Kirkgate Quarter Chronicle June 2024

Welcome to the June 2024 edition of the Kirkgate Quarter Chronicle.

Another month of celebration at Kirkgate, with the official acceptance of the Kings Award for Voluntary Service, and a party at Buckingham Palace! Two of our dedicated volunteers travelled down for the day, read all about it below.

We also had our own party right here at the centre, welcoming the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria to the Kirkgate to present us with the award and celebrate this significant moment in the Kirkgate Arts story.

Pictured below are Deputy Lord Lieutenant Caroline Thomson, Kirkgate Arts Chair Rob Higgins, The Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria Alexander Scott and Deputy Lord Lieutenant Chris Holmes.
The Lord Lieutenant also took the time to unveil the Civic Trust information panel, which is proudly displayed outside the centre. The Civic Trust were joined by Dan Colley, the son of Peter and Barbara Colley without whom there would be no Kirkgate Centre today. Have a look at the history of the building next time you’re passing.

June is also time for The Great Big Green Week, and we’re doing our bit this month with another Cockfrock event (more details below) as well as being host to an event organised by Cockermouth Climate Action Now. They are screening the film ‘Six Inches of Soil‘ followed by a short Q&A with local farmers, growers and people working to create a sustainable food system, including Sharon Watson (Let’s Eat SLOW), Pete Leeson (Woodland Trust/Tree Amble), and Rick Cross (Riversmeet Community Cooperative). The doors open at 6pm, with information on display in the bar, before the film at 7pm. Click on the image below to book your tickets.
@HOME@KIRKGATE

This month we have a new building hirer that we had to do a feature on as soon as we heard his story! Sam Millne is formerly a Cockermouth lad, growing up on South Street, and is now based in Liverpool. He’ll be here on Saturday 22nd June with his band The Virants, and supported by Harry Bibby. Here’s Sam to say hello!
“Hi everyone, it’s great to be back at the Kirkgate having come to events here plenty of times growing up.

We felt the centre’s support after being flooded in 2009 and it will be a great feeling to be back playing in the auditorium.

As Sam Millne & the Virants, myself and my indie rock-pop band are coming off the back of a Liverpool headliner and wanted to bring the show up to Cockermouth.

The vast majority of you won’t have heard the music but within the ever-growing collection, there is something for everyone.

The live shows are full of energy but also sometimes take a step back to look at contemporary issues of the day, while leaving plenty of room for catchy tunes to sing and dance to.

Our stuff is on Spotify and all the other platforms out there, so please have a listen, but most importantly, support local music, support live music and support the Kirkgate!”

You can book tickets to Sam Millne and The Virants here.
It’s great to see local musicians building a career for themselves further afield, we want to give Sam a big welcome back, grab your tickets now!
UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS
There’s loads to entertain you, as always! But we absolutely had to focus on the music this month for our upcoming highlights.

It’s almost time for Cockermouth Live with a packed weekend of events across the town. We are hosting their headline music gig on Friday 5th July as Blazing Fiddles take to the Kirkgate stage. The music doesn’t stop there- far from it!

We also have the superb This Flight Tonight on Saturday 6th July at 8pm. Acclaimed singer songwriters Zervas & Pepper present an intimate acoustic tribute to the music of Joni Mitchell… featuring songs such as ‘California’, ‘Blue’, ‘Woodstock’ ‘Both Sides Now’, ‘Carey’, ‘Coyote’, ‘A Case Of You’, and many more… with the voice, piano, acoustic guitar and dulcimer front and centre, presenting Mitchell’s music as it would have been performed in Joni’s early performances.
Back to June and there’s more for fans of Joni Mitchell…

Hejira will be performing live on Sunday 23rd June at 7.30pm as part of our regular Jazz@Kirkgate events. Tickets are sure to sell out for this one so book now to avoid missing out! We’re still pinching ourselves that our jazz guru Dave has managed to book them for us- cheers Dave!

