the town. The future looks bright.”

In the midst of all this, a sense of community is prevalent.

Last year the Ewanrigg Local Trust launched the ‘Hug a Mug’ scheme, the first mental health project of its kind in Cumbria and throughout the year the Maryport Town Council work closely with the local school to organise free community events.

Lisa Douglas from Maryport Town Council explained: “There’s a community feeling about Maryport as well, everybody knows everybody and everybody is willing to help everybody, it’s that kind of town.”

But with renowned tourist attractions such as the Lake District Coast Aquarium, it’s not just locals who enjoy Maryport during the summer months. Fleming Square retains its 18th century character with its stone cobbled central square and the attractive Georgian and Victorian architecture make it a worthwhile port of call for visitors to The Lakes.

Lisa added: “The town centre is looking better thanks to Allerdale Borough Council, who provided grants for business owners to decorate and paint their shopfronts.

We’re already seeing the impact from that and they are looking to upgrade the promenade through the Coastal Community Group.

Photos by David Lister and Jan Fialkowski T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

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Money matters with the IFA company

T

he 6 April sees the start of the new tax year and the availability of new investment allowances. The IFA Company’s Lucy McKinley gives us a quick guide to the annual tax reliefs granted by HMRC to encourage saving.

ISA (individual savings account) allowance: £20,000 for 2018/19 The ISA is probably the most commonly used form of tax-relieved saving. ISAs can hold cash, investments or a combination of both; when you sell an investment held in an ISA, gains are free of capital gains tax and withdrawals aren’t subject to income tax.

We don’t think there’s any real benefit in using your ISA allowance to subscribe to a cash ISA, unless you hold a great deal of your savings in cash. This is because since April 2016, the first £1,000 of interest on cash is tax-free if you are a basic rate taxpayer (it’s £500 if you pay higher rate tax). It’s also extremely rare to find a cash ISA that offers a rate of interest higher than the current inflation rate – and if inflation is higher than the interest paid on your cash savings, their value is eroded.

Pension allowance: the lower of 100% of earnings or £40,000 for 2018/19** The advantage of pension saving – other than building a fund for your retirement - is that personal pension contributions attract tax relief. HMRC will automatically add 20% of your contribution to your pension fund; so if you pay in £200 every month, HMRC automatically credits another £50. This tax relief is increased to 40% for higher rate taxpayers, who receive an additional 20% tax relief via an adjustment to their tax code or a tax refund.

Like ISAs, funds within a pension grow free of tax. However only 25% of the fund can be withdrawn tax-free.

Lifetime ISA allowance: £4,000 for 2018/19 Known as the ISA that thinks it’s a pension, the Lifetime ISA is aimed at encouraging young people (aged 18-39) to save for their future. It seems to offer the best features of pensions and ISAs with a 25% government bonus on contributions and tax-free withdrawals. However there are some conditions that need to be met: contributions must stop at age 50 and the fund is only tax-free if you’re withdrawing it either to buy a house or after you turn 60.

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If you want to discuss your investment options for the new tax year, we’ll be happy to go through them with you. Please contact us for a free initial consultation or check out our website where you can find out more about investment annual tax reliefs and how much saving they can be applied to on our blog page.

HOME & GARDEN

stihl the one

W

hether the outdoors is your hobby or your profession, Carrs Billington, Cockermouth have got just the right tool for the job.

Now in its 15th year, the Cockermouth branch of Carrs Billington is the go-to place for any rural dweller in west Cumbria. The agricultural suppliers are there to help you get a handle on your outdoor jobs this spring - with everything from lawn mowers, pressure washers and strimmers to chainsaws and trimmers - from the world’s leading brand in outdoor innovation, STIHL. In Germany in 1926, Andreas Stihl was one man with a vision. Now, more than 80 years later, that family business is a worldwide brand. STIHL Group has over 35,000 Dealers in more than 160 countries and due to the excellence of their products and craftsmanship, the brand has become the preferred choice of professionals and hobby gardeners all over the world. Still made in the factory in Stuttgart, STIHL tools are crafted for the individual, perfectly equipping them for their work outdoors, whether that be in forestry, agriculture or in their own back garden.

They sell themselves basically, it’s just a case of advising the customer as to which one is right for them.”

From one successful family business to another, Carrs Billington have come a long way since Jonathan Dodson Carr opened his bakers shop in Carlisle in 1831. Manager, Ian Powley said: “We’ve got over 30 branches throughout the country but we run each branch as a family business.”

Carrs Group - the parent company of Carrs Billington - are now a worldwide company themselves. They employ 1,200 people, have a turnover of £400 million and bring in a profit of £14 million, of which over 50 per cent is made abroad.

Ian added: “I think that’s good for Carrs, good for Cumbria and good for the UK.” For more information visit www.carrs-billington.com or contact the Cockermouth branch on 01900 824105

And when it comes to power tools, there’s no-one who knows more on the subject than Branch Supervisor, Andrew Hetherington. Andrew worked on his own family farm up until 2004 and then spent 11 years at a Carlisle saw mill before joining Carrs Billington. He explained: “I’ve worked with chainsaws all my life and I’ve always thought STIHL was the best.”

He added: “It’s easy to sell because they are such good products and we know the customer is going to like them.

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F EOAMT EU R H &E G A R D E N

A

Blooming lovely

fter a long, cold winter, your garden may well be in need of some TLC. The team at Moota Garden Centre give us the lowdown on what to do now that spring has sprung to ensure that by the time summer comes, your garden will be in full bloom.

Grow Your Own • • •

Plant seed potatoes, onions and shallots Prepare beds and plots ready for sowing seed and planting young veg Clean and disinfect greenhouses, tools and equipment ready for the season

Planting Beds & Border Maintenance • Fork out early weeds as they will compete with plants and shrubs for nutrients.

• Mulch with bark to suppress further weed growth.

• Start feeding shrubs and trees with a balanced fertilizer to encourage healthy spring growth • Control slugs and snails (their favourite food is tender shoots and fresh growth) • Cover young tender plants and fruit blossom with fleece to protect against late frosts • Tie climbing plants to their supports, this will encourage more flowers • Cut back any remaining perennials and seed heads • Prune summer flowering Clematis during March for good summer flowering

Lawn Care • Mow and feed your lawn as soon as it is mild and dry enough to do so • Aerate your lawn with a garden fork to improve drainage and soil structure, this will encourage better spring growth • Top dress with grass seed during April to thicken the sward and reduce weeds

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HOME & GARDEN

Wildlife • Continue feeding the birds and red squirrels during spring, its their breeding season and natural food sources are running low.

• Report sightings of the non-native grey squirrels to Northern Red Squirrels. Grey squirrels need controlling to reduce the spread of the squirrel pox virus which kills the Reds, they also compete for food and push the reds from their habitat.

Planting • Plant summer flowering bulbs to add colour to beds and borders.

• Freshen up pots and containers with early spring bedding, bulbs and perennials.

• Sow hardy annual and wild flower seed outdoors throughout April (when the weather and conditions allow)

Pond Maintenance • Tidy up plants in the pond and bog areas.

• Remove debris from pond.

• Clean out filter systems.

• Check pumps, pipes and UV bulbs are in good working order.

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HOME & GARDEN

a room with a view

I

f you’re looking to utilise your outdoor space, while improving your indoor living, a garden room offers a sanctuary no shed can provide.

Offering the luxury of leisure or work space just steps from your back door, they may not be a necessarily new concept, but in recent years the number of people looking to invest in a garden room is on the up. This could be down to an increasing number of people working from home, and needing office space, or it could be that people are finally catching on to the possibilities they can provide.

The term garden room might bring to mind images of glorified sheds - too cold in winter, too hot in summer and damp and drafty all year round - but we’re talking about fully insulated rooms, made from strength graded structural timbers with a range of finishes such as slate roof and oak flooring. All electrical, plumbing and lighting facilities can be installed, just as they would be for an extension on your home, however this option is often considerably cheaper.

Carlisle based construction company, Croft View Construction have built bespoke garden rooms for a number of happy customers, not least Johnette and Relph Irving from Cockermouth, who were looking for a little extra space for when the family came home to visit.

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HOME & GARDEN

“It has transformed our house, it’s a prayer room, a hideaway, a place to admire the wonderful garden away from the world... it’s like a home away from home.”

Johnette explained: “It came about that we needed extra space where we could escape occasionally when the kids were back. That was the plan, but we had no idea how much a garden room could be a thing of beauty.

“It has transformed our house, it’s a prayer room, a hideaway, a place to admire the wonderful garden away from the world... it’s like a home away from home.”

From just a picture Johnette had, the Croft View Construction team worked with the couple to design and build their bespoke room. Relph said: “As a garden room it’s just amazing, but we owe a lot to what they suggested in terms of materials and design ideas.”

Despite some initial doubts, the quality of the work far exceeded their expectations, Relph explained: “One of the things about having any kind of development is there’s always a bit of anxiety about work quality, so we feel very fortunate that we found Croft View Construction.

“We never had one moment of anxiety and in fact the things that they adjusted, suggested, and fitted were way beyond anything we could of expected. They were a delight to work with.”

Although planning permission is sometimes required depending on the size, Garden Rooms are usually around 30 per cent cheaper than a regular building extension, while still boasting all the same potential.

Each one is made to order, so can be tailored to meet your every need. Whether that be a home office, a hairdressing salon, a studio, extra accommodation or just a little place for some much needed peace and quiet.

Relph and Johnette are certainly looking forward to making the most out of theirs this summer, he added: “It’s an unbelievable result for us and has completely improved that part of our garden. It’s the best thing we ever did.”

For more information contact Croft View Construction on 01228 511100 or visit www.croftviewconstruction.com

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DO H E CMLEU & T TGEAR R D E N

Clear Your Clutter

E

ver heard the saying “Tidy home, tidy mind?” We all like the idea of living a simple life with less ‘stuff’, and now that spring is here with its new beginnings and fresh starts, it’s the perfect time to embark on clearing the clutter that has been crowding your home for too long.

It can seem like a daunting task at first, but with these pointers, your living (and head) space will be decluttered in no time.

Break it down With nooks and crannies you didn’t even know existed, attempting to declutter the entire family home in one fell swoop is overwhelming, to say the least.

Instead, break it down into rooms, and only focus on one at a time. Work your way around the house, that way and it will seem much more achievable.

Three box method Give yourself three boxes, label one ‘keep’, one ‘throw away’ and one ‘recycle’. The rest is pretty self explanatory, but don’t be afraid to be ruthless. For each item ask yourself if it really does belong in the ‘keep’ box - if you haven’t used/worn/read it in the last 12 months the chances are it doesn’t.

Give it away

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Giving items away, whether to charity or friends and family, feels almost as good as the actual relief of getting rid of them. Fill those collection bags that are always coming through your letterbox or use your imagination - you could give away one item every day for a year, from old clothes you never wear, to a book you know a friend will love.

Storage solutions Of course, like it or not there’s some clutter that you just have to live with. For this you need ingenious storage solutions. Fill a wall with open shelves to make a statement out of your stuff, make the most of unused space with boxes and baskets and hunt out unique items that will double as a focal point of the room as well as storage space.

One in one out But old habits die hard. Even after all that work, it’s easy to let the clutter creep back in. From now on live by a one in one out rule. Every time you buy something new get rid of one you already own.

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F E AT U R E

INTERIOR MOTIVES

I

f you’re looking to update your home this year, you’re inspiration starts right here. From rich hues and dark woods, to fun tropical prints and lush green plants, we’ve got this years interior trends covered.

The dark side

Darker woods will replace the bleached tones of the Scandi trend which has been popular in recent years. Dark oak, mahogany and walnut make for a more sophisticated look and metallic details add a touch of retro glamour. If you’re investing in a piece of furniture this year go for rich wood stains but keep it modern with contemporary styles.

Spa at home

Spa breaks are no longer just for the weekends. In a time of ‘self-care’ people are wanting nothing less than their very own relaxing retreat to escape to once the bathroom door is shut. So if you’re planning a bathroom refresh this year, think large jacuzzi baths, earthy tones and minimalist accents to recreate that spa tranquility at home.

Rich pigments

Forget millennial pink, 2018 is all about deep, rich colours which work best when contrasted against earthy neutrals like beige and stone. Be braver with colour choices, from Pantone’s Colour of the Year, violet, to royal blue and emerald green.

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F E AT U R E

Texture

When it comes to texture, there’s lots of it this year.

Furniture that has a handmade, natural look to it steals the show, think rattan, wicker and bamboo. When it comes to soft furnishings it’s all about embellishment, applique and macrame. Don’t be afraid to mix mediums - the more the merrier.

Bring the outside in

The humble houseplant is still the easiest and most effective way to breathe new life into a dreary room and the trend is only going to grow (sorry!) this year.

Houseplants can work for any space, however much or little you have and are even considered to have health benefits. Head down to the garden centre and invest in some pretty, potted plants - the lusher and leafier the better.

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33 11

put a spring in your step

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

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F

rom pretty pastels to statement sequins, these are the looks you’ll be wearing this spring.

