Andrew Cunningham

Calendar Girls: The Musical, written by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, will run at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick from August 6 to September 5 as part of the Made by TBTL programme. Based on the true story of Yorkshire Women’s Institute members who created a nude charity calendar, the production is promoted as an inspiring show with memorable songs. Tickets start at £12.

A roundup of planning applications submitted across Westmorland includes proposals for new garages, extensions, tree works, conversions of commercial properties, listed building repairs, agricultural developments and amendments to previously approved housing plans. The applications span locations including Ulverston, Penrith, Kendal, Grange-over-Sands and Carlisle, covering both residential and commercial changes along with conservation‑related permissions.

A two-bedroom house at 5 Weaver’s Yard in Sedbergh has been listed with offers around £235,000, featuring a lounge with exposed stone fireplace and beams, a kitchen with wooden cabinetry and original cast iron range, two double bedrooms with period details, and a bathroom with separate shower. Interested buyers are directed to contact the estate agent Cobble Country.

A detached bungalow in Kirkby Lonsdale, Laitha Lodge, has been listed for £575,000, offering single‑level accommodation with three double bedrooms, an en suite, an additional shower room, a sitting room, a kitchen and an “impressive” sun room. The gated property includes parking, low‑maintenance gardens, a detached timber garage and an outbuilding with potential for further development. Interested buyers are directed to contact the estate agents Thomson Hayton Winkley.

A new production of Jessica Swale’s comedy ‘Nell Gwynn,’ directed by Bryony Shanahan, will run at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick as part of its Made by TBTL programme. The show highlights the rise of the 17th‑century performer and features a female‑led ensemble. It joins a broader season that includes other stage productions such as ‘Lark Rise to Candleford,’ ‘Calendar Girls – The Musical,’ and ‘A Christmas Carol.’

Recent death notices list eleven individuals from the Kendal area, providing brief details on their passing and families, along with links to full notices and information for condolences.

Kirkbie Kendal School will stage Shrek The Musical at Kendal Brewery Arts from July 7 to July 10, featuring student performers in a lively adaptation of the DreamWorks story. Tickets are available through the venue, with standard and concession pricing offered.

Milne Moser Solicitors received a national Workplace Wellbeing award at the Modern Law Private Client Awards 2026 for its extensive wellbeing programme supporting more than 30 employees. The firm offers health-focused sessions, leadership training, a dedicated Wellbeing Room and flexible annual leave, contributing to strong staff retention and high client satisfaction ratings.

A group of nine hikers completed a two‑week trek to Everest Base Camp, raising more than £55,000 for St Mary’s Hospice in Ulverston. Led by Matt Le Voi of LMG Treks and Expeditions, the team included participants aged 19 to 62. Fundraising efforts also featured Jonny Wright, who could not join the trek due to a serious accident but, along with Matthew White, raised over £13,500. The hospice celebrated the final total at a special event and announced that places remain available for trekking challenges in 2027 and 2028.

A guided walk along an 8.7‑kilometre section of the Cistercian Way will take place from Cark to Grange, offering participants the chance to explore historic sites and natural landscapes around Morecambe Bay. Organized by the Morecambe Bay Partnership and led by a Cumbria Blue Badge guide, the event includes visits to Flookburgh Church, Cartmel Priory, and Hampsfell, with proceeds supporting the charity’s heritage and conservation work. Booking is required, and the route features moderate terrain with a minimum participant age of 12.

Churchill Living is organizing a ‘Picnic on the Patio’ event at its Eddington Lodge retirement development in Kendal, inviting over‑60s and their families to enjoy music, refreshments, and activities while learning about the community and available apartments. The event also provides an opportunity to meet residents and the sales team and explore the development’s facilities.

