Breast cancer charity Paddlers For Life (PFL) hopes to stage Cumbria’s first dragon boat event to raise awareness of the disease and build community partnerships.

The week-long Celebration of Life event would cost £400,000 to stage and could draw 65 dragon boat crews from across Europe, North America, Canada and South Africa to Windermere.

The PFL committee – which consists of just three part-time members – will compete against dozens of international dragon boat groups to host the event in September 2014.

“We want this area to become a centre of excellence for dragon boating in Cumbria,” said PFL secretary Louisa Balderson, who travelled with the group to the International Dragon Boat Festival in Canada, in June.

During a meeting with Mrs Balderson, SLDC leader Brendan Jameson said the event could coincide with the Olympic Torch Relay if the Cumbria Olympic Steering Group wins its bid to have the torch pass through the county.

“We need to keep our profile up as an outstanding area for outdoor festivals,” he said. “I feel so optimistic that this will take off in a way we never expected. It’s a huge opportunity and one we must not miss.”

SLDC chair Sylvia Emmott also offered her support and promised to hold an event to raise money for a third dragon boat for PFL members.

PFL Windermere also hopes to stage a £10,000 dragon boat festival with 30 teams on the lake next June.

Organisers are currently seeking support from local organisations including South Lakeland District Council, English Lakes Hotels, Dragon Boats Events Ltd and Cumbria PCT.

Mrs Balderson said her ambition is to set up a parent dragon boat racing organisation in the Lake District which could aid groups across the UK.

Lynn Shamel, 56, from Ulverston, was one of the first breast cancer survivors to join the Windermere group.

“We’ve certainly got the enthusiasm to encourage dragon boating in other areas of the country and Windermere is the perfect place for an event like this,” she said. “You make wonderful friendships, it is good exercise and great to be part of a team. It’s just an amazing feeling, I would encourage anyone to try it.”

Hindus pay homage to leader in Bowness

A BLAZE of colour and hum of Asian pipes filled the streets of a Lake District town as hundreds of Hindu worshippers headed to the area for a pilgrimage to their religious figurehead.

The holy day in memory Gurudev Adya Acharyapravar Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa – founder of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan – saw a procession through Bowness, a ceremonial tree planting and a picnic.

The event commemorates his visit to the Lakes on August 30 1979 and his death later that same evening.

Centre stage, in the form of a swan float, was his heir and the head of the religious group, Acharya Swamishree, being led through the procession with a line of followers behind him dressed in bright orange clothes to symbolise their devotion to him.

Acharya Swanistree’s float, which represented all that was good in nature, was in the middle of an array of musicians including Dhol drummers a Gadi pipe band, with worshippers singing in front and behind the float.

People of all ages and from all over the world descended on the town for the 31st anniversary of the pilgrimage.

One of the organisers, Fahesh Varsari said: “For us Windermere is considered sacred. We come here ever year to remember our leader and what he stood for – peace and compassion.”

Windermere’s Mayor, Coun Bill Smith, described the event as “excellent” in terms of welcoming other cultures to the town and celebrating their message.

Town centre manager, Paul Holdsworth said: “It puts Bowness on the map. It’s great for local businesses to have hundreds of people coming into their shops and it’s also good for spreading the message of peace and love.”

After the procession the crowds went on a boat ride on Windermere where a plaque incorporating a picture of Swamibapa was added to the front of the boat.

One of the organisers, Vanita Vekaria, said: “This is a most important event. This is our chance to see our leader who always comes here in the summer.”

Over 300 trees were planted as part of a ceremony which Shushita Shaushan, who tavelled to the day from Bolton, said had been the most exciting part of the day. “Its just a really nice thing to do, its great to remember our leader in this way,” she said.

A special home-cooked Indian vegetarian picnic was also held on the Glebe.

Tourist Joe Hill, of Newcastle, said: “It’s just a fantastic sight. I have never seen anything quite like it. It’s a shame that we don’t get to see this type of thing more often because it’s brilliant.”

Countney Jackson 1st Prize Longest Runner Bean.

MORE entries than usual came flooding in to Ambleside’s Summer Flower Show and Craft Fair.

It left the organisers in the big marquee hunting for extra tables for the bumper entry of home-grown flowers, fruit and vegetables, wines, eggs, cookery and crafts.

Show president Peter Howarth predicted there could be even greater numbers of exhibitors in the next few years to make local shows ever more popular.

Ambleside’s Summer Show returned to the rugby ground after six years in other venues, and the quality of entries impressed both visitors and judges. Homemade wine judge Edwin Booth, chairman of the Booths supermarket chain, said the selection of wines ranging from gorse to hawthorn was not only the most diverse but also the best batch he had ever tasted.

But overall it was not an easy year for vegetable or flower growers, with a six month drought giving way to weeks of rain. However, every cloud has a silver lining, and damp, shade-tolerant shrubs such as hydrangea flourished happily under the summer’s grey skies, with colourful vivid yellow and scarlet begonias, ruby red dahlias and deep purple buddleia.

Previous competitors who had not shown for a few years made a welcome return, competing with first-time gardeners and experienced stalwarts including Ronnie Holmes of Natland, Clifford Atkinson from Langdale and wine-maker par excellence, Betty Taylor.

