Katie grew up in Cockermouth and, after a few years away in various roles and cities, moved back in 2003. She started volunteering at the Kirkgate Centre in 2014 in the box office, with the music programming group and the Friends of the Kirkgate fund raising committee. Always willing to get stuck in, it wasn’t long before she started assisting …
Helen Johnston: Community Projects Officer
After graduating with a degree in archaeology, Helen worked as a volunteer manager for different health, youth and disability charities. In more recent years she has been running community arts and heritage projects, focusing on projects that involve local people and highlight the stories from the past that are often overlooked. Helen grew up in Cockermouth and always planned to …
Rob Higgins: Chair
Rob is a Cockermouth resident who has a background in nuclear engineering and legal services. He acts as the Trust’s Chair.
Sue Moses
A native West Cumbrian, Sue has always lived in the area, apart from time studying Business Studies and Modern Foreign Languages at Newcastle Polytechnic. Returning to Cockermouth, Sue worked as PA to the Board of Directors at Millers Footwear Limited in Cockermouth, until its closure in 1990. Then followed a ten year stint in the hospitality industry, working as Conference …
Bob Pritchard
A native of Manchester, Bob has lived in Cockermouth for 35 years. He founded Cockermouth Amateur Dramatic Society (CADS) in 1984, and its rural touring offshoot, the A595 Theatre Company in 2000. He has been associated with the Kirkgate Centre since it was first proposed in 1990. A teacher of English and Drama for much of his career, Bob started …
Andy Semple
Andy is a regular performer at Cockermouth’s summer festival Cockermouth Live! and, while focusing on music, he has a life-long interest and passion for all the performing arts. Originally from across the border in Dumfries and Galloway, Cockermouth has been his home for 32 years. Andy has over 25 years’ experience in management at a senior level and at one …
Sue Cliff
Sue is the daughter of a Cockermouth girl and moved here 9 years ago to retire. She is best known in town for providing access to home made cake on a Friday, from the Country Market. She has had a varied past- Police officer, IT manager, and Letting agent to mention a few. She also ran a community enterprise project …
New Leader at Cockermouth’s Kirkgate
Cockermouth’s entertainment and cultural hub, the Kirkgate, has appointed a new General Manager to take forward its revived programme of creative arts, entertainment and community activities following the closures caused by Covid-19. Emma Heys, of Greysouthen, will take up her new post with the charity next week (September 13). Ms Heys has had a long association with Kirkgate Arts and …
Lottery Players Back Dorothy Wordsworth Celebrations
Cockermouth charity Kirkgate Arts and Heritage has won a major grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support a year-long celebration of Dorothy Wordsworth, the town’s most famous daughter. Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the £67,100 grant for Kirkgate’s ‘I Am Dorothy’ project will fund a range of community activities including a special art work …
Kirkgate “Shines” The Spotlight on Cumbria’s Musical Talent
Cockermouth’s Kirkgate Centre is ready to ‘Shine’ the spotlight on the blossoming Cumbrian music scene as it prepares to re-open its doors to live events. Whitehaven pop and rock outfit The Little Lies launches the Kirkgate’s summer selection of live music events next Saturday – a programme that includes an appearance by internationally-renowned pipes and fiddle player Kathryn Tickell. Tickell, …