Ice-Cream Shades

This summer Ice cream hues are not just reserved for placing on top of a cone in the park. From parma violet tailoring, layers of lemon sorbet and piles of pistachio, ice cream shades from head to toe are seriously cool this summer.

Primary Colours

It’s going to be a very bright summer indeed, at least in the wardrobe department anyway. If pastels aren’t your thing there’s a vibrant, bold shade to suit every colouring, think tomato red, cobalt blue and canary yellow - and don’t forget Pantone’s colour of the year, Ultra Violet.

W H EE D AD L TI N H G& SBP EE A CU I ATLY

Check Mate

It might be controversial, but checks are going nowhere this spring/summer - good news if you invested in last season’s heritage styles. And there’s a check for every occasion, from folksy, floaty ginghams for down time to smart, statement checked coats.

Summer Sequins

Thought you had to save your sequin fetish for the office Christmas party? Wrong. This is the summer of sparkle so whether you go all out in a sleek slip dress or style them with a sweatshirt for daytime, give in to the glitter and shimmer.

Plastic Fantastic

Just what you need for spring showers and a good old Cumbrian summer, waterproof plastics were predominant on the spring/summer 18 catwalk. Yes really, wipe-clean macs, dresses, knee-high boots and even rain hats are now a thing - the fashion set must have had us in mind.

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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

rt’s Bees Sugar Scrub £12.99 or Sanctuary Sugar Scrub 1 are my current favourites but its best to only use them a few mes a week.

£3.98.

mum’s the word

he Carlisle Guide

B

ridget Foster talks us through a video make-up tutorial on her mother, Vanessa to celebrate Mother’s Day and her 60th birthday.

Many clients sit in the chair with an excuse that there mother didn’t show them make up skills or was not around.

Clearly from my tutorial I didn’t not gain any cosmetic skills from my mother. However that’s not to say she didn’t encourage me to look smart and presentable.

Aromatherapy Matters... ...

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

Pamela Fleetwood MIFPA, MFHT Clinical Aromatherapist Tel: 07930 432683

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www.bridgetfoster.co.uk

By Bridget Foster

My mother likes her clothes and her hair. She is always styled and groomed, her hair is always done. When it comes to make-up she does what she thinks will be okay, but as a busy woman that, like myself, never seems to stop, she would prefer an extra 15 minutes in bed rather than get up to apply her make-up to perfection.

Vanessa, my mother turned 60 this month. Without being biased she certainly holds her age well, even if she does sometimes run around as though she has two toddlers.

I see her make-up bag in the bathroom most mornings and always thought that I need to have a closer look.

The majority of her make-up bag is made up of items that I have bought her. I bought her brushes for her 50th birthday and ten years on they are still in tact. Brushes are an essential make-up tool. They save time and do the work for you.

Her base was a YSL tinted moisturiser I recommended years ago that she very much liked for £42. It gave a natural glow making the skin look more youthful, however it was far too dark for her skin tone.

Mam loves a deal, she can’t resist, so often buys Touche Éclat from duty free. This is not a concealer, it’s a brightener. It’s okay for under the eye but not enough to cover or conceal any flaws, such as red nostrils, blemishes.

For her 60th I bought her a personalised leather make-up bag with some make-up pieces she needs. I made sure I choose products she can replace easily either online or in Carlisle.

THE KIT Vichy Serum £20 Hydrates and feeds the skin.

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation £8 Brilliant high street alternative to Nars sheer glow. Not matte, not dewy so versatile to mix into a glow if needed.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer £22 Perfect beautiful natural appearance that lasts and covers. Easy to work with.

L’Oréal Riche Lipstick £4.99 I bought the nude colour and have worn it everyday since.

However, I prefer the brighter shade on my Mam as she doesn’t wear much shadow and a brighter colour brightens her overall look.

Laura Mercier Mineral Powder £32 I loves these, can wear alone or over liquid make-up.

Quick and easy, looks polished. Great finish.

Chamomile Cleansing Balm by The Body Shop £10 We both use cleansing cloths but she often scrimps on a cleanser and buys a wash. Remember your cleanser is the most important skincare item you buy. This one is very underrated and removes make-up wonderfully and leaves skin clean and balanced.

Tips for older skin In general it’s pretty much the same if application is done well.

Older ladies can wear a Smokey eye or a bright lip, however the majority are scared to venture out of their comfort zone.

Achieving a glowing base that matches the skin colour with warm natural colours for blush, eyes & lips is key to updating “mum/mam’s” make up bag.

1-2-1 tutorials with Bridget are available contact 07929 414763 Instagram: @bridgetfos T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

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

BORROWDALE WEDDING BELLES

L

ove will be in the air, as over 30 vintage wedding dresses go on display in the heart of the beautiful Borrowdale valley.

the WI. Despite being initially apprehensive to stand before an audience, she agreed and to this day continues to enjoy exhibiting and speaking about her incredible costumes.

Listen out for wedding bells chiming over the May Bank Holiday Weekend. A one-off exhibition will showcase a spectacular collection of vintage and antique wedding dresses at St Andrews Church in the village of Stonethwaite in Borrowdale.

One of the organisers of the event, Tricia Roscamp said: “I think it will be a stunning event in the church, which will be all decorated for a wedding. We hope the weather will be kind to us and I’m sure visitors will not be disappointed.”

The dresses - which will go on display to help raise funds for the maintenance of the old church and churchyard are part of an extensive costume collection belonging to local woman, Lynn Hopwood. Lynn, who has has been an enthusiastic costume collector for many years, has a passion for the Victorian period but her collection - which includes 149 wedding dresses - dates from the 1800s right up to the 1970s. Alongwith the costumes she has also acquired an impressive array of ladies accessories, from underwear to shoes, bags, hats and jewellery.

On Friday 25 May, from 6pm - 7pm, Lynn will give a short talk about the display before it opens to the public for the duration of the weekend. It’s 40 years since Lynn was first asked to give a talk about her collection for local ladies of 36

The Best Cumbria Bride

And in addition, on Sunday 27 May couples who have been married at St Andrews, are invited to attend the church service at 10.30am.

The exhibition will be open throughout the Bank Holiday weekend of 26 - 28 May, from 10am - 5pm. £2 for a catalogue, donations will be welcome. Light refreshments will be available.

Tickets for Friday night’s talk will be available on the door for £5, including a slice of wedding cake.

For more information contact Tricia Roscamp on 017687 77231 and Malcolm Stonestreet on 017687 77631 or email: malcolmstonestreet@gmail.com

HEALTH SPAS

In need of a little pampering and relaxation?

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

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

Oxley’s at Underscar - 017687 71500

www.oxleyshealthspa.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

JENNINGS

190 YEARS BEER FESTIVAL

ROUND-UP

LOCAL RECIPES

TARA’S

TIPPLES RECIPES

MENUS

LOCAL FOOD

COCKTAILS

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

LAKES COOKBOOK

cumbrian cooking A

new cookbook will showcase the signature dishes from some of Cumbria’s finest culinary delights.

The newly released, Lakes and Cumbria Cook Book features recipes and stories from some of the region’s best independent restaurants, cafés, bars and bakeries.

With over 30 recipes and stunning imagery, the cookbook uncovers the signature dishes of some of the Lake District and Cumbria’s hidden gems (and the culinary geniuses who reside there).

The pages are full of familiar faces, with a foreward from Simon Rogan and Michelin-starred restaurant, Forest Side, whose acclaimed chef Kevin Tickle also provides plenty of food for thought.

Other local establishments featured include Hawkshead Relish, Fyne Fish in Cockermouth, The Square Orange in Keswick and Cartmel Cheeses, who independently source their own produce, and incorporate their very own tasty cheeses into their rich, hearty dishes.

The Boathouse Bar & Restaurant, in Windermere whose recipes are also featured, said: “We are very excited to be featured alongside some other great eateries in the Lakes and Cumbria Cook Book. We are just coming up to our 5th birthday and what better way to celebrate than being in this book.”

With an abundance of passionate chefs, dedicated suppliers, bakers, producers and suppliers, it is clear that when it comes to grub, the people of The Lakes and Cumbria really have something to shout about.

Here we are sharing some of these signature dishes with you. Recreate some of the region’s most popular dishes, and bring a taste of the Lakes and Cumbria to the comfort of your own home...

The Lakes and Cumbria Cook Book is out now for £14.95 and is available from all the businesses featured in the book, as well as local gift shops, book shops and online on at www.mezepublishing.co.uk/shop T h e We s t C u m b r i a G u i d e

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FOOD & DRINK

Mrs Miller’s Tea Room, Culgaith, Penrith

Roast Rump of Herb-Crusted Lake District Lamb

T

his dish makes great use of the fantastic lamb that we have available to us in the Eden valley.

The lamb we use at Mrs Miller’s comes from just down the road. Served with creamed flageolet beans and winter vegetables, and accentuated by the meat juices mingled with fresh garden mint, this is a gorgeous dish celebrating some wonderful seasonal flavours.

Preparation time: 30 minutes | Cooking time: approx. 1 hour| Serves: 4

Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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4 lamb rumps Salt and pepper 3 sprigs of rosemary 5 cloves of garlic 100ml olive oil 200g breadcrumbs A handful of soft green herbs (sage, parsley, dill, chives, tarragon or basil for example) 1 sprig of thyme 1 small onion, cut into small dice 1 carrot, cut into small dice Vegetable oil 1 courgette, cut into small dice 1 x 400g tin of flageolet beans, drained 50ml cream 500ml thickened lamb stock 1 tsp redcurrant jelly A handful of fresh mint 1 tbsp Cumberland honey mustard

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FOOD & DRINK

Method: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Start by trimming most of the fat from the lamb rumps, but not all. Place into a plastic tub or a non-metallic roasting dish and season with salt and pepper, two sprigs of rosemary (coarsely chopped) and two cloves of garlic (smashed with a knife).

Pour over the olive oil and mix well with your hands to ensure all the flavours get to know each other. Place to one side to allow the lamb to come to room temperature.

Place one peeled and chopped garlic clove, the breadcrumbs and the soft green herbs into a food blender. Pick the remaining rosemary and thyme leaves off the stalk and add to the blender. Pulse until you have a nice bright green herb crumb.

Place into a bowl and keep to one side.

Place the diced onion and carrot into a pan with a splash of vegetable oil, a pinch of salt and one clove of garlic (crushed with the back of a knife).

Sweat over a low heat until the carrots are soft, then add the courgettes and cook until all the vegetables are tender. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 200°c and heat an ovenproof pan on the hob. Remove any excess herbs and garlic from the lamb, place the pieces into the pan fat side down and start to colour. The fat should start to turn nice and golden and render down. Once the fat is golden, place the lamb into the preheated oven for 14 minutes. Then remove the pan from the oven and leave in a warm place to rest and finish cooking through. The resting of the meat is very important for both texture and flavour.

While the lamb is resting, rinse the beans well, then place them into the pan the lamb was cooked in, having discarded any excess fat. Add the precooked vegetables, cream, thickened lamb stock and redcurrant jelly and bring to the boil. When you have a sauce-like consistency, sieve and add the mint. Keep the sauce warm while finishing the lamb rumps. Place them into the roasting tray fat side down and cover the top with a thin layer of the mustard and a nice coating of herb crust. Place back in the oven for 5 minutes.

To serve

Place the beans, vegetables and cream onto a high heat and cook until the cream starts to reduce and coat the vegetables, and ensure the sauce is hot. Remove the lamb from the oven and divide each piece into 3 or 4 slices. Rest whilst you divide the creamed beans and vegetables between four plates then place the lamb on top. Finish with the sauce.

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FOOD & DRINK

Forest Side, Grasmere

Lemon Sole, Celeriac, Mussels and Savoury

I

deally buy fresh sustainably sourced fish from your local fishmonger where you can.

Lemon sole has a sweet, delicate flesh that suits a huge range of recipes. Widely available, they’re a tasty alternative to Dover sole and easier on the pocket for those on a tighter budget.

Preparation time: 45 minutes | Cooking time: approx. 2 hours| Serves: 4

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Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2 celeriac 1 litre vegetable stock 2 shallots, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 50g unsalted butter 300g winter savoury 1 litre sunflower oil 4 x 100g lemon sole fillets 1 litre water 200g butter Salt, to taste 200g large mussels 1 punnet shimeji mushrooms Pinch of celery cress

Method: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Start by peeling the celeriac, and then cut one into quarters and the other into 1cm cubes.

Roast the 1cm cubes at 180°c until golden and set aside. Poach the quarters in the vegetable stock until cooked through, tear into 1cm shards and reserve both the stock and the shards.

Place the roasted celeriac cubes into the reserved vegetable stock along with the chopped shallots and the garlic. Bring to the boil and then simmer for one hour. Pass the sauce through a sieve and then whisk in the butter and season.

Blanch the savoury in boiling water, refresh in iced water, and then blitz in a blender with the sunflower oil until smooth. Pass the flavoured oil through a piece of muslin and cool in the fridge.

Score a line across each sole halfway down the fillet so that you can fold them in half to create a thicker piece. Fry the fish in a pan until golden in colour, then flip each fillet over and finish with foamy butter off the heat. Make a butter emulsion by whisking the water, butter and salt together.