Ulverston saxophonist Jess Gillam will join the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s CBSO in the City programme, a five-day series of free public performances designed to integrate orchestral music into everyday life across Birmingham. Gillam, beginning her first season as a CBSO collaborative artist, will rehearse and perform with amateur saxophonists and clarinettists, leading a rehearsal and public performance on August 29. Events will take place in venues across the city, including transport hubs and heritage sites, concluding with an ensemble performance at Brindleyplace. Interested musicians are encouraged to register via the CBSO website by July 20.

Dallam School’s senior leadership team completed a nine‑month Leader-Connect training programme designed to strengthen leadership practices and collaboration. Headteacher Steve Henneberry credited the course with improving consistency, teamwork and overall school performance, noting its contribution to recent positive Ofsted findings and improved staff survey results. Participants will now join the Institute of Leadership and may use the MIoL designation.

More than 1,400 pupils from Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire attended the Primary School Farm Open Days at Heaves Farm, where 30 interactive stations introduced children to agricultural practices including sheep shearing, milking and poultry care. Organised by the Westmorland County Agricultural Society, the event involved numerous supporting organisations and sponsors and highlighted the farm‑to‑fork process. Local dignitaries attended, and sponsors provided educational materials for schools. The next event is scheduled for 2028.

Westmorland and Furness Libraries have introduced Voxblock, a screen‑free audiobook player available for children to borrow for up to three weeks. The council highlights the device as a way to support literacy and encourage reading without digital distractions during the National Year of Reading 2026. The collection includes popular children’s titles, classic stories, educational content, and mindfulness recordings, with story blocks made from recycled card also offered. The devices are available in Penrith, Barrow, and Kendal, and families are encouraged to visit local libraries for more information.

Levens Choir will present two July concerts featuring American choral works to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. The programme includes music by Copland, Glass, Whitacre, Lauridsen and Thompson, and the events will take place in Silverdale and Ings. Connections between North Lancashire and George Washington’s ancestral roots are noted, and tickets cost £15, with free admission for children and students.

Ernest Fallowfield of Windermere received the British Empire Medal for decades of leadership in developing Cumbria’s tourism sector, particularly through shaping Windermere Lake Cruises into a major year‑round attraction. His advocacy for continuous tourism operations and collaborative marketing helped strengthen the Lake District’s economy and employment. Colleagues praised his influence, which has contributed to widespread year‑round tourism across the region, and he has also been recognised for broader charitable and community involvement.

Kendal United is expanding its girls’ football program by recruiting players aged 12 to 18, supported by funding from the FA’s Lioness HERe to Play initiative. The club will run taster sessions led by qualified coaches and is also seeking sponsorship for equipment and kits. Its community contributions were recognized at the Westmorland County FA Grassroots Awards, where its kit swap scheme and coach Lee Clement received runner‑up honors. Recruitment is also underway for the club’s male pathway as the under‑16 squad transitions into adult football.

A Kendal-based alpaca business run by Jane and Paul Colman has been named a finalist in the North West Wedding Awards, recognised for its non‑musical entertainment services. Wreay Syke Alpacas, which began in 2014 with a small breeding herd, now offers alpaca treks, community visits and a popular wedding service. The awards, decided by newlyweds, drew nearly 14,000 votes across more than 2,800 nominated companies. The couple say the alpacas’ surprise appearances delight guests and remain a memorable part of wedding celebrations.

Debbie McKee retires after 42 years of service in Kendal, beginning in the tourist information centre and later managing Kendal Town Hall. Colleagues highlight her dedication, extensive community support and key role in organising events. Her departure marks the end of a long career characterised by loyalty, knowledge and commitment to the town.

A sober wellbeing festival, LoveHerder, will return to Kendal in August 2026, offering four days of alcohol‑free music, creativity and community activities. Founded by Debs Thackrah to provide a safe environment for people in recovery, the event features performances, workshops, wellbeing sessions and family‑friendly programming. Organisers emphasise its social impact, with profits reinvested into accessibility and recovery support programmes, while also boosting the local economy and highlighting regional wellbeing practitioners.