This definitely feels like a varied month for music! We’re welcoming Harps North West for a relaxed Sunday afternoon concert on the 16th June. What a beautiful instrument to hear, if you have always fancied having a go have a look on their website here, for information on beginners courses and all sorts of other activities they are involved with. Don’t forget to book your ticket to hear Wendy Stewart and Susan Lambert supported by members of the Harps North West Performance Group, here at the Kirkgate Centre.

If folk music is more your thing, you won’t want to miss Reg Meuross, with his slave trade song cycle ‘Stolen from God’ on Saturday 8th June. This live show has received a tremendous reception at shows and festivals across the country. Also featuring the musical talents of Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, who was recently performing at the centre with ‘Granny’s Attic’.

“If ever there was evidence that music can be used to speak truth to power, then this album will in time sit as testament to that fact. From a British man of colour, a personal thanks must go to Reg Meuross and his team for taking on this subject matter.”  Ifi Umoren – FATEA

Book your tickets here.
A DAY IN THE LIFE

For this month it’s all about a day at the Palace! To celebrate The Kings award for voluntary service being awarded to Kirkgate Arts & Heritage’.A 100+ strong team of volunteers support the theatre through a huge array of varied roles large and small, all imperative to its operation.

Penny and Helen were the members of that team lucky enough to be selected to attend a prestigious Palace Garden Party, in recognition of the award.
They joined a throng of guests at Buckingham Palace on a warm sunny May afternoon .

Many of those spoken to had been invited in recognition of roles within their communities or personal achievements in the workplace and had travelled far to experience the event.

It was a spectacle of organisation with a splendid afternoon tea, performing bands, marching beefeaters ensuring clear route ways and a bevy of stewards in top hats with umbrellas (which could have served a range of purposes if necessary?).
And stars of the show, perambulating elegantly between the Palace terrace and the Royal tea pavilion, were members of the Royal Family, including monarch Charles and queen Camilla, the Princess  Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh Edward and Sophie.

Accompanied by a well honed entourage they talked with many guests, were photographed and viewed over the crowds by many more.
A few photos, with apology for amateur quality (note from the editor- absolutely great photos! nothing amateurish about those!), Helen and Penny managed to snap illustrate the day, and they had this to say…

“We enjoyed the days buzz and cultural razzamatazz,  with the national anthem concluding a splendid afternoon to remember.”

“Even crossing London in our outfits felt special, not an everyday event but hopefully our Kirkgate community will enjoy the opportunity to ‘dress up’ during our 2025 anniversary events- watch this space!”
His Majesty King Charles III, with very dapper security!
KIRKGATE QUARTER

We usually feature a local business in this section of the Chronicle, so we thought for this month it was our turn! We have had such a lot to celebrate recently, and a lot of work to do keeping up with events while making big steps forward with funding and work at the centre.

Let’s celebrate Kirkgate Arts and Heritage as our featured business of the month!

The Kirkgate Centre has been home to Kirkgate Arts & Heritage since it’s opening in 1995, the organisation has grown and developed over the years but the original ethos remains the same- Cockermouth needs and deserves a place for film, live music, live theatre and heritage events to take place. We all deserve a space dedicated to culture and heritage on our doorstep, and I know all our volunteers will be nodding in agreement there. Their work enables us to keep bringing you the very best in entertainment, in an environment where everyone is welcome.

We were humbled by the kind words from the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria as he presented our Chair (Rob Higgins) with our Kings Award for Volunteers. This is such an honour to receive, an MBE for the organisation!
It’s always a challenge to keep an old building up to date and in good working order, so to have the recent injection of significant funding to make some much needed improvements is very welcomed. The work is already underway and we’re trying to keep disruption to a minimum as the different aspects are tackled, which involves a lot of juggling! We’re confident it wont be long before you start to see some of the changes make a difference to your visit.

Have you ever thought about getting involved at Kirkgate Arts & Heritage? We have lots of different volunteer roles, and a friendly team to help you settle in.

At the moment we are particularly looking for bar, front of house and sound/lighting volunteers. Bar volunteering is a more varied role than you might think, it not only involves serving at the bar, but also re-stocking, collecting and washing glasses, preparing our hot drinks trolley and setting up the bar ready for customers to arrive.