Reheat the roasted celeriac in this, then add the cleaned mussels and shimeji mushroom caps 1 minute before you are ready to serve.

To serve

Remove all the components from their various cooking vessels and place on a drainage tray. Remove the mussels from their shells. Place the fish on the plate, then the celeriac cubes and shards and the mussels. Sprinkle the shimejis on top. Add the celeriac sauce and drizzle the savoury oil over it. Finish the dish with a pinch of celery cress.

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FOOD & DRINK

Time flies when you’re ha ving Spiced Rum!

By Gerard Richardson , Richardsons of Whitehaven

W

e all know that the last two years have seen an explosion in the popularity of gin but believe me, the next big trend is another return to a long lost friend,

Rum.

The motherly hug for sailors the world over, as well as being one of the best cocktail bases ever created, Rum is all set to leap into our homes this summer so I thought we could get ahead of the game and take sneak preview of what's to come.

Solway Spirits have launched two rather superb Rums, a spiced version and one that really took me by surprise with it’s incredible aroma, Banoffee. The aroma is absolutely enticing but the palate is nothing short of stunning. Banana, Toffee and Rum, three of the essential food groups all in one, what’s not to like?

Spiced Rums go incredibly well with some of the most widely used food ingredients, so while it’s long been common knowledge that most rich Rums go really well with sugary desserts, the spiced ones also pair superbly with garlic, nut or fruit based dishes. In fact if you like to marinate your barbecue meats in spicy sauces or lay them atop a plate of creamy garlic mushrooms then spiced Rum is your new best friend.

The new boys from Solway Spirits have to be top of my summer list, but I also have a few longer term spiced loves such as the stunning Foursquare, the ever popular Kraken, my old pal Pussers and of course the insanely shimmering Phoenix Tears Rum which not only tastes superb but sparkles in your glass.

Anyway pip pip until the next issue but do give the local chaps a go this summer at www.solwayspirits.co.uk

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cheers to190 YEARS!

T

he Cumbrian establishment, Jennings Brewery is celebrating 190 years of brewing pure Lakeland ale.

Back in 1828, George IV was on the throne and the Duke of Wellington was Prime Minister when the son of a local maltster, John Jennings, began brewing in his Lorton-based brew house.

Jennings Brewery was founded and first operated out of buildings in the small village located between Keswick and Cockermouth.

However, once the business had outgrown its home-brewed origins there was a need for a larger maltings and a building to house larger fermenting vessels. The nearest market town, Cockermouth, was the ideal base for expansion as it had a larger population with more opportunities to sell beer, and just as importantly the Castle Brewery site had an abundant supply of pure well water which has been used by the Castle as long ago as Norman times.

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190 years later, Jennings and the Cockermouth brewery is synonymous with the Lake District and Cumbria and is renowned the world over for its premium award-winning ales and warm Lakeland hospitality. Pure Lakeland water is still used for brewing, drawn from the brewery's own well, and only the finest ingredients are added.

In 2018 the traditional values the Jennings family instilled in the business are still respected and - combined with a modern day commercial approach - have undoubtedly contributed to the success of Jennings ales today. The real art however, is in the brewing. The Head Brewer and team use their years of experience and traditional brewing methods to create a superb range of Lakeland Ales.

FOOD & DRINK

Their award-winning Cumberland Ale, Jennings Bitter, Sneck Lifter and Cocker Hoop beers are recogniseable to anyone even remotely familiar with theregion.

Today the brewery is an attraction in itself. Organised tours take visitors on a historic journey and bring the fascinating story of the brewery to life with behindthe-scenes access. Daytime and evening group tours can also be arranged for celebrating special occasions - such as say, a 190th birthday - with unlimited Jennings beer in The Cooperage Bar afterwards.

Sarah Grave, Brand Manager at Jennings Brewery said: "As we move into our twentieth decade we had to mark this year as something very special. We are very proud to celebrate our 190-year milestone and hope that our regular customers will share our pride and will raise a beer or two in celebration.”

The brewery is set to host a series of events over the coming year to mark this momentous anniversary. A trolley dash will be held in July - on the 190th day of the year - and a Family Fun Day in September. Meanwhile, the Jennings bar will appear at many of the region's outdoor events this summer with special discounts on offer.

“We are very proud to celebrate our 190-year milestone and hope that our regular customers will share our pride and will raise a beer or two in celebration.”

Draught beer drinkers will notice a limited edition commemorative pump clip for the Jennings flagship beer, Cumberland Ale, on the bar to celebrate the anniversary and commemorative glassware, T-shirts and merchandise will be available throughout the year.

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rs e e b e h rt o f s r e he c e e r h t King George IV Eskdale 7 - 10 June

T

ake your pick of west Cumbria's biggest and best beer festivals coming up this season, cheers!

The Lowther Club Real Ale & Music Festival 25 - 27 May Voted the best CAMRA Club in the whole of Cumbria in 2017, The Lowther Club’s second annual beer festival is set to be just as successful as you’d expect. Food prepared on the premises will accompany barrels of beer and cider choices, and a programme of live music is a highlight of the event. Friday night will see headline performances from Lee Adams and Soul Junction, while Saturday’s line-up includes the Committed 2 Rock Choir, Kath & Bobs, Maverick, Emma and Holborn Hillbillies. And on Sunday you can sup whilst enjoying the rhythm and blues of The Misfitz.

For more information search The Lowther Club, Whitehaven on Facebook.

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Real food, real ale and a real welcome await at the popular King George IV Beer Festival, in the heart of the Eskdale valley. With over 150 real ales from breweries across the North West and beyond and a variety of ciders to sip, there are fully-stocked bars inside the pub and outdoors under the tipi. Freshly cooked food will be served throughout the weekend to the line the stomachs of festival-goers and live music on the Friday and Saturday night will entertain from 8pm until late. While beer is the name of the game, with a bouncy castle and Bucking Bronco this festival is great fun for the whole family.

For more information visit www.kinggeorge-eskdale.co.uk

The Strands Beer Festival 11 - 13 May This well established festival draws in hundreds of visitors each year and over 40 real ales, each brewed in house by owner and brewer, Mark Corr. Since Mark and Lesley acquired The Screes, opposite Strands last year; this year’s festival will be bigger and better than ever. With more brewing equipment, there will be more beer choices on offer and it is hoped that they will brew greater quantities of ale to supply to local outlets in future. Delicious food and live music from local bands will add to the festival feel.

For more information call Mark or Lesley on 019467 26237

Egremont RUFC Beer Festival 15 - 16 June

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

Egremont Rugby Club on Bleach Green will once again host its annual Beer Festival this June, with a whole load of new tipples and a stellar line-up of entertainment.

Anyone who is partial to a pint (or two) won’t want to miss Egremont Beer Festival this year. Along with barrels of brand new beers on offer, regulars will welcome the return of the best brews from the last five years.

Accompanying the 18 real ales and a bar dedicated solely to cider, this year will also see the addition of a gin bar with over 20 different types of the jolly juice to choose from.

There will be live music throughout the weekend, to entertain you while you sip. On Friday night The Roosters and Don Mackay will kick things off, while Saturday’s line-up includes The Postcard Band, Goosey Tyson and Five and Dangerous. However, as the festival is split over two rooms at the Rugby Club, those who would prefer a quiet pint and a ‘craic’ can chill in the Lounge Bar, whilst the entertainment rumbles on in the main room.

But there’s also a more sobering theme to this year’s event.

Drinkers are encouraged to “raise a glass to Doddie”, as two barrels have been donated for the Doddie Weir Foundation, with all proceeds going directly to the legend of the game. One of rugby’s most recognisable personalities, last year Doddie revealed he was battling Motor Neurone Disease and the trust now raises funds to aid research into the causes of Motor Neurone Disease, investigate potential cures and to offer grants for individuals suffering from MND, to enable them to live as fulfilled a life as possible.

Organiser, John Nolan said: “It grows in success every year.

There’s not many events like it in Egremont and it seems to have really taken off.”

He added: “For £5 a ticket you get to enjoy all the live bands and entertainment, and a great selection of real ale, cider and gin - it’s a no brainer really.”

Tickets are £5, free to CAMRA members. For more information find the ‘Egremont Beer Festival’ event on Facebook.

Gosforth Hall Inn Beer Festival 25 - 27 August West Cumbria’s CAMRA pub of the year 2017 returns with its annual beer festival over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

As well as an array of real ales on tap, drinkers can enjoy a hog roast, a BBQ and live music throughout the weekend, in the spectacular setting of the recently refurbished beer garden. A great way to top off the summer. www.gosforthhall.co.uk

For more Beer Festivals visit www.cumbriaguide.co.uk 51

FOOD & DRINK

Tara’s Seasonal Delights The welcoming change of the season brings new and fresh ingredients to the table and more importantly, allows you to get resourceful with what Mother nature is offering up.

Between April and June something truly charming happens with signature fruits, juicy berries and fragrant herbs suddenly growing in abundance. The humble rhubarb makes an appearance, becoming the quintessential springtime staple, mint sprouts from the gloomiest of gardens and the cheery face of the aromatic Lavender is back to grace our presence once more. It’s time to take advantage of the freshest of ingredients and get our creative juices flowing.

Rita’s Rhubarb Blush Ingredients: • 30ml Vodka • 60ml Rhubarb Syrup • 30ml freshly squeezed lemon juice To Garnish: Mint, Raspberries and edible Spring Pansies.

Method To make the Rhubarb syrup, combine 100g of sugar to 50g of water,(2:1 ratio) along with three large chopped up Rhubarb stalks. Allow to simmer for ten minutes, or until all the sugar has dissolved and created a thick consistency. Allow to cool and train into a sealed bottle. This can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake vigorously for two minutes. Strain into a chilled coupe and decorate with fresh mint, raspberries and edible flowers.

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Parma Violence Ingredients: • 30 ml Monkey 47 Gin • 30 ml Violet Liqueur • 60ml Lavender Syrup (using method above) • Juice of half a lemon To Garnish: Crushed Parma Violet sweets and freshly picked lavender.

Method: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and add ice, shake for two minutes. Coat the rim of the coupe in the leftover lavender syrup then roll in crushed Parma Violet sweets. Strain and pour ingredients into the glass and garnish with a few fresh lavender sprigs.

OO OD D & & D DR NK K FF O F O O D & D RR III N N K

The Bluebird Ingredients: • 60 ml Kettel 1 Vodka • 30 ml Vermouth • 30 ml Violet Liqueur • 30 ml Raspberry Liqueur • Juice of 1 pink grapefruit • Juice of 1 lime To Garnish: Ribbon of cucumber, grapefruit, blueberries and mint.

Method: Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker over ice and shake for two minutes. Strain into a tall glass and garnish with refreshing cucumber ribbons, fresh berries and a grapefruit segment.

For more great cocktails and recipes visit www.cumbriaguide.co.uk

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seascale golf club celebrates 125 years

By Paul McGuirk

A

highly-regarded local golf club is celebrating its 125th year in operation this July, teeing off with what promises to be an exciting and entertaining full week of golf for players of all ages and skill levels.

Seascale Golf Club was initially founded in 1893. The links were designed as part of a collaborative effort by the renowned Scottish golfer Willie Campbell and esteemed golfing architect/designer George Lowe.

Campbell would one year later go on to compete in the US Open, missing out on the 1894 title by just two shots, whereas Lowe’s reputation as both a club maker and a course designer would be cemented in UK golfing history later down the line – in a recent Golf World poll, Lowe is

responsible for the development of nearly one-third of the UK’s Top 100 Courses in Britain & Ireland, with Seascale ranking amongst them.

Of course, this is not the only honour to be bestowed upon the Seascale golf links. Numerous national publications have sung the praises of this highly-maintained course, with Golf Empire decreeing that the club “oozes quality, class and character.” In addition to this, the renowned luxury watch manufacturer Rolex included Seascale in its World’s Top 1000 Golf Courses publication. High praise indeed for a Cumbrian club, but hardly without its merit. The site offers incredible views of Scotland and the Isle of Man to the West, with picturesque views of the mountains of the Lake District to the East, which makes for a serene, relaxing and enjoyable day of sport.

Your local Contacts

Rickerby Ltd. is pleased to support Seascale Golf Club on 125 years!

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Sales: Alistair McRobert 07836 259261 Service: Malcolm Errington 07774 282982 Parts: 01434 600777 www.rickerby.net

SEASCALE GOLF CLUB

To mark its 125-year milestone, Seascale Golf Club has organised its own 2018 Golf Week Opens. It tees off on Monday 23 July, running through to Monday 30 and provides an opportunity for players to enjoy an entire week of golf for just £100, with a variety of competitions available.

While a round of golf makes for a great way to spend the day, there’s plenty of fun to be had off the course at Seascale, too. The clubhouse offers incredible facilities to both guests and members, and makes a great venue for conferences, functions or simply a bite to eat. The well-stocked bar boasts a great selection of real ales and premium spirits, and the food on offer is reason enough to visit even if you’ve never swung a club in your life.

