Tracy Walker

When it comes to firm friendships, Marian Paige and Alan Saunders - who were linked up by a Cockermouth befriending charity - are a great example.

Fun, friendship and fitness are at the heart of a thriving Cockermouth group.

An accomplished Threlkeld artist shared her talents recently with members of an art society.

A hard-working town heritage group which faced closure has been saved. Cockermouth Civic Trust, which is 56 years old and describes itself as the town's "voluntary watchdog", recently announced it would close next October if new committee members were not found. Two members stepped down from the committee at the AGM in November. Phil said at the time: "The committee feel that it is not sustainable to run the trust in the longer term without new active committee membership and that it will be better to disband the trust in a planned way rather than to wait for the inevitable crisis." He was delighted that the trust's appeal resulted in new committee members. "Getting four new committee members is fantastic news for the trust and its future," said Phil. "It’s a very long time since we have recruited so many members to committee at the same time and hopefully they will bring fresh ideas into what we do. "The challenge now is to sustain and develop their interest into the longer term." The group, which has about 100 members, has done so much for the town over the years. "Now that we are more optimistic about the trust’s future, we are hoping that can attract new members as well," said Phil. Achievements over the past 12 months include: •    Developing the Town Trail in association with Cumbria Archives to include an App with audio description and photos  •    Producing a set of three public information panels on the history of Cockermouth’s Mills and installing them at Derwent Mills •    Producing a public information panel about the WWI tank that was on display by the Station Road and Gallowbarrow junction in the 1920s  •    Hosting this year’s Bradbury Memorial Lecture at the Kirkgate Centre •    Continuing with our guided tours of Cockermouth Castle •    Monitoring and publicising the condition of the Old Courthouse building •    Successfuly pursuing Local Heritage Listings "We have also been doing our ‘day job’ of monitoring planning applications and members’ activities such as the monthly lecture meetings," said Phil. The trust also set up a Facebook page this year.

More than 1,000 children in need will be treated to a special Christmas gift this year - thanks to generous people helping hit an appeal target.

Thousands of people ate, drank, shopped, sang and watched the experts in action this weekend as Taste Cumbria Christmas came back to Cockermouth.

A Keswick-based charity is delighted to have secured a £550,000 landscape recovery grant.

NEWS RELEASE Immediate: December 6, 2023 Kirkgate saves Christmas for Carlisle schoolchildren!

Nearly 1,000 international buyers registered to bid online during a recent Cockermouth auction.