As a Front of House volunteer your main duty is to make sure customers are settled and safe in the auditorium, showing them to their seats where needed and helping them find their way around. You’re the fist person a customer meets at an event so it’s perfect for those who have a friendly disposition!We’re always on the look out for more technical volunteers too, if you have any experience of sound engineering or stage lighting, no matter how long ago, we’d love to hear from you. Our team of volunteer sound engineers are always happy to train and support new members.

If any of these sound like a great way to spend some free time, get in touch with us on enquiries@thekirkgate.com and we can arrange a time to chat more about what volunteering involves.
Just a few of our 100 strong team of volunteers, with the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria and his two deputies, celebrating the official presentation of the Kings Award for Voluntary Service.
KIRKGATE HISTORY AND HERITAGE

The recent award of the King’s Award for Volunteers to Kirkgate Arts & Heritage (the equivalent of the MBE) set me thinking about some people from Cockermouth who’ve also received prestigious awards. In recent years former Chief Executive at Kirkgate Arts, Kate Parry, was awarded the MBE in 2014.  Looking back in the archives there were several people I want to mention.

Florence Williams was born in Cockermouth in 1897 and attended All Saints’ School (the present Kirkgate Centre).  At some point during her early life, her father, serving in the Border Regiment, was posted to Dublin.  1916 saw the Irish Rebellion and, on the first day of fighting (16th April), Florence watched as rebels waited to ambush the soldiers.  She was unable to warn them but, under constant fire, she managed to rescue several soldiers, placing herself in extreme danger.  For her bravery she was subsequently awarded the Military Medal (awarded very rarely to civilians).
Florence’s citation reads as follows:

“For service rendered to wounded soldiers in Dublin whom she assisted from the street to her mother’s house, being repeatedly under fire.  She also rendered valuable assistance throughout the rebellion (14-29 April 1916) by bringing bread, medical supplies, bandages, etc. for these wounded men, from the Adelaide Hospital, on every occasion being under fire from rebels.”

Florence was just 18 years old at the time.  She received her medal from King George V at Buckingham Palace on March 3rd 1917.

Someone else who made the trip to Buckingham Palace was Colonel Thomas Wilson Macdonald, who was awarded the DSO for bravery.  He had a lifelong connection with the Border Regiment and a highly distinguished military career.  During WW I he was injured in June 1915 at Hooge (Flanders), and was mentioned three times in despatches.  In 1918 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order by George V at Buckingham Palace.
Colonel Thomas Wilson Macdonald
James Denwood
Another local man, James Denwood, was on board the troopship Lancastria when it was sunk in June 1940, as it was evacuating exhausted soldiers from northern France.  Around 5,000 people perished but James was one of the lucky ones and survived to tell the tale.  In April 2015 he was one of six WWII veterans who received France’s highest honour (the Legion d’Honneur) for their part in the liberation of France.    

And finally, Thomas Henry Chicken was awarded an MBE in 1955, having served for 34 years on the West Cumberland War Pensions Committee, as well as being an Urban District Councillor.  He was instrumental in the development of Cockermouth Carnival, which developed from Cousin Charley’s Day in the late 19th century.  Thomas officially opened Memorial Gardens on 11th August, 1956 as a war memorial.
Gloria Edwards
Cockermouth Heritage GroupIf you would like to get involved with our heritage group do get in touch.
AN UNOFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE KIRKGATE

Bob Pritchard continues his unofficial history with recollections of the wide range in styles we’ve hosted over the years…

THE WORLD ON YOUR DOORSTEP
This was the title of a series of gigs we ran in early 2000’s. It all began with Wedzi Zvivero and his Batanai Marimba Big Band. Wedzi, from Zimbabwe and South Africa, was a larger-than-life character, a brilliant drummer and front man whose performances showcased Shona and Zulu Song Dance and Drumming. But more than that, he had a mission to educate and share, so a week of workshops for primary, secondary and special needs schools, over 60’s clubs and more, led up to the first Batanai concert in 2003; Memorable in that his three-year-old son, drumming enthusiastically, rolled off the stage. It was a heart-stopping moment, but he bounced up and carried on. What was annoying was that some-one had been secretly filming on their phone and a few months later Wedzi was amazed and not a little annoyed, to see the clip on a “You Have Been Framed” style tv show. Nonetheless it was the start of a along-lasting collaboration.