The clubhouse regularly hosts social events, with everything from charity fundraisers and live music to enjoy, and regulars can be the first to know what’s up-and-coming by signing up to the events newsletter via the club website.

Regardless of your skill level, one thing’s for certain: you’re guaranteed a warm welcome at Seascale Golf Club. With incredible special offers available for new and returning members, there’s plenty of incentive to dust off those clubs and take to the green. Visitors are welcome too, and it’s easy to arrange a round or two if you’re in the area on business or simply visiting Cumbria for a quick holiday break.

With the 125th anniversary Golf Week just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to join.

Club Secretary, Adam Lamb said: “It’s a huge honour to be celebrating 125 years. We’re looking forward to commemorating the milestone with the Golf Week in the summer.”

He added: “The course hasn’t changed much in 125 years, it’s still a great links course and it always has been. It’s important to keep the traditions alive from all those years ago.”

Seascale Golf Week takes place from 23-30 July and offers a week of affordable golf. New members are currently eligible to join the club for just £299 for 1 year.

For further information visit seascalegolfclub.co.uk or call 01946 728202

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

West Cumbria’s sports bulletin

HAVEN

BY CRAIG WISHART

L

ast season Haven were pushing for promotion but it’s clear, only two matches into the League One season, that the team will need to dig deep to better last year’s achievements.

So far it’s been a tough start and the team are struggling to put a win on the board and get their campaign underway.

In the first match an understrength Haven could not crack open the Oldham defence in very heavy conditions, the 0 -14 result was a clear indicator there were some deficiencies in attack.

The wintry weather caused the postponement of the match against Hunslet but there was nothing that could save Haven a week later as Doncaster ran over the top of them 44 -6. It was a disappointing result that left coach Carl Forster admitting his side needed to take a good long look at themselves.

It’s not all grim news though as Haven have progressed nicely through the early rounds of the Challenge Cup. They snuck by London Skolars in a close tie 16 – 14, it was a disappointing performance but it put them through to fourth round where they turned out their best game of year to beat Dewsbury.

That was a solid performance that should build the foundation for success in the coming months and help get their season back on track.

Workington Reds

WORDS: JOHN WALSH

O

nly two wins so far in 2018 have dented Workington Reds hopes of making the play-offs.

A run of six straight defeats in the League saw them drop as low as tenth in the table.

Then out of the blue, Reds produced a brilliant performance to stun leaders Altrincham, full value for the 3-2 away win.

A disappointing 2-1 home defeat by lowly Buxton followed before another outstanding effort, winning 2-0 against top five hopefuls Shaw Lane.

“We are still focused on making the play-offs and nobody has thrown in the towel.”

“That’s what makes it so frustrating,” said joint manager Lee Andrews. “We have shown ourselves capable of beating the best yet have struggled against some of the lesser lights.

“We are still focused on making the play-offs and nobody has thrown in the towel.”

But it is going to be tough, with the fixtures piling-up.

One week Reds will play Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday and the following Saturday while it will be Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and the following Saturday over Easter.

There’s at least one mid-week game right through to the end of the season – and there could be more through Cup commitments. Reds are still in the Unigro League Cup and will play South Shields in the quarter finals on Thursday, March 29.

They are also still in the County Cup (having won it for the last two years) and will visit Cleator Moor Celtic on Wednesday, April 4 in the semi-final.

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

Workington TOWN WORDS: JOHN WALSH

W

orkington Town have agreed a dual registration partnership with Betfred Championship club Leigh Centurions for the remainder of the 2018 season.

Workington Town head coach Leon Pryce and Leigh Centurions head of rugby Keiron Cunningham have worked closely together on the partnership to make sure that it benefits both clubs equally.

Pryce said: “I know Keiron well from our playing days at St Helens so the partnership is a good fit. We have assembled a strong and very capable squad here at Workington but there are times over the long season when we will need to cover injuries or unavailability of players.

“We have strong ambitions at Workington for this season so having access to quality players from Leigh who we can give game time to is a win for both clubs.”

It’s a boost for the Derwent Park club who have started the season in League One with promise – despite two defeats from their first four games.

Pride of place was their performance against Championship leaders London Broncos in the Ladbroke’ Challenge Cup when they went down only 22-20 at Derwent Park.

They had also scored 14 tries in hammering West Wales 76-6 in their second game in the League, with the headline performance from Sam Forrester who scored five of the tries.

Pryce had been less happy about a 24-16 Challenge Cup win over amateurs Hunslet Club Parkside and a 44-34 League defeat at Keighley.

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WA L K I N G S H AW

it was 50 years ago today!

A

fter 50 years of selling cars, Walkingshaw have decided it’s time to give one away.

The renowned Workington-based car dealership has come a long way since brothers Norman and Martin Walkingshaw set up the business in 1968. They could hardly of foreseen that all these years later it would be celebrating its 50th anniversary.

To mark the momentous occasion, after 50 years of selling cars to the people of west Cumbria, they have decided to give one away for free. Every customer who takes delivery of a new or used car from Walkingshaw throughout this special year will be entered into a prize draw to be in with a chance of winning a Volkswagen T-Roc, when the winner is chosen at the beginning of 2019.

Managing Director, Andy Walkingshaw said: “It’s quite a landmark to reach 50, particularly when the company started out quite small. To still be here 50 years later and for one of the brothers to still be working in the business, it’s quite remarkable really.”

The two brothers began their partnership in Whitehaven, with Norman - who is still involved in the business today - looking after the mechanical side and Martin the sales of parts and accessories. The business then moved to the old Co-op building in Kells and began selling used cars. It’s first new car franchise was Morris, which over the years changed to Austin Rover and in 1985 Walkingsaw succeeded in acquiring the Volkswagen franchise for the area.

Norman’s son Andy joined the business in 1998, by which point they had two branches, one in Whitehaven and one in Workington. To accommodate the new image and modern facilities of the Volkswagen brand the two were brought together to create one large premises at Lillyhall where they remain today. A few years later they obtained Kia Motors and expanded again with a new showroom.

Andy who has been part of the business for 20 years now, said: “I think the reason that our customers come back again and again and have bought cars from us and have them looked after over the years because the family principles are very much the same.

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

“We are here for the long term. 50 years is testament to the fact that we make decisions based on the fact that we are west Cumbrian and we serve the people of west Cumbria. If we’re going to be here a long time we need to look after them because we want those customers to come back again and again. We don’t have branches elsewhere, this is us and our focus is almost entirely on customers in west cumbria.”

“I want to make sure that I can do that whilst being proud of the name above the door.”

So what about the next 50 years?

Andy said: “We’ll be all electric vehicles for sure. We will be starting to sell significant numbers of the next few years and eventually completely change over. It’s the start of a really exciting period as the industry develops.”

He added: “It’s a long time to predict, but we intend to be around for a good deal longer as we look forward to continuing to take care of people’s motoring needs in west Cumbria.”

For more information visit www.walkingshaw.co.uk/ or contact 01900 608000

Word of mouth can be a powerful marketing tool anywhere but particularly for a company in more rural areas such as west Cumbria, people are, more often than not, swayed by the opinions of their associates and Walkingshaw come highly recommended.

Andy added: “Our family name is above the door. I live in the area and walk down the streets of our towns. I want to make sure that I can do that whilst being proud of the name above the door.”

The other factor in their success of course, is the vehicles that they sell. The decision to move from Rover to Volkswagen in 1985 turned out to be an extremely smart move indeed, Volkswagen have now become the world’s largest car manufacturer. Meanwhile Kia Motors has been the fastest growing new car franchise in the UK for many years.

“That has been a really strong contributor to our success as well,” Andy said. “And the fact that my father is still actively involved, that he has continued to work hard and put a lot back into the business. We reinvest in facilities that have been constantly improving and I think that’s important to take a long term view.”

We’re celebrating 50 years of selling cars.

By giving one away.

Win a T-Roc in our Prize Draw.

Back in 1968, we sold our first car. 50 years later, we’re planning on giving away a brand new T-Roc, Volkswagen’s first ever compact SUV. Anyone who buys a new or used car from us during 2018 will be entered into a prize draw to be made during the first week of 2019. If your name is pulled out the hat, you can drive away a T-Roc SE 1.0 TSi. And look forward to more years of great, personal service from all of us at Walkingshaw’s.

Walkingshaw Joseph Noble Road, Lillyhall East, Workington, CA14 4JH Telephone: 01900 608000. www.walkingshaw.volkswagen.co.uk

The winner will be selected at random from those taking delivery of a new or used vehicle in 2018 which they have purchased from Walkingshaw, Workington.

The selection will be made in the first week of January 2019 and the winner notified shortly afterwards. The prize will consist of one Volkswagen T-Roc SE 1.0 TSI including on-the-road costs however should this model not be available at the time of selection, an equivalent vehicle of equal or greater value will be substituted. The winner will be responsible for insuring the vehicle. Entrants must be over 17 years old by 1st January 2019 and hold a full driving licence. Purchase necessary. No cash alternative will be available. By entering this promotion you are agreeing that, should you win, Walkingshaw can use your name and images of you collecting the prize for publicity purposes. Walkingshaw employees and any family members living at the same address are not eligible to enter. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures are obtained under standardised EU test conditions (or, in cases of vehicles with WLTP type approval, are the NEDC figures provided pursuant to Government guidance until further notice). These figures facilitate direct comparison between different models from different manufacturers, but may not represent the actual fuel consumption achieved in ‘real world’ driving conditions. Choice of wheels and other options may affect fuel consumption and emissions data. More information is available at http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/wltp.

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Word search

PUZZLES

Search Words

Kid’s soduko

Solution On Page 81

BOAT - HARBOUR - BUOY - FISHING - STARBOARD - SAILING - FERRY CANOE - DOCK - ANCHOR - CRUISE - PORT - YACHT - SHIP - BARGE

Congratulations to last issues competition winner Jasmin Lee who has won an art set.

Keep sending those lovely pictures in.

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Roberts The PUZZLE Reptilian THE GUIDE’S COLOURING COMPETITION PUZZLES

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...............

F E AT U R E

half-term fun!

S

26 May 3 June

chools out for spring! And now that the weather is - dare we say it - looking a bit brighter, it’s the perfect excuse to get the whole family out into the fresh air. But even if the weather doesn’t hold up, there’s lots of events going on around the county this half-term - both in and out of doors.

Silloth Green Day Silloth, 27 May

Spring means more time spent outdoors making the most of our beautiful county – so pack up the kids and head to Silloth for its annual family-fun day.

Held every year on the Lawn Terrace, Silloth Green Day welcomes families from across west Cumbria, and this year’s event looks set to be bigger and better than ever. Taking place on Sunday 27 May between 11 and 4pm, organisers have been busy putting together a exciting mix of activities to suit all the family. Featuring donkey rides, face-painting a mobile petting zoo and of course a family dog show with categories including ‘waggiest tail’ and ‘best 9 tricks’, even the dog can have a blast.

Mini Messels Makers (Magical and Mythical) Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven, 30 May

Take the family to Rosehill to learn new skills and take home some magical and mythical creations. Mini Messel Makers create crafts inspired by Oliver Messel’s way of reusing and repurposing materials that we throw away or recycle in everyday life to make something beautiful out of items that we haven’t even given a second thought to. The two-hour workshop on Wednesday 30 May will explore 3D creations. Two sessions are available, at 10am and 1pm.

Adults and over 5s £5, under 5s free. Price includes snack and juice and booking is advisable as places are limited.

Visit www.rosehilltheatre.co.uk

Party in the Park

Vulcans Park, Workington, 2 June Pack a picnic and head to this free family event at Vulcans Park in Workington. With a full programme of entertainment lined up for the whole family. There will be live performances on stage throughout the day, stilt walkers, superheros and everything in between. Activities to keep little ones busy include crafts, face painting, Panna football, a climbing wall and fun fair.

Market stalls will showcase an array of produce from local traders. Party in the Park is the perfect way to while away an afternoon in the fresh air. More details to be confirmed.

For more information contact 01900 702986 62

Sarah & Duck

Carnegie Theatre, 31 May Just in case the weather doesn’t hold up for the whole week the Carnegie Theatre will bring to life the enchanting world of Sarah and Duck in this brand-new stage show. Featuring the wonderful characters from the BAFTA award-winning CBeebies show, join Sarah and Duck and a host of their favourite friends including The Ribbon Sisters, The Shallots, Flamingo & John and Umbrella, as they plan a birthday party for Scarf Lady in their garden. Told through a fantastic blend of puppetry, storytelling and music, Sarah and Duck’s Big Top Birthday will take you and your children on a magical adventure.

To book www.carnegietheatre.co.uk

Magical Station Gardens

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, 26 May - 3 June Something magical is happening at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway this half-term. All week children go free when they go dressed up as their favourite mythical creature. So whether its a unicorn, a fairy, an elf or something else entirely, the more imaginative the better. Explore the magical station gardens and step straight into a fairytale. Follow the free unicorn trail and take part in some magical arts and crafts along the route. And don’t forget to look out for the fairies.

