Monday 31 August 2009

Friday 28th August 2009

MINTFEST
VIP RECEPTION at the Brewery Arts Centre, Highgate, Kendal
To celebrate the opening of The Festival

7pm

I was invited by Jenny Graham (Kendal Arts International) to attend this Reception, along with a large group of people, including Tim Farron MP, The Mayor of Kendal, John Bateson, Ian and Claire Stephens. The Reception lasted one hour and after that everyone was invited to experience the exceptional variety of exciting Events that were on offer that evening.

The Festival dates were the 27th to the 30th August and on Friday afternoon Kendal seemed extremely crowded, and I believe that all the hotels and guest houses in the area were full because of Mintfest.

Friday 21 August 2009

Monday 17th August 2009

A VISIT TO ENERGUS AT LILLYHALL

1pm
As guests of Dr Ian Hudson, we were invited with Cllr H Wormstrup, and Dr Adam Naylor to lunch and a fascinating guided tour of the building. I can do no better than quote from their own web.site to describe it.

Energus will be a world class centre for the provisions of vocational skills excellence, spanning both further and higher education in the nuclear, carbon-free and environmental restoration industries. It will be a dedicated centre of excellence and innovation, with a range of training, education and business support services geared to providing and enhancing skills within both the local and national workforce, and making the most of the opportunities these industries hold.

This iconic development is a key part of the drive to turn West Cumbria into a global centre for energy, environment and technology, consistent with the aims of the West Cumbria Masterplan and the Energy Coast Initiative, and has I am sure a great future.

The two-storey iconic building was a pleasure to see and is a wonderful venue for the initiative.

Wednesday 12 August 2009

Monday 10th August 2009

MEETING WITH MRS JENNIFER JEWEL


I met Mrs Jewel a couple of weeks ago at The Windermere Town Council Meeting and she had invited me to visit her at her home to discuss the history of Windermere, which I was both interested and pleased to do.

Tuesday 11 August 2009

Monday 3rd August 2009

VISIT TO WESTMORLAND GENERAL HOSPITAL

1.00pm
At the invitation of Professor Eddie Kane, Chair of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust and Tony Halsall, Chief Executive, we met at the Chief Executiv's Office, Trust Headquarters for a lengthy discussion regarding the future plans for the Hospital. We felt gratly reassured by what we heard.

We were taken to the Renal Unit to be met by the Unit Manager, Rowan Worsman, and were told a lot about the running of the unit and were able to talk to some of the patients being given dialysis.

After this we visited the Primary Care Assessment Service and were met by the Unit Manager, Angela Dobson and the Ward Manager Alison Hadwin.

Eddie Kane and Tony Halsall accompanied us the whole time and we felt priviledged to have spent the afternoon doing this.

We left at about 3.45pm.

As has always been the case for me it is a pleasure to visit The Westmorland General Hospital. Perhaps because it is smaller than many hospitals it seems cosier. We also felt that the future could be very bright for the Hospital.

Monday 3 August 2009

Saturday 1st August 2009

2pm

I met with Lucy Sclater, who did the wonderful flowers in the marquee at Rydal Hall, and is also a very good photographer. She was taking photographs to provide a portrait to hang in Carlisle County Council Offices at the end of my Year of Office.

4pm UNIVERSITY OF CUMBRIA - EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS BY LUCY CAVENDISH
"Reflections of Life"

At the invitation of Andrew Lucas, Senior Executive Office of The Lake District Summer Festival, I attended the Official Opening at The University of Cumbria.

Many people attended the opening and Renna Kellaway spoke about the Festival and Lucy's paintings and Susan Crew,Editor of Harpers & Queen (and Lucy's aunt) made a charming speech.

I left the Exhibition at 5pm.

7pm - Coronation Hall in Ulverston
And a Civic Reception in the Anti-Room

Again, at the invitation of Andrew Lucas, My husband and I attended the first evening performance of The Lake District Cummer Music Festival and a Civic Reception. We met The Mayor of Ulverston and Renna and David Kellaway and several people local to Ulverston.

The Concert, which was excellent, was given by the Northern Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Denis McCaldin, Director of the Haydn Society and blogger-in-residence for BBC Radio 3 during this Haydn bicentenary year. As well as a line up of esteemed soloists, one of which was Denis's daughter, Clare McCaldin (mezzo-soprano). The Community Chorus which had been established for this performance and had engaged singers from across the region (one of whom was Denis McCaldin's wife, Meg) was excellent.
An altogether delightful evening.

Thursday 30th July 2009

SELLAFIELD SITE VISIT

9.30am
Visitor's Centre

Thanks to Dominic Harrison, Chief Fire Officer, who kindly arranged for us to take a party of people to Sellafield for a guided tour and buffet lunch, David and I took 16people with us as guests, including Ian Stevens (Chief Executive of Cumbria Tourism)James Richards (my Chaplain), Bill Smith (Mayor of Windermere) and various other people involved in Business and/or Tourism.

We were met by The Chief Fire Officer and two guides who did everything possible to give us an interesting and enjoyable day.

At the end of the tour each one of the guests expressed their amazement at the size of the Sellafield Site and of course the intricacy of everything that we saw.

We had two splendid guides who gave us real insight as to what is going on at the Site, and answered our many questions with pleasure.

The day ended at about 4pm and we all came away with a great deal to think about.

Wednesday 29th July 2009

CUMBRIA PROBATION SERVICE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Rheged, Penrith.

"Cumbria Probation - Serving the Community"

9.30am
I was invited to attend this stimulating day which ended after lunch at about 2.30pm. The conference was opened by The Chair of Cumbria Probation Service, Richard Rhodes. Tony Cunningham - MP for Workington and Annette Hennessy - Acting Chief Officer Cumbria Probation Service, and Caroline Marsh (Director of Offender Management,North West Region) spoke before refreshments at 11.15. This break gave an opportunity for coffee and networking. Canon David Peacock spoke after the break, followed by Professor John Ashton (Director of Public Health and County Medical Officer, Cumbria).

A most stimulating Conference, very well attended by members of Cumbria Constabulary, Mr Martin Farquhar - Governor of HM Haverigg Prison, Michelle Skeer, Assistant Chief Constable and many others from Local Organisations.

I suggested to the Chair that next year the High Sheriff Elect might also be invited to the Conference as it would be an ideal chance for them to network and meet a lot of people before their Year of Office begins.

Tuesday 28th July 2009

MUNCASTER CASTLE
10.30am

A meeting with Mrs Iona Frost-Pennington, Mrs Christine Child and Mrs Sandra Peacock (more details at a later date)

Monday 27th July 2009

WINDERMERE TOWN COUNCIL
MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS at 7.00pm

I was invited by Cllr Bill Smith, The Mayor of Windermere, to attend their Council Meeting. I was genuinely keen to do this as I met people whose names I had known for a long time and others who I actually knew, and it was interesting to see them all in their capacity as Councillors.

A variety of matters were discussed, but most particularly the Windermere Air Show which had taken place on the 25th and 26th July.

One of the major concerns was the inadequate provision of lavatory facilities for the thousands of people who attended. It is obviously very difficult to provide for a one-off event like this and the matter is doubtless going to be considered more fully before next year.

The meeting ended shortly after 9.30pm.