A perfect trio of small dahlias from David Johnson, Coniston, earned him the Blue Ribbon for best exhibit in the show. Although floral display classes showed a drop in WI and club entries, the men-only floral class entitled “big boys’ toys” gave ingenious Luke Todd the chance to incorporate a military tank into his entry, while elsewhere everything from the humble dog bowl to a teapot provided a host of unusual containers and displays.

“This show is all about having plenty of imagination and good presentation, and it’s often the simplest of ideas that are the most effective”, Lakes Parish Council Chairman and long-standing show supporter Leslie Johnson said. “What comes out more clearly than anything at Ambleside is the incredible amount of imagination, persistence and dedication that people have.”

Junior entrants included fourth-generation exhibitor Courtney Jackson and her prize-winning fuschia with younger brother Alex. The children’s classes were very well supported, as were handicrafts, woodwork and photography.

With over 50 people waiting to start work on their new allotments in Ambleside alone, the potential for new exhibitors is exciting the local societies: “It could be a bright future for our show with such a real enthusiasm for allotments in Ambleside, Windermere, Kendal and all around,” Mr Howarth said. “As a society it would be a wonderful thing to liaise with them, and get allotment holders right on stream with display and presentation skills – we’re looking forward to their first entries very much.”

L - R: Thomas Noblett and Andrew ('The Admiral') Tighe.

A FEARLESS team of monster hunters will set sail on Windermere in a fresh search for ‘Bownessie’.

Lakeland hotelier Thomas ‘The Gladiator’ Noblett and celebrity psychic Dean ‘Midas’ Maynard will embark on their second journey into the depths of Windermere in search of the fabled monster.

The two men led a team of investigators to the lake to look for evidence last year but returned empty handed.

“Since last year, a lot of local people have told me they have felt something in the lake but have been too scared to say anything,” said Mr Noblett, owner of the Langdale Chase Hotel. “There is obviously something large in there. You just have to look at the depth, width and length of it to know that.”

Bownessie was first spotted by tourist Steve Burnip in 2006. Mr Burnip described a serpent like creature, around 15-feet in length, at the north end of the lake.

Mr Noblett was prompted to prove the existence of the creature when he was hit by a three-foot wave whilst swimming on Windermere last year.

“A lot of people boo-hoo it but they are mainly people who have never set foot in the Lakes,” said Mr Noblett. “Those who have seen it describe it as a very long and eel-like. One sailor told me he saw what looked like a big slab of meat roll past his boat and disappear underneath the boat. It could be a very large catfish that has just grown to be really big. Some of those fish do live for a very long time.”

Mr Noblett and his crew of three will set out on a £300,000 yacht using sonar equipment to try and track Bownessie.

They will explore the deepest part of the lake and sail to a spot near Gummers Howe, where the creature was snapped by Winderemere photographer Linden Adams in 2007.

“Whenever I swim across the lake I always get the heebys jeebies at that part. There is a real eerie feeling around there.”

Mr Maynard said: “The last Bownessie investigation was very memorable and we are hoping to have the same if not better results this time around. Since last year I have been contacted by many members of the public who have told me that they have also witnessed seeing something large in the lake over the past few years and we hope to get more evidence to back up these claims.”

The Bownessie hunters will set sail on September 11.

Hundreds of Hindus to converge on Bowness

A HINDU pilgrimage will see hundreds of worshippers flock to a South Lakeland beauty spot this month.

Dhol drummers and Asian pipe bands will pave the way for followers of the Hindu faith Shree Swaminarayan Gadi.

The group will lead a procession up to the Glebe in Bowness to commemorate the life of a religious figurehead who brought his message of peace from India to the Lake District 30 years ago.

Gurudev Adya Acharyapravar Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa was the founder of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, the worldwide centre for spiritual, cultural and social welfare.

He toured Windermere on a cruiser boat and held an assembly on the Glebe with hundreds of followers on August 30 1979, but died later that evening.

His spiritual heir His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree Purushottampriyadasji Maharaj plans to come back to the Glebe to re-enact Swamibapa’s last day.

The site has become one of upmost importance for the Shree Swaminarayan Gadi faith, with Windermere’s waters considered to be as purifying as the water from holy rivers in India.

Worshipper Mahesh Roshani, of London, has made the trip back to the spot every year since the group first gathered on the Glebe.

“I’ve never missed this event – I was only nine the first time but I still vividly remember being on the hill with everyone,” said Mr Roshani. “Because this was the last place people saw Swamibapa we regard this as a sacred place – it’s holy for us, not just a tourist spot.”

A tree planting ceremony, colourful Indian procession and free homecooked Indian vegetarian picnic will take place on the Glebe on Monday August 16.

Almost 100 postcards written by some of Britain’s biggest celebrities will be showcased at the free ‘Wish You Were Here’ touring exhibition in the Theatre at Brockhole on the shores of Windermere from August 10 until September 2.

Cumbria Tourism launched the Wish You Were Here campaign in the wake of the flooding to communicate that the county is open for business and welcoming visitors. Celebrities were invited to send postcards about why they love Cumbria and their response was overwhelming.