For more information visit www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk

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6633

PUZZLES

Catch-Words Test your knowledge.

Across 5

8 9

10 11 13 15 16 18 19

Relating to groups of atoms bonded together (9) Anxiety (4) Plant also called speedwell — I’ve no car (anag) (8) Pants (6) Change into a variant form (6) Gems — Mick Jagger’s rollers? (6) One watching one’s weight (6) Lose emotional control (5,3) Very top (4) Vehicle thief (9)

Down 1 2 3

4 6 7 12 14 15 17

Pounds in a stone? (8) Uneasy psychological state (6) Minimum required number of members present for conducting business (6) Type of thin linen or cotton (4) Land (9) Broadcast (9) Youngster (8) Capital of Macedonia (6) Come off (6) Unfortunately (4)

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.

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

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

get them chipped O

aktree Animals’ Charity, based near Carlisle, explain why chipping your pet is so important.

At Oak Tree Animals’ Charity we get many calls from owners who have lost their beloved pet and many of the animals we see do not have a microchip or, the details associated with the chip are incorrect. The latest figures from the Dog’s Trust Stray Dog Survey 2017 show 181 dogs go missing every day.

Microchipping your pets is a simple and safe procedure and has the potential to make all the difference to your chances of being reunited with your beloved pet.

The microchip is the size of a grain of rice and the procedure, which needs to be carried out by a vet or trained implanter, takes only a couple of minutes. Many species ranging from dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and reptiles can be safely implanted with microchips.

Once a microchip is implanted, the unique 15 digit code and the owner’s details are stored on a secure database. When a missing pet is found, a professional (such as a vet, dog warden or animal charity) will scan the pet to see if they have

a microchip and contact the microchip database to retrieve information on who the pet’s owner is. Owner’s details are only given after security checks by the microchip company so all personal data is secure.

From the 6th April 2016, all dogs must be microchipped by law with up-to-date keeper’s details. Failure to do so can result in up to a £500 fine.

Although it sounds like common sense to ensure you update your pet’s microchip details if you move house or change your contact details, last year 69% of all microchipped stray dogs were unable to be returned to their owners due to incorrect or out of date contact/owner details. There may well be a fee to update your details but surely it is worth it to ensure your pet can be reunited to you if it is found straying or goes missing?

It is also worth noting that by law a dog will still need to wear a collar and tag that states the name and address of the owner when in a public place, even if microchipped.

By following these simple steps you have the best chance of being reunited should the worst happen.

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F E AT U R E

O

Editor’s Pick ur Editor’s pick of the top things happening in west Cumbria over the coming months, from high profile comedy to talented local artists and amateur theatre - oh and gin, of course.

Just the Tonic Fundraiser 11 May, The Solway Hall, Whitehaven Sip on your favourite tipple (or two) whilst raising money for a great cause - do I really need to say more? This May, The Solway Hall will host their very first wine, gin and vodka tasting event with all the money raised on the night going towards the general upkeep of the community venue. Tickets £15. Ticket price includes four drinks of your favourite tipple (wine, gin or vodka) nibbles and entertainment.

Tickets must be purchased prior to the event contact 07722589859 or email admin@togetherwecanfundraising.co.uk Carnegie Singers, Reflections 28 April, Workington Theatre Royal Now in its 44th Season, the Carnegie Singers present a concert of music with a reflective theme. The programme consists of The Sacred Songs by Karl Jenkins - a compilation of some of his most celebrated works - together with music in a more popular vain from the likes of Roger and Hammerstein, Simon and Garfunkel and Amanda McBroom. The choir will be joined by Guest Soloist, local singer Keri Farish and accompanied by the Etoile String Quartet.

Highly regarded in Workington and surrounding Districts the Carnegie Singers’ Concerts always receive much acclaim attributed to their variety of music and the high standard they have maintained over many years.

Tickets £10 www.carnegietheatre.co.uk

The Lancashire Hotpots 2 June, Carnegie Theatre, Workington The Lancashire Hotpots are back at the Carnegie Theatre with a brand new show guaranteed to get everybody ‘singing-a-longa’. They’ll be raising the roof with all the Hotpot classics you know and love: Chippy Tea, I Fear Ikea and Egg, Sausage Chips & Beans. You’ll also be able to join in with the hilarious new songs from their latest ‘Sing-a-longa’ album. Let your hair down and have a knees up round the ol’ johanna with the unmistakable atmosphere and laughs of a Lancashire Hotpots show. www.carnegietheatre.co.uk 66

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

John Robins 28 April, Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven Edinburgh Comedy Award 2017 winner, comedian John Robins – one of the most exciting and distinctive voices in comedy – returns reflecting on love, loss and lamenting the fact he can’t break up with himself. This is powerful, angst-ridden comedy at its finest, a must-see from one of the UK’s brightest talents. (Rescheduled date) www.rosehilltheatre.co.uk

Snake Davis and the Burden of Paradise Band 25 May, Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven One of the great forces in 90s pop culture, saxophonist Snake Davis and the Burden of Paradise Band bring music to the people of west Cumbria. Saxophonist Snake Davis has featured on a whole host of hits with the likes of Take That and M People. Now touring with his acoustic band The Burden Of Paradise (vocalist Helen Watson and double bassist Dave Bowie Jr) his playlist includes medieval ballads, torch songs from the 80s and anthems made famous by artists from Bob Dylan to Doris Day. With no drums just sax, double bass and vocals - Rosehill’s patrons are promised an enchanting evening. www.rosehilltheatre.co.uk

Beauty in the Beast 29 March - 6 May, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick An exhibition at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, ‘Beauty in the Beast’ brings a mixture of both brand new works of art and some old favourites by local artist Sarah Taylor. Sarah’s distinct and familiar style mixes organic splashes of paint with more structured geometric patterns to bring to life the personalities of the animal kingdom. It’s wildlife as you’ve never seen it before and I challenge you not to fall in love with her work.

To check opening times visit www.theatrebythelake.com

Places available for

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

W H AT ’ S O N

detroit’s dark heart

By Paul McGuirk

R

enowned Detroit blues musician Paul Lamb will perform in Whitehaven this April.

Detroit-based rocker Paul Lamb has been a mainstay on the UK circuit for the best part of a decade. On his latest tour, Paul has teamed up with guitar maestro Adam Fuest to deliver a roots-inflected, gutsy set of acoustic blues. The tour takes the pair to Whitehaven’s Lowther Club on Sunday 29 April, where music lovers can expect to experience the sounds of the dark heart of Detroit.

Paul Lamb is very much the product of his environment.

Growing up in a city with such a rich musical history, it was inevitable that he would soak up the blues, funk and soul of his surroundings before creating his own inimitable blend of Detroit rock.

“I learned a lot in the early years,” explained Paul, who cut his teeth in the sweat-soaked R&B clubs of his hometown.

“Most importantly, I learned how to craft a song.”

From there, Paul’s music has taken him out of the bars of Detroit to huge stages around the world, where he has wowed audiences with his virtuoso guitar and knack for storytelling, sometimes solo, sometimes ably backed by his band, The Detroit Breakdown.

Paul’s song writing craft has led him to share stages with rock greats such as Walter Trout and Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green, performing at Glastonbury and countless other European festivals along the way. And he has the blues to thank for it, he added: “Blues music is emotion in its purest form. It’s everything to me.”

On his latest UK tour, Paul is accompanied by accomplished guitarist and legendary producer Adam Fuest, who has previously worked with The Cure, Babyshambles and Mott The Hoople. The pair are looking forward to hitting the road and taking their signature sound to new audiences, in support of Paul’s new album ‘Fly In4Mation’.

“I’m going to love doing this tour,” said Adam, while Paul added: “The endless travel brings new adventures.”

It’s safe to say that we’re very much looking forward to it too.

Paul Lamb and Adam Fuest will be performing at The Lowther Club, Whitehaven on 29 April at 8PM. For further information call 01946 692396

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W H AT ’ S O N

MUSIC / COMEDY /THEATRE / FILM / OTHER MUSIC APRIL Reptilians 07 L o u n g e 4 1 , Wo r k i n g t o n Ta l i s k 13 Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth Delorean Back to the 80”s Band 13 T h e Ye l l o w E a r l , W h i t e h a v e n 14

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

Monsters of Rock 14 Solway Hall,Whitehaven

20

Tw i s t e d W h e e l ( l i v e ) p l u s s u p p o r t T h e Ye l l o w E a r l , W h i t e h a v e n

21

Out on Bail Joe Bananas, Whitehaven

21

Charlotte Newman S w i n s i d e I n n , Ke s w i c k

22

Wo l f p e a k e Florence Arts Centre,Egremont

22

Piers Lane (Piano) T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

W O N K U N I T, R a g i n g N a t h a n ’ s & T h e M u f f 25 Wigs L o u n g e 4 1 , Wo r k i n g t o n

14

Kinky Cops L o u n g e 4 1 , Wo r k i n g t o n

27

T h e T i n a Tu r n e r E x p e r i e n c 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

14

Divas Three Lowther Club,Whitehaven

27

The Blackheart Orchestra Florence Arts Centre,Egremont

27

Stevie D T h e G a s l i g h t B a r, W o r k i n g t o n

K 2 T F u n d r a i s e r C o n c e r t i n a i d o f Ke s w i c k 1 4 to Threlkeld Railway Path Threlkeld Village Hall 14

L o w Ke y s B a n d Joe Bananas, Whitehaven

27

Live & Electric: Songwriters Rosehill Theatre , Whitehaven

15

Little Moth A n n a ’s , W h i t e h a v e n

27

Lee Adams HardKnott Bar & Cafe,Eskdale

15

Emma Johnson Rosehill Theatre ,Whitehaven

28

Black Canvas Kings Arms,Egremont

15

Misfitz T h e N a v y C l u b , Wo r k i n g t o n

28

Callus, Obscene Nihilist, Shred Dibnah T h r e e Tu n s , W h i t e h a v e n

15

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

28

Liam Moorhouse T h e G a s l i g h t B a r, W o r k i n g t o n

18

The Fureys Rosehill Theatre ,Whitehaven

28

K J Wo o d Lowther Club,Whitehaven

19

Barry Kirwan and his Band C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n

28

Unity Sessions L o u n g e 4 1 , Wo r k i n g t o n

19

Dusty Springfield and the shades of the 60s The Solway Hall,Whitehaven

28

The Music of John Denver - Chris Bannister Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth

20

Saints of Arcadia plus support L o u n g e 4 1 , Wo r k i n g t o n

28

Mojo Rising Joe Bananas, Whitehaven

20

Pete Lashley P a c k H o r s e I n n , Ke s w i c k

28

Carnegie Singers - Reflections T h e a t r e R o y a l , Wo r k i n g t o n

29

Paul Lamb and Adam Fuest Acoustic Duo Lowther Club,Whitehaven

workington go is back!

F

ollowing a successful launch last year, the popular sports festival is back on Saturday 19 May with an amazing mix of activities running from 11am – 4pm in the town centre’s parks and leisure centre.

Organised by Workington Town Council with support from GLL, the festival offers the opportunity to get active and try a new sport. Best of all, the sessions are completely free of charge and you can participate in as many as you like.

The packed programme includes old favourites such as netball, as well as more unusual activities such as panna football and archery. New activities for this year’s event include an orienteering maze and walking football – perfect activities for those looking for low impact sports that are still challenging and fun.

The sessions are led by professional instructors and are suitable for complete beginners so no previous experience is required.

If you want to get out and try something new, what are you waiting for? Workshop places are very limited so prebooking is essential.

Sign-up at www.visitworkington.co.uk/workingtongo

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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 M AY

25

Meat Loaf - Rock and Roll Dreams Came Tr u e The Solway Hall,Whitehaven D a r i a Ku l e s h Lamplugh Village Hall

25

DJ Ratman H e n r y ’s , Wo r k i n g t o n

25

Cottfest (until 26th) Stainburn Marquee

25

Real Ale And Music Festival (until 27th) Lowther Club,Whitehaven

25

02

M u g e n k o Ta i k o D r u m m e r s 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

C a l l M r. R o b e s o n – A L i f e , W i t h S o n g s T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

04

T h e J o h n Ve r i t y B a n d Florence Arts Centre,Egremont

25

8 0 ’s M a n i a + A f t e r s h o w 8 0 ’s D i s c o 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

05

Plastic Paddy Lowther Club, Whitehaven

26

Northern Threads Joe Bananas,Whitehaven

06

Broken English Joe Bananas, Whitehaven

26

06

Chubby Choons T J ’ s B a r, W h i t e h a v e n

Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage Florence Arts Centre,Egremont

26

06

Renaissance + Nicky B T h e G a s l i g h t B a r, W o r k i n g t o n

D a r i a Ku l e s h Pennington Hotel,Ravenglass

27

Misfitz Lowther Club,Whitehaven

08

C i l l a & T h e S h a d e s o f t h e 6 0 ’s C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n

27

10

Ke s w i c k J a z z a n d B l u e s F e s t i v a l Ke s w i c k

D a r i a Ku l e s h T h e Yu r t , W h i n l a t t e r F o r e s t

27

11

Meliora L o u n g e 4 1 , Wo r k i n g t o n

Lee Adams T h e Tr o u t H o t e l , C o c k e r m o u t h

28

12

Steve Spencer Lowther Club,Whitehaven

Crow Dog T h e P a c k H o r s e , Wo r k i n g t o n

28

12

Pot Luck Joe Bananas, Whitehaven

T h e C r e a t i o n ( Ke s w i c k C h o r a l S o c i e t y ) T h e a t r e b y t h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

29

Frank Ifield Remembers 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

16

Rock of Ages (until 19th) C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n

JUNE

18

Open Mic Night Florence Arts Centre, Egremont

01

Lindisfarne The Solway Hall, Whitehaven

19

Maverick T h e L o w t h e r, W h i t e h a v e n

01

Islands In The Stream 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

19

Collision Joe Bananas,Whitehaven

19

Lee Adams Netherhall Old Boys,Maryport

02

The Lancashire Hotpots: Sing-a-longa Knees Up Jamboree 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

19

Natalie Burns Florence Arts Centre,Egremont

07

Jill Jackson Florence Arts Centre,Egremont

25

Jonny Boyle A n n a ’s , W h i t e h a v e n

08

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

25

Aaron Levli T h e G a s l i g h t B a r, W o r k i n g t o n

09

My Leonard Cohen Rosehill Theatre , Whitehaven

25

Snake Davis and the Burden of Paradise Band Rosehill Theatre ,Whitehaven

09

Explosive Light Orchestra 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

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

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W H AT ’ S O N

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?