Before coming to live in Cockermouth we had been teaching in very rural Zambia, and our world outlook chimed with Wedzi’s, so it was a joy to work together and over the next few years we took the programme to most primary schools and many village halls in West Cumbria. Batanai, in those early years, became our “House Band”. Most of these residencies were financed by small “Awards for All” grants applied for by school PTA’s or village hall committees.

Another regular appearance at this time was made by ASERE, a young, exciting, and very loud band from CUBA. They also did a residency, as well as headlining an early version of “Cockermouth Live!”
Black Umfolosi 5 were a Zimbabwean close harmony group in the style of Paul Simon’s collaborators – Ladysmith Black Mambazo. They came several times and brought the house down with their energetic Gumboot dancing.

A little CLOSER to home, the Warsaw Village Band brought us distinctive, modernized, Polish folk music with the twanging chords on the hammered dulcimer.
World Music was never going to be a mass market, but we persevered, trying to broaden our knowledge and our appeal.

Do you remember the DHOAD GYPSIES OF RAJASTHAN, complete with Fakir lying on a bed of nails and a bit of live tongue piercing!?  or KASAI MASAI from Kenya? or BAKKA BEYOND an Afro/Anglo fusion band? Or the first- (and possibly last-) ever West Cumbrian appearance by a Bhangra Band – ACHANAK -all the way from Bolton? Then there was CHI2, “double violin assault specialists” from China, fronting a completely bonkers 90 minute video of MONKEY KING ! We had to sling a large, heavy video projector from the hammerbeams for that one! And how about the Chena Kathakali dance troupe from Kerala whose elaborate make-up took 3 hours to complete; watching the process was part of the entertainment.

Alas, many of these small-scale world music outfits no longer tour and the complexity of visa requirements post-Brexit has made it virtually impossible for them to carry on.

Yes, our volunteers have the kudos of the King’s Award, but let’s hear it for all those loyal audience members who supported our efforts year in year out through thick and sometimes rather thin, to bring you the World on Your Doorstep.
GENERAL MANAGER’S LETTER
What an exciting time for Kirkgate Arts and Heritage! We so enjoyed our presentation event, it’s not often we get to put the glad rags on at work. This was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the centre, enjoy each others company, and reflect on the improvements we’ve already made. We certainly couldn’t imagine entertaining dignitaries in the ‘old’ Egremont Room!

We’re so glad that Penny and Helen enjoyed their trip down to the capital for the Royal Garden Party too, what a glamorous event, and in beautiful sunshine!

Along with all the celebration this month, and news of more changes to the building, there is also news of changes in the office, as Jocelyn is leaving us for pastures new.

Jocelyn has been a member of staff at the centre for 15 years, and worked as a volunteer before that. Always friendly, helpful, and an absolute pleasure to work with she has been a huge part of what makes Kirkgate Arts thrive. Her job has changed so much as we’ve grown and developed, and her calm professional approach (when the centre is often far from calm!) has seen us through many challenges over the years. Somewhat an unofficial union rep in the office too! always taking care of others and making sure all the volunteers and staff are happy and supported.

She’ll be back in July with a flower pressing workshop for Crafts@Kirkgate, we aren’t letting her go that easily!
We know that our Kirkgate Arts Out West promoters, volunteers, trustees and customers will miss her enormously. The staff can’t imagine the office without her, but we’re hoping that the right person to take the reins of our finance administration will be just around the corner.

If you’re looking for a new challenge, and think you would be a good fit at Kirkgate Arts & Heritage, find out more about the vacancy here. The closing date for applications is Friday 7th June.

I will sign off by saying an enormous thank you, for the years of dedication and hard work, Jocelyn! Best wishes for the future, with lots of love from everyone at Kirkgate Arts and Heritage.

Emma Heys
General Manager