Actors including this year’s BAFTA winner Carey Mulligan, ‘X-Men’ star Sir Patrick Stewart, ‘Harry Potter’ hero Robbie Coltrane, Bond girl Honor Blackman and ‘Lord of the Rings’ favourite Sir Ian McKellen have sent personal anecdotes and private photographs to help support the campaign and encourage people to visit those places that hold special memories for them.

Television favourites such as ‘Weakest Link’ host Anne Robinson, GMTV’s Ben Shephard, ‘Gavin and Stacey’ star Matt Horne, ‘Ashes to Ashes’ cop Philip Glenister, and ‘Royle Family’ funny man Ricky Tomlinson have also sent paintings, drawings and messages of support for the county along with sporting legends Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Henry Cooper and Gary Lineker.

Cumbrian home-grown talent including Blue Peter’s Helen Skelton, Hairy Biker Dave Myers, West Bromwich Albion goalie Scott Carson, climbing prodigy Leo Houlding, motorsport boss Malcolm Wilson and England Rugby Union team captain Steve Borthwick have all stepped up for their county and contributed postcards revealing their favourite places in Cumbria.

Ian Stephens, Chief Executive of Cumbria Tourism said: “The response from these famous people has been incredible, they have gone over and above what we asked of them and it’s been heart warming to hear that so many of these hugely talented people have a genuine fondness for Cumbria.”

TRIUMPH: Michelle during the swim

A BOWNESS woman braved storms and attacks by jellyfish to become the first person this year to swim the Channel.

Michelle Lefton, 23, completed the arduous crossing in 17 hours. She dedicated the swim to the memory of her late cousin, Richard Scowcroft, who died of cancer in 2004, aged 30. She has already raised about £2,000 for Kendal-based charity Cancer Care.

Michelle said: “My determination to swim the channel was out of respect for my cousin’s strength. In 1995, Richard did the impossible and swam Windermere having had minimal training, and having just had a leg operation. He swam the lake in nine-and-a-half hours in conditions which were so rough that rowing boats were not even allowed to be hired on the lake. Richard’s swim was truly inspirational.”

Michelle was cheered on by parents Janet and Harold Lefton, aunt Karen Edmunson, boyfriend Tom Rothwell, navigator Chris Ducker, and coach Rob Monk on her 21-mile swim.

The chartered surveyor, who swam across Windermere in 2002, said: “The time you are allowed to swim the Channel is dependent on the tide. We started at 2pm so I knew I would be swimming through the night. There were white horses on the waves and it wasn’t the best of conditions to say the least.

“There was a wall of jellyfish – hundreds of them – but I just had to swim through them. Then it started hailstoning. I never thought about giving up and my pace remained the same throughout – I don’t know how. I’m really glad that I’ve done it, but it wasn’t a solo effort at all – it was all thanks to my supporters.”

If anyone would like to donate to Michelle’s fundraising campaign, send a cheque payable to Cancer Care to Michelle Lefton, The Old Vicarage, Winster, Cumbria, LA23 3NU

BONE DRY: A walker ventures down the site of the old road into the ‘drowned’ village of Mardale, revealed by the drought

CUMBRIA is only days away from a hosepipe ban unless there is ‘significant’ rainfall, which is not forecast, United Utilities has warned.

But the threat has been criticised by Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, who said the water company needed to modernise the way it managed its resources.

“We are the wettest county in the wettest country in western Europe so we’ve got to be really going some to be incompetent enough to not have enough water,” said Mr Farron. “They need to answer some pretty harsh questions to ensure this does not happen again.”

A UU spokesman said that although the reservoirs were full six months ago it was not possible to store any additional water from rainfall – surplus water drained naturally into rivers.

As dry conditions continued this week water levels in Haweswater are so low that the “drowned” village of Mardale is starting to reappear for the first time since the autumn of 2003 and before that during the severe drought of 1995 when former buildings became visible.

Farmers are also being badly hit by the dry weather. Cumbrian hill farmer Will Cockbain said that he was having to transport water to his cattle because natural supplies on his land had dried up, which had never happened to him in June before. “I think that what I am doing will be typical throughout the Lake District,” said Mr Cockbain.

The Environment Agency say that because water levels in lakes and rivers are so low wildlife such as fish and other amphibious creatures could be badly hit. “Wildlife in rivers will start to die off as water levels reduce,” said Matt Crump, Environment Manager for Cumbria. Environment Agency officers are increasing river monitoring to actively manage any environmental impacts from drought. We are asking the public to get in touch if they see areas where fish would be in distress in low flows.”

The dry weather conditions are already starting to impact on South Lakeland’s stately homes and public gardens.

Chris Crowder, head gardener at Levens Hall, said he would be forced to rely on a nearby borehole and resort to the traditional watering can to hydrate the 20,000 summer plants in the historic gardens. “When it gets as dry as this we can’t water everything so we have to just let the grass grow brown,” he said. “But in some ways a dry season is good because it kills weeds.”

Stephen Abbit, owner of Beetham Nurseries, said: “It (hