Cumbrian Mountain Festival 2002
A
celebration of life in the
Lake
District
|
Involvement from Wasdale MRT |
(Last updated
23/9/02)
Dialogue Across Mountains
A British-Swiss Affair
Patrons
Sir Chris Bonington C.B.E., The Hon. Jim Lowther, Lord Richard Inglewood MEP and His Excellency Mr Bruno Spinner, Ambassador of Switzerland.
This Festival is a major Cumbrian community project aimed at boosting our county’s economy after the disastrous Foot and Mouth epidemic.
The disease has severely affected businesses
and livelihoods within the rural communities of the Lake District and our
project is a means of stimulating regeneration in these areas. By chronicling
Cumbria’s long history of Mountain culture and heritage we aim to bring
tourists back to those areas worst affected.
A
series of community-based events, exhibitions and attractions, partly funded by
Business Link for Cumbria, have been organised between April and November 2002.
As part of ‘International Year of Mountains 2002’ this project will gain
international recognition, particularly as we are working with the Swiss
government to promote ‘Dialogue Across Mountains’, a celebration of the
longstanding British/Swiss mountaineering and tourism relationship.
These events will be based throughout Cumbria
to form a heritage trail that can be followed from venue to venue, providing the
opportunity to view works of art and memorabilia not normally on display to the
public.
The Wasdale MRT is becoming very much the focal point for the Lake
District’s mountain rescue teams as the Wasdale valley is generally recognised
as the birthplace of British mountaineering (WP Haskett Smith - Napes Needle 26
June 1886) and the site of the first recorded mountain rescue (Scafell 1859
recalled by John Ruskin).
The Wasdale team has an organising group
consisting Adam Campion, Paul Cook,
Fiona Henderson, Saffron Price-Walter, Alison Strafford and Richard Warren but many other team
members are now involved. You can
personally help by supporting the various fund raising events and getting your
families and friends involved. We
still need to raise £30,000 for the replacement vehicles although over £7,900
has already been raised since the flag day just before Christmas.
Planned Wasdale MRT events are:
Co-ordinator
- Richard Warren Te. 01946 62176
| Event | When | Who's Organising |
| Raft Race - Wastwater/Santon Bridge | Monday 1 April | Alison Strafford |
| Opening Mill Forge Base | Saturday 20 April | Paul Cook photos |
| Coast to Coast | Saturday 27 April | Gordon Starkie |
| Medieval Weekend - Egremont | Saturday - Monday 4-6 May | David Kennedy |
| Opening Mill Forge Base | Saturday 8 June | All |
| St. Bees Fete | Saturday 22 June? | Mike Greene |
| Bob Graham Round in 24 hrs | Saturday 22 June | Adam Campion |
| Napes Needle ascent | Saturday 29 June | Paul |
| Napes Needle lunch | Saturday 26 June | Howard Christie |
| Opening Mill Forge Base | Saturday 17 August | All |
| Gosforth Show | Wednesday 21 August | Alison |
| Eskdale Fete - Outward Bound | Monday 26 August | Alison Strafford |
| Eskdale Show | Saturday 28 September | Alison Strafford (cancelled due to sheep movement restrictions) |
| IYM Beer Festival | Saturday 7 September | Howard |
| IYM Auction | Saturday 7 September | Guy |
| 13 Base Cycle Challenge | TBC | Rob |
| Wasdale Show | Saturday 12 October | Alison Strafford |
| Opening Mill Forge Base | Saturday 26 October | All |
| WMRT Social - IYM Close | Saturday 26 October | Richard Warren |
Details in chronological order
1/4/02 Raft Race - Wastwater/Santon Bridge - Lion and Lamb Pub, Gosforth are organising a raft race down the river from Wastwater down to the Bridge Inn at Santon Bridge - event completed and raised £500 for the team - see photos here.
27/4/02 Coast to Coast - Hillary Perruzza to do the walk and raise funds for the team (17 day walk from St. Bees to Richard's Bay) - email with support to Hilary on
4
- 6 May Medieval Weekend - Egremont is holding
a large Medieval festival that will start of Friday 4th May, and will finish on
Monday 6th May (Bank Holiday Monday). There are large events taking place
throughout the town. The main sites being the market place, the castle and the
rugby grounds. Various professional and amateur groups are taking part,
including a large group who take part in re-enactments of medieval battles.
(They dress up in suits of armour and clobber each other with swords, maces and
so on.) This group will be taking part in events during the whole weekend. The
organisers will be disappointed if there are less than 2,000 visitors each day
at the event. This will be the largest event to take place South of Whitehaven
this year.
How the WMRT can gain from this. On Sunday and Monday, there will be charity
stalls set up in the Castle. The organisers have kindly agreed to allow us to
take a landrover to the castle, setup a static display, sell raffle tickets, and
have a bucket for donations. They have even arranged for the Territorial Army to
erect a tent for us to keep the static display (and us) dry. The organisers will
mention our display in the program that is to be printed in the Whitehaven News
this coming Thursday.
This is a golden opportunity to raise our profile in the local community, and
make some hard cash. As can be seen, the organisers have gone to a lot of
trouble to accommodate us, and are keen that we attend.
...and finally... Wheelybin Jousting. One of the events is a sponsored
joust with Wheely bins: One person, (ideally small with a very good aim,) gets
inside a wheely bin covered in balloons. He is pushed around the field by
another person (ideally pretty big bloke), and has to burst the balloons on his
opponents wheely bin. There are sponsorship forms available. Apparently, last
time they tried this, one of the pubs in Egremont managed to raise £200 for
charity. Each charity is allowed two teams. So, if anyone fancies a go, they are
welcome to try. (They don't have to be team members of course, so if you know
some rugby players who might try it, why not invite them...?)