Complete these anagrams and send them in to Stephen at The Guide Media Group, Phoenix Enterprise Centre, Cleator Moor, CA25 5BD for the chance to win one of our brand new loyalty cards where you can save money throughout Cumbria.

ARTY ROMP

ENTHUSE STEREOS ....................................................................................................

BARELY ERECTING ......................................................................................................

A NICE FEVER FLU .......................................................................................................

ANAL VIA RUDE ...........................................................................................................

AIRED ROMAN ..............................................................................................................

WALRUS MAYO .............................................................................................................

CLAMPING FEEL ...........................................................................................................

ABHORRED GLUE LOON ..........................................................................................

FARTS WHIR ON ..........................................................................................................

CATHETER ENTRIES ..................................................................................................

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W H AT ’ S O N

LIVE AND ELECTRIC

S

ome of the best local songwriters will be performing for one night only at Rosehill Theatre this April.

Live & Electric: Songwriters is the first in a new series of themed live music events showcasing Cumbrian songwriters.

On Friday 27 April, some of the best local performers will come together for one night only to present their own compositions supported by a live house band.

The programme is being run by west Cumbrian music professionals Zoe Warren and Lee Shackley and the line-up is bursting with home-grown talent including Mark Carruthers, Ste Murphy, AnneMarie McStraw, Phil Lewthwaite, Rob Lambert and Andrew Bates.

Presented by After 4 Productions in association with Rosehill, the evening is a chance to support up-and-coming stars in a very special celebration of Cumbrian talent.

Doors 7.30pm.

Tickets £15, contact the box office on 01946 692422

ANDREW LAWRENCE

Sat 19 May • 8pm • £15 Superbly intelligent, highly articulate and deeply sour The Spectator

SNAKE DAVIS AND THE BURDEN OF PARADISE BAND

FRI 25 MAY • 8PM • £18

A virtuoso saxophonist Daily Telegraph

More fantastic shows being programmed all the time Check rosehilltheatre.co.uk for up to date details

Friday 27 April ROSEHILL THEATRE

thegreenroom restaurant

Open Wednesday-Sunday for lunch, dinner, pre-theatre supper and introducing Afternoon Tea

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

To book call 01946 692422 Or at rosehilltheatre.co.uk Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven CA28 6SE

A595

Whitehaven

thegreenroom restaurant

A66

The Lake District

A590

Penrith

M6 Kendal

T 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

MOVING MOUNTAINS MAY

10 – 13

P

aul McGuirk meets the team behind the re-energised Keswick Jazz & Blues Festival.

After 27 years, Keswick’s annual jazz festival is undergoing something of an overhaul. With a passionate team of organisers on board, this major event looks set to welcome its best-ever line-up in 2018.

The four-day festival takes place across a variety of carefullyselected venues throughout the historic Lake District destination, each within easy walking distance of one another.

The result is a long-weekend in which visitors and locals alike can take in the sights, sounds and tastes of the town, creating a buzz around the area and an economic boost for local businesses.

While 2017 witnessed a scaled-down version of the event, a hard-working team of volunteers has been putting in the effort to ensure that the new-look Keswick Jazz & Blues Festival is bigger and better than ever before.

This year’s festival is spearheaded by promoter Ian Jones. As a sound-engineer with a passion for jazz music, he has previous experience of the event, which is one of the biggest of its type in the UK. “It’s an amazing part of the Keswick calendar”, explained Ian, who has been working hard to put together a new and exciting line-up which looks set to attract new visitors, while remaining dedicated to its core audience of jazz aficionados.

While this year sees the inclusion of some world-renowned blues artists on the bill, Ian is keen to define his approach to the festival as sticking largely with a programme of jazz.

Speaking about the history of the festival, Ian said: “It’s always been respected among the jazz fraternity.”

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F E AT U R E

Ian has been working closely with John Burgess - who in the past has been involved in the organisation of Edinburgh Jazz Festival - to secure big-name acts across the long weekend.

The organisers this year have recognised that, to keep the event from stagnating, it’s important to evolve and with this comes some brave and exciting line-up choices.

Although Keswick Jazz & Blues Festival continues to offer the best of 20’s and 30’s era sounds, there’s a keen drive to push things forward with fresh sounds. “It’s a new festival with a new identity,” explained Ian. The 2018 Keswick Jazz & Blues festival will host a variety of national and international jazz talents like Marla Dixon, whose richly-textured New Orleans sound is expected to enthral music lovers.

With an impeccable line-up and a fresh new approach, organisers are anticipating the best festival yet. Ian added: “We’ve already out-stripped last year’s sales, so we’re quietly anticipating a successful event.”

With tickets selling fast, there’s never been a better time to secure your place at this historic celebration of jazz music.

Keswick Jazz & Blues Festival takes place across multiple venues in Keswick between Thursday May 10th – Sunday May 13th 2018.

For more information visit keswickjazzandbluesfestival.co.uk

Traditionalists can also expect to enjoy the jazz-piano stylings of Keith Nichols, who is one of the UK’s foremost authorities on Classical Jazz and Ragtime.

Elsewhere on the bill, trumpeter Enrico Tomasso – who has previously played alongside the late, great Louis Armstrong – is likely to be a big draw among jazz fanatics.

With the recent additions of soulful singer-songwriter Denise Gordon and United States-based acoustic blues upstart Martin Harley to the programme of events, this is a festival which music fans of all ages won’t want to miss out on.

This year’s Keswick Jazz & Blues Festival has been made possible with the support of several local businesses, including the prestigious property company Lakelovers. The firm specialises in offering great-value luxury holiday rentals within the Lake District and recognises the cultural importance and economic significance of the festival.

Keswick Brewery is also keen to support the event and will be creating a special beer in recognition of the festival, which will be available from several of the venues which have been selected to host live performances over the four-day period.

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

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5 T H M AY

lakeland festival of light

T

he spectacular mountain based light show will return in 2018 to raise vital funds for charity.

It all started back in 2015 when a huge earthquake rocked Nepal killing over 9,000 people and injuring over 20,000. In May over 500 people will once again light up the Lakes to raise money for those whose lives were changed forever by the disaster.

With Nepal a country close to their hearts, in 2015 organisers quickly arranged what would be the first of these unique Lake District events, 'Blencathra by Moonlight'. In 2016 they hosted the 'Catbells Festival of Light' which saw hundreds of people illuminate the spine of the mountain with their head torches and then in 2017, three fells - Barrow, Stile End and Outerside - were lit up as part of the ‘Festival of Light’. The events have so far raised in excess of £30,000 and had more than 1,300 people light up the fells for various charities helping Nepali earthquake victims.

After the iconic mountain was so effective two years ago, Catbells has again been selected as the peak for 2018.

Climbers will be given a sheet of coloured acetate, which once dark will be used alongwith their head torches to fill the night sky with a trailing kaleidoscope of colour, creating the illusion of Nepalese prayer flags running along the mountainside.

Hoping to reach their target of £10,000 for PHASE Worldwide again, organiser Matt Le Voi said: “The support has just been amazing. I can tell from the following the event is getting that people are expecting it and are getting really excited to be part of it, which is nice.

“I’ve got every confidence that this year will be just as popular. People are coming from all over and have been booking up hotels for months now. People are actually holidaying in the Lake District on that weekend specifically, to be a part of that festival.”

Taking place on Saturday 5 May, the Lakeland Festival of Light will start at 6pm and run until approximately 11pm.

Walkers will meet in the field next to the Rawnsley Centre in Keswick before heading up Catbells. But even if you don’t fancy the hike, it’s worth heading to the shores of Lake Derwentwater to find a prime position for enjoying the spectacle.

There is a recommended donation of £20 in order to participate, but everyone is encouraged you to raise more if possible. The event is open to all abilities, but be sure to bring plenty of warm layers and be equipped for what will likely be a rather chilly night on the fells.

For more information visit www.lakelandmountainguides.co.uk/the-lakeland-festival-of-light or search for the event on Facebook

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Modern Office Space in Cleator Moor

Flexible occupancy agreements Only one month’s notice required

O Office suites and workshops from 120 - 1,150 sq feet O Accessible 24hrs per day O Welcoming reception and a friendly team of staff O Wide range of business services O Conference, training and meeting facilities O Superfast broadband and free WiFi O Shower facilities available O Ample free, all-day parking O 10 Minutes from Westlakes Science Park and Sellafield

AVAILABLE APRIL 2018 Workshop 345 sq feet

Phoenix E NT E R P R I S E C E NT R E

Please call Susan on 01946 813 555 or email susan@phoenixenterprisecentre.co.uk www.phoenixenterprisecentre.co.uk

A community interest company • Supporting the local economy Phoenix Enterprise Centre, Phoenix House, Jacktrees Road, Cleator Moor, CA25 5BD

W H AT ’ S O N

BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS!

A

s Second Star Youth Theatre present their production of Alice in Wonderland, Paul Adams looks back on how the Playgoers’ youth group was formed.

Any theatre group needs a youth section to ensure that young people are visiting the theatre. Workington Playgoers had been without a youth group for several years when a series of coincidences brought about the formation of one.

They were planning the refurbishment of the Theatre Royal with the aid of the Big Lottery and other grants and on the other hand, they had been approached by an independently run youth theatre wanting to hire the theatre as a base. As well as the refurbishment Playgoers were looking at how they operate, and the issue of a youth group came back into focus.

The group using the theatre was approached with a view to being absorbed into Playgoers as its official youth group. The offer was accepted and Second Star Youth Theatre (SSYT) was launched. Slowly the group developed and the quality of their productions got better and better.

Early in 2016 it was decided to appoint a Youth Theatre Facilitator to oversee all activities involving young people throughout the theatre. The youngsters are now integrated with the main theatre wherever possible, with some of the young actors being involved in productions of ‘Macbeth’, Goodnight Mr. Tom’ and ‘Under Milk Wood’.

Further changes took place when the group leader, Millie Hardy-Sims relinquished her position to go to University.

This gave Playgoers an opportunity to restructure the SSYT set-up. They created a Youth Council, a small group aged between 15 and 18 who effectively run SSYT. They choose the plays, the activities and the directors. Each has a role which mirrors a role the main theatre (wardrobe, props, technical, finance, etc.) and is mentored by the adults undertaking the various roles. Already one of the older members of SSYT has joined the technical team and has been doing lighting, sound and set building for the Playgoers adult group.

Too often people see youth activities as for “friends and families”, but their productions are of good quality and should be supported by everyone. They are the future for the theatre.

Alice in Wonderland is showing at Workington Theatre Royal from 21 - 22 April.

SSYT meets every Saturday from 10am - 12pm at the Theatre Royal. If you are interested, pop in to have a look round and see the group in action.

For more information visit www.theatre-royal-workington.co.uk

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WW HA HTA’TS ’ SO N ON

MUSIC / COMEDY /THE ATRE / FILM / OTHER THE ATRE APRIL

COMEDY APRIL

11

The Wizard of Oz (until 14th) C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n

21

John Robins Old Fire Station,Carlisle

20

The Little Mermaid 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

28

John Robins - The Darkness of Robins Rosehill Theatre , Whitehaven

20

Grasp The Nettle Ireby Globe Hall,Ireby

M AY

21

A l i c e i n Wo n d e r l a n d ( u n t i l 2 2 n d ) T h e a t r e R o y a l , Wo r k i n g t o n

04

Seriously Dead 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

Whitehaven Theatre Group Presents: T O P H AT ( u n t i l 2 8 t h ) The Solway Hall,Whitehaven

05

Comedy & Curry Night S k i d d aw H o t e l , Ke s w i c k

25

Saving Jason (until 28th) T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

05

Craig Cambell - Easy Tiger C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n

26

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

19

Andrew Lawrence: The Happy Accident Rosehill Theatre

27

George Egg-DIY Cook Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth

28

George Egg-DIY Cook T h e G a t h e r, E n n e r d a l e

29

George Egg-DIY Cook Muncaster Parish Hall

M AY 01

M o n t y P y t h o n ’s S p a m a l o t (until 5th) T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

03

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

10

National Theatre Live - Macbeth (12A) P l a z a C i n e m a , Wo r k i n g t o n

19

Great Expectations To r p e n h o w V i l l a g e H a l l

22

Bosom Pals & Snake in the Grass (until 26th) T h e a t r e R o y a l , Wo r k i n g t o n

24

J e e v e s A n d Wo o s t e r ( u n t i l 2 7 t h O c t ) T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

24

Rails (until 27th Oct) T h e a t r e B y T h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

28

RY T - P r e s e n t s J u n g l e B o o k ( u n t i l 3 1 s t ) The Solway Hall,Whitehaven

31

S a r a h & D u c k ’ s B i g To p B i r t h d a y C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n

FILM APRIL 19

Grease: 40th Anniversary Gaiety Cinema,Whitehaven

20

Free Film Fridays (ever y Friday) Florence Arts Centre,Egremont

20

Pitch Perfect 3 (12A) Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth

FA C M i n e r s F r e e F i l m C l u b ( e v e r y S a t u r2 1 day) Florence Arts Centre,Egremont Cockermouth Bike Night - Suppor ting 21 Stoked on MS Kirkgate Centre , Cockermouth 23

T h e S h a p e O f Wa t e r ( 1 5 ) Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth

30

The Square Kirkgate Centre ,Cockermouth

M AY 07

Lady Bird (15) Kirkgate Centre , Cockermouth

JUNE L e d l e n s e r Tr a i l s i n M o t i o n F i l m F e s t i v a l ( p a r t 0 8 one) T h e a t r e b y t h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k

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

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W H AT ’ S O N

Keswick Mountain Festival Makes Momentous Return

By Paul McGuirk

F

ans of sports, music and the arts are gearing up for a feature-packed weekend, as the Keswick Mountain Festival returns once again in June.

Organisers have confirmed that the event will take place between 7 -10 June this year, with the main outdoor stage – the Festival Village - based in Crow Park, Keswick. However, other sites and venues in the area – including the renowned Theatre by the Lake - will also host inspirational talks from motivational speakers including the world-class athletes Chrissie Wellington and Mark Beaumont, as well as the world premieres of three brand-new documentary films which focus on trail-running.

Although Keswick Mountain Festival has been held every year since 2007, organisers decided to move the event from its traditional slot, in May, forward to June for the first-time last year.

“It had a really positive impact on the festival,” explained MKF director Nicola Meadley. “Advance ticket sales were higher than in previous years, many of the sports events sold very quickly and there was unprecedented interest in the live music.”

As a result, the team behind the festival have been able to create a more extensive and varied line-up than ever before.

Last year’s Keswick Mountain Festival attracted approximately 3,000 athletes, with even more expected this year over seventeen events including trail runs, triathlons, relays and swimming events for adults and juniors alike. All entrants receive a t-shirt along with a free ticket for the live music events on either the Friday or Saturday night.

The Festival Village will play host to two nights of incredible live music. Friday sees festival favourites Peatbog Faeries delivering a mixture of trad folk tinged with hip-hop, jazz and reggae. This precedes a headline performance from Peter Hook & The Light, where the bass-playing legend will run through a much-anticipated set of his back catalogue of Joy Division and New Order hits.

On the Saturday evening, attendees can expect to be entertained by former Spice Girl and solo chart-topper Melanie C, who will headline the main stage following a performance from 90’s baggy indie legends The Farm.

For further information and tickets for individual events, visit keswickmountainfestival.co.uk 80

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

HONISTER

bringing the mine back to life A

brand new multimedia mine tour is ready to explode into action at Honister Slate Mine.

Honister Slate Mine, England’s last working slate mine, has announced that its brand-new multimedia mine tour is now open and ready to bring the mines history to life through storytelling, music, light and - most importantly - explosions.

Daily guided tours already take place in an array of narrow passages and cathedral-like caverns, but now the popular attraction is delighted to share their latest development.

Working with audio visual engineers Piranha Creative, who specialise in working with a range of visitor attractions across the UK including museums and mines, Honister has invested in bringing the latest technologies to Cumbria to build upon their iconic attraction and take it to the next level.

boys started work at the age of 8 to become their fathers’ apprentices. How they built trust, learned of the dangers and lived within the camaraderie of their workmates.

The brand new interactive mine tour has opened in time to welcome the official start of the season.

Tours run daily from 10.30am and take around 90 minutes, safety helmets and90mm lamps are provided.

Cumbria Guide x 67mm.qxp_Layout 1 28/03/2018 13 Find out more at honister.com All weather • All ages • All adventure

ADVENTURE

Visitors can go deep within the mine to meet 8 year John Taylor of Borrowdale, hear his story and share his most vivid memories of what life was really like for slate miners working at Honister throughout the ages.

The new installation gives the visitor a complete sensory experience bringing together sight, hearing and touch to encompass the journey of the family’s ancestors. Follow in their footsteps right through to 2018 and hear from the final presenters of the new tour who are actually the great grandchildren, Prentice and Tiger. Hear how this generation of the family, along with their parents and the commitment of the workforce, have diversified the mine to maintain its market place in the world of stone and slate. As well as how they came to realise the new industrial benefit to the community with tourism, making it the vibrant place it is today.

The tour is designed to appeal to all ages but especially today’s children, who can learn for themselves how young

As seen on TV

honister.com

E ALU ER Vay Pass P U S All D round rg Unde Tour and Mine ia Ferrata the V erience x E p

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Outside Adventure

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Tel: 017687 77230

Group Discounts available.

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It’s all on honister.com Winner of Best Visitor Experience Award

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W H AT ’ S O N

OTHER 04

An Evening with Andy Cole The Solway Hall,Whitehaven

05

An Evening with Ian Botham The Solway Hall,Whitehaven

05

Festival of Light C a t b e l l s , Ke s w i c k

11

J u s t t h e To n i c F u n d r a i s e r Solway Hall,Whitehaven

11

The Strands Beer Festival T h e S t r a n d s I n n , N e t h e r Wa s d a l e

12

B r aw l i n t h e H a l l Solway Hall,Whitehaven

13

Carlisle Colour Run Carlisle Racecourse

APRIL Until 6th May Beauty in the Beast Exhibition T h e a t r e b y t h e L a ke , Ke s w i c k 13

Glamour The Solway Hall,Whitehaven

Va r i e t y C h a r i t y N i g h t 14 Harrington Royal British L e g i o n , Wo r k i n g t o n Maryport Model Club 11th Annual Model 1 4 Show Netherhall School,Maryport 14

Rum Festival Shakers,Whitehaven

15

Pirates: Fact and Fiction (until 21st) The Beacon Musuem,Whitehaven

W h i t e h a v e n R a m b l i n g Wa l k A-Skelgill, Cat Bells,Dale Head 1 5 Ta r n , H i n d s c a r t h B - L i t t l e To w n , H i n d s c a r t h , R o b i n s o n C-Bleach Green, encircle Ennerdale

15

St Bees - Rosemary Hutt H e l e n a T h o m s p o n M u s e u m , Wo r k i n g t o n

17

Boggles of Cumbria H e l e n a T h o m p s o n M u s e u m , Wo r k i n g t o n

19

St Beghs School Reunion The Solway Hall,Whitehaven

19

Evening of Mediumship Wo r k i n g t o n M a s o n i c H a l l

19

Wo r k i n g t o n G O Vu l c a n P a r k , Wo r k i n g t o n

21

An Evening For Evie C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n

26

Ceri Dupree C a r n e g i e T h e a t r e , Wo r k i n g t o n

26

Cider and Sausage Festival Wo o l p a c k I n n , H a r d k n o t t P a s s

W h i t e h a v e n R a m b l i n g Wa l k A-Bass’waite Church, Gt Calva, Knott, Carrock Fell,Mungrisdale 29 B-Bass’waite Church,Dash Falls, Skiddaw House,Mungrisdale C-Scales, Souther Fell,Mungrisdale M AY Quiz Night 02 Florence Ar ts Centre ,Whitehaven Until 4th 0 2 R ave n g l a s s A n t i q u e a n d C o l l e c t o r s F a i r Muncaster Parish Hall,Ravenglass 03

Crafts Night H e l e n a T h o m p s o n M u s e u m , Wo r k i n g t o n

Until 6th 0 4 Art in Irton Annual Exhibition Santon Bridge Village Hall 82

W h i t e h a v e n R a m b l i n g Wa l k A - Wa s d a l e H e a d , P i e r s G i l l , S c a f e l l B - Wa s d a l e H e a d , P i e r s G i l l , C o r r i d o r 13 Route, Lingmell Col C - N e t h e r Wa s d a l e , L o n d o n h d , S a n t o n B r i d g e , H o l l i n B r, S t a n g e n d s

Sean Roper - An evening of clair voyance 2 0 and mediumship We l l i n g t o n B i s t r o , W h i t e h a v e n Until 25th 2 3 R ave n g l a s s A n t i q u e a n d C o l l e c t o r s F a i r Muncaster Parish Hall,Ravenglass 2 7 S i l l o t h G re e n D ay W h i t e h a v e n R a m b l i n g Wa l k A-Coast to Coast-Rosthwaite, Grasmere 27 via High Raise,Sergeant Man B-Coast to Coast-Rosthwaite,Grasmere via Far Easdale C-Rosthwaite, Braithwaite 30

Mini Messels Makers - Magical and Mythical Rosehill Theatre , Whitehaven

JUNE 01

Ke s w i c k B e e r F e s t i v a l ( u n t i l 2 n d ) Ke s w i c k R u g b y C l u b

07

Ke s w i c k M o u n t a i n F e s t i v a l ( u n t i l 1 0 t h ) Ke s w i c k

07

King George Beer Festival (until 10th) K i n g G e o r g e I V, E s k d a l e

15

Egremont Beer Festival (until 16th) Egremont Rugby Union Club

W H AT ’ S O N

KESWICK

ALL WEATHER ACTION AMAZING FAMILY FUN

ICE WALL

OUTDOOR CLIMBING CAFE SHOP WALL OUTDOOR KIDS 017687 75907 ACTIVITIES info@kongadventure.com PLAY AREA Heads Rd, Keswick, CA12 5EZ

www.kongadventure.com

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

83

C WOHAASTT’ SS EORNI E S

CumbriaN Coast: ALLONBY

W

ith history and fun, all-in-one, Paul McGuirk explores why Allonby is a must-visit for tourists

Despite its diminutive stature, the coastal village of Allonby proves that size isn’t everything. With its rich history, multitude of attractions and picturesque sea views, this often-overlooked Cumbrian community has plenty to offer visitors of all ages.

The village is thought to have been developed between 55BC and 122AD by the Romans, as a defence outpost during the construction of Hadrian’s Wall. Milefortlet 21, a World Heritage Site just south of the village, provides evidence of the Roman occupation of the area.

However, the first permanent settlers to Allonby are believed to have been Anglo Saxons, who are estimated to have arrived in the 5th century following the demise of the Roman Empire.

Some 400 years later, Viking settlers sailed to the area after being expelled from Dublin and made Allonby their home.

However, it would be 1274 before the existence of the village was recorded as “Alenby” – an amalgamation of the Anglo-Norman “Aguillon”, meaning spur, and “byr” – the Old Norse term for a farm.

It was around this time that locals began to extract salt from the sea water along the Solway coast – an enterprise which continued for some 700 years. Saltpans dating back to 1650 can still be seen just south of the village at Crosscanonby to this day.

Today, Allonby is a designated area of outstanding natural beauty, boasting a beach of fine sand which offers stunning views across the Solway Estuary. From here, it’s possible to gaze at the mountains of Southern Scotland and take in the fresh sea air – the perfect opportunity for everyone from dog-walkers to families with young children to relax.

A renowned long-distance walk, The Cumbrian Coastal Way, runs through the village, whereby keen walkers can enjoy numerous open miles of green-sea banks during the stretch between Allonby and Beckfoot.

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The village is home to various historic Georgian and Victorian buildings including the Reading Room, a Quaker alms house for widows and spinsters. The building, which has recently been transformed into a residential property, was designed by Alfred Waterhouse, a Victorian architect of note who also developed Manchester’s famous Town Hall and the Natural History Museum in London.

Elsewhere, the Old Baths, which are now also private residences, serve as a timely reminder as to when Allonby was famed as a sea-bathing resort. 18th century visitors would come from all over England to soak up and even drink the sea water as a curative measure.

It appears that the tradition for relaxation has never left Allonby, as it is now home to the Spring Lea Leisure Centre, which offers holidaymakers a chance to unwind with a heated jacuzzi, indoor leisure pool and sauna. Children can enjoy a soft play area and a games room with pool tables, while outdoor swimmers can even enjoy a bracing dip in the sea on a beach which has won awards for cleanliness and safety – weather permitting, of course.

It’s easy to build up a hunger after an afternoon taking in the fresh sea air, and thankfully Allonby is home to numerous tea rooms, hotels and traditional pubs offering homecooked food and cask ales.

Those with a sweet tooth can do worse than enjoy a famous Twentyman’s ice cream, which is a highly-regarded, locally-produced treat that is not to be missed.

With a host of exciting attractions and facilities nearby including indoor karting, sea fishing, kite surfing and more - and as a gateway to the Lake District, Allonby makes a great base for families to enjoy a much-needed break away from the hustle-and-bustle of modern life. It’s an affordable, enjoyable means to enjoy the beauty of Cumbria without having to break the bank, and it’s easy to see why it’s becoming increasingly popular with tourists looking to enjoy something different from a UK getaway.

8th, 9th & 10th June 2018

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

85

CUMBRIA CASTLES

Cumbrian Castles: Lowther Castle

O

n the latest stop-off on our journey across the county Paul McGuirk is struck by the story of Lowther Castle.

While Cumbria certainly has no shortage of treasures just waiting to be discovered, Lowther Castle and the story surrounding it is one of intrigue, preservation and renewal.

Constructed at the beginning of the 19th century, the original castle – with its 365 rooms – was often lauded as boasting “a room for every day of the year”.

While its architectural grandeur and lush gardens were once the envy of Britain, the castle was sadly demolished in 1957, leaving just the outer walls and façade remaining. For over five decades, this once majestic stately manor was lost to the wilderness.

However, fast-forward to 2018 and Lowther Castle is once again a premier visitor attraction. With dramatic, imposing ruins, well-tended gardens and one of the best adventure playgrounds in the area, it makes for a fantastic day out for visitors of all ages – from culture vultures to thrill-seeking kids and even four-legged friends, there’s truly something for everyone here.

An exhibition, ‘The Story of Lowther’, explains the history behind the castle, detailing how the same family have lived on the grounds for the best part of a millennium. Portraits of family members and historic figures central to the culture of the castle adorn the walls, some of which are centuries old.

The ruins, gardens and surrounding woodland all offer an opportunity to enjoy some fresh air among outstanding scenery, making for a great dog-walking opportunity – although visitors are advised to dressed sensibly, with suitable footwear. After all, this is Cumbria where one can expect to experience all four seasons in the space of a day.

Younger visitors can enjoy ‘The Lost Castle’, which is one of the largest play areas in the UK, while adults can enjoy delicious, home-cooked food in the café to relax and unwind after an afternoon of sightseeing around the grounds, before picking up a memento in the gift shop. As one of the most beautiful attractions in all of Cumbria, Lowther Castle can be enjoyed by everybody, all year round.

Lowther Castle is open every day from 10am-4pm in the winter, and 10am-5pm in the summer. Last entry to the gardens is 1 hour before closing. Parking is free.

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SENHOUSE ROMAN MUSEUM

Face to Face with a Roman There are very few contemporary images of the Romans who lived in Cumbria 2000 years ago. One of these is a small sculpture of a Genius, or Household God that was discovered in the civil settlement outside the Roman fort at Maryport. This small figure would have been placed in a shrine in a house to protect the head of the household and his family. The figure is in the form of a man in the act of placing a libation on an altar as a gift to the gods. He is portrayed with his carefully curled hair covered by a fold of his toga for this very important ceremony. His neatly folded and draped toga is a symbol of his Roman citizenship and in his right hand he holds a patera, a Roman, one-handled cup used for this most important act.

This and other Roman objects from the Roman fort and civil settlement at Maryport can be found in the Senhouse Roman Museum, Maryport. Why don't you pay a visit and meet the ancestors?

For more information visit www.senhousemuseum.co.uk

J

ane Laskey, from the Senhouse Roman Museum in Maryport, comes face to face with one of our Roman ancestors.

It is rare that we ever get the chance to stare into the face of our distant ancestors. When asked what the Romans looked like we usually think about Roman soldiers dressed in red tunics and armour, marching across the world. This is the image that many reenactors attempt to bring to life for us at historic sites and in museums. But is this image accurate?

Two thousand years after the Romans arrived in Britain we are left with very few contemporary images of the real people. They only exist in sculptures, wall paintings and mosaics.

But these give us a rare chance to look our ancestors in the eye and imagine who they were and what their lives were like. And you think, under the strange clothes and without our modern technology, they are the same as us. They had the same needs to live happy and fulfilled lives as we do, and they felt the same need to understand their place in the world as we do.

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

87

W IHLADTL’ ISF EO N

Solway Fir th

WILDLIFE OF THE SOLWAY FIRTH

NUMBER 52

THE COMMON PIDDOCK (PHOLAS DACTYLUS)

By Mark Vollers

T

his bivalve mollusc, a type of clam, is remarkable not only because of its lifestyle but also where it has left evidence of its presence in the Solway Firth.

Initially it’s free swimming offspring (larvae) live on rock surfaces like mussels, but they soon start to bore into the rock by making circular motions with the serrated front edges of its shell.

So a safe and perfectly cylindrical home is created, being enlarged as it grows up to 15cm long during an eight year lifespan. Not all rocks are soft enough so the Piddock will also target submerged wood, of which there is a ready supply in the Solway Firth, this being a story in itself.

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With the retreat of ice sheets 7-8,000 years ago as the last ice age ended, plants moved in where the Solway Firth is today. There were then periods of tree and peat bog colonisation until the sea level rose with the melting of the ice and submerged them. Today remnants of these trees are still sometimes visible at low tide.

Many have unlikely looking circular holes up to 4 cm diameter. These are the result of colonisation by the Piddock.

Boring into wood or peat presents no problem to them at all! The Piddock, once regarded as a seafood delicacy, is a filter feeder so never leaves the security of it’s home.

Furthermore, it displays bioluminescence, a dull greenish light being emitted from it’s burrow.

TIDE TIMETABLES

Solution to Crossword

Solution to Sudoku

Solution to Alpha Sudoku

Solution to Kids Sudoku

The WEST CUMBRIA Tide

89

COMMUNITY

joining forces A

ge UK West Cumbria introduce their new Joining Forces project.

For anyone aged 65 or over, who has served in the British Armed Forces (including Foreign and Commonwealth and National Service), the Age UK West Cumbria Joining Forces project could provide just right the help for them and their families.

SSAFA are the official partners of Age UK and the project team work closely with Royal British Legion, Help for Heroes and other organisations supporting ex-service personnel and their families.

Age UK in partnership with the Ministry of Defence & SSAFA

Are you a Veteran aged 65 or over?

Since the project began in June 2017, the t project staff have already provided a wide range of support to older veterans and their families across Allerdale and Copeland.

Martin Adair, Team Leader, said: “Through working with colleagues in Age UK West Cumbria and in partnership with other organisations we can help veterans to obtain all the benefits and pensions they are entitled to and have also obtained grants for aids and adaptations such as stair lifts and motorised scooters to help veterans and their family members to stay independent”.

He added: “A lot of older veterans lose touch with former comrades and feel isolated. We can match them up with volunteer befrienders and have organised trips out to the Museum of Military life in Carlisle and the Docks Museum in Barrow. We have further trips planned to see the exhibition of poppies at Carlisle Castle and will also be celebrating 100 years of the RAF with a visit to Solway Aviation Museum.”

Brunch or breakfast clubs for veterans, operating in Millom, Whitehaven, Workington, Maryport and Wigton are proving very popular and there are also plans for a ‘NAAFI Café’ in the de Lucy Centre in Egremont.

Supporting Older Veterans to love later life!

Our Joining Forces project can support you to: • Remain independent at home • Attend commemorative events, reunions & special occasions • Stay socially involved in your community • Link with lost Service friends

90

To learn more please call 08443 843 843 or visit our website www.ageukwestcumbria.org.uk Age UK West Cumbria is a registered charity, No 1122049

The project is provided through the Aged Veterans Fund, funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds.

Ray Bamford, a volunteer who was in the Royal Engineers, said: “I have really enjoyed the trips and met some lovely and interesting veterans. I’m looking forward to the next trip to the Solway Aviation Museum”. Ray was helped by project staff to obtain his Veteran’s badge and also to apply for the Defence Discount card. He added: “We’ve managed to save quite a bit of money using the Defence Discount Card. Something we would never have known about if it was not for the Joining Forces Project”.

One veteran said of the help he has been given that “It has been life changing” and he is “starting to enjoy life again”.

Volunteers are needed to help older veterans in a variety of ways. For more information contact AgeUK on 08443 843 843 or visit www.ageukwestcumbria.org.uk

018 2 r o f s n r u t e R Colour Run

V

ivid colours will brighten up Carlisle this May as the annual Eden Valley Hospice Colour Run returns to the racecourse, bigger, brighter and with added bubbles.

Registration is now open for the hospice’s fourth 5km Colour Run, which will take place on Sunday 13 May. The family friendly event will see thousands of fundraisers transforming themselves from a blank canvas into a rainbow of colour as they complete two laps of the track.

More than 1,300 people took part in the 2017 event raising almost £60,000 to help the care, support and activities provided at the hospice. Since launching in 2015 the three previous Carlisle Colour Run events have raised an incredible £190,948.

Whether you walk, run or dance around Carlisle’s brightest 5km, you’re guaranteed to have a colourful day.

Registration for the Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw Colour Run at Carlisle Racecourse is now open. Prices are £20 Adults (16+), £10 Children (5 to 15) FREE Under 5s, £45 Family (two adults and two children) and £60 group (four adults).

To sign up visit www.edenvalleyhospice.org or www. jigsawhospice.org or call the Fundraising Team on 01228 817613

Sam Johnston, Community Fundraiser, 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 and biggest event of the year.

“All ages can join in from the toddlers to the elderly. We had three generations of one family taking part last year.”

The vibrant day of fundraising will see participants pass through the different paint stations where they will be showered in coloured powdered paint, along with the return of the foam station.

There is no minimum sponsorship for the Colour Run, all is asked is that you raise as much money as you can to help Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw. The registration fee covers all costs involved in administering a place in the event, as well as providing Colour Run paint, t-shirt, sunglasses, bubbles and a finishers prize.

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

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

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

93

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

94

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 Convenience store 2 Derwent Frames Ltd

Local Amenities 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

Got a handy number to add? An event you want listed, a feature you think we should be covering, or even just a comment to let us know how we are doing and what we can do to improve?

Email us at info@theguidemediagroup.com Many Thanks T h e Wo r k i n g t o n G u i d e

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THE CLASSIFIED GUIDE LOCAL SERVICES @ YOUR SERVICE

THE GUIDE

MEDIA GROUP DESIGN PRINT AND WEB MANAGMENT 01946

448001

DON’T HIDE, GET CLASSIFIED WITH THE GUIDE CALL 01946 448001

THE GUIDE

MEDIA GROUP DESIGN PRINT AND WEB MANAGMENT 01946

448001

We’re celebrating 50 years of selling cars.

By giving one away.

Win a T-Roc in our Prize Draw.

Back in 1968, we sold our first car. 50 years later, we’re planning on giving away a brand new T-Roc, Volkswagen’s first ever compact SUV. Anyone who buys a new or used car from us during 2018 will be entered into a prize draw to be made during the first week of 2019. If your name is pulled out the hat, you can drive away a T-Roc SE 1.0 TSi. And look forward to more years of great, personal service from all of us at Walkingshaw’s.

Walkingshaw Joseph Noble Road, Lillyhall East, Workington, CA14 4JH Telephone: 01900 608000. www.walkingshaw.volkswagen.co.uk

The winner will be selected at random from those taking delivery of a new or used vehicle in 2018 which they have purchased from Walkingshaw, Workington.

The selection will be made in the first week of January 2019 and the winner notified shortly afterwards. The prize will consist of one Volkswagen T-Roc SE 1.0 TSI including on-the-road costs however should this model not be available at the time of selection, an equivalent vehicle of equal or greater value will be substituted. The winner will be responsible for insuring the vehicle. Entrants must be over 17 years old by 1st January 2019 and hold a full driving licence. Purchase necessary. No cash alternative will be available. By entering this promotion you are agreeing that, should you win, Walkingshaw can use your name and images of you collecting the prize for publicity purposes. Walkingshaw employees and any family members living at the same address are not eligible to enter. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures are obtained under standardised EU test conditions (or, in cases of vehicles with WLTP type approval, are the NEDC figures provided pursuant to Government guidance until further notice). These figures facilitate direct comparison between different models from different manufacturers, but may not represent the actual fuel consumption achieved in ‘real world’ driving conditions. Choice of wheels and other options may affect fuel consumption and emissions data. More information is available at http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/wltp.

Official fuel consumption figures for the T-Roc range in mpg (litres/100km): urban 33.2 (8.5) – 47.1 (6.0); extra urban 48.7 (5.8) – 62.8 (4.5); combined 41.5 (6.8) – 56.5 (5.0). Combined CO2 emissions 117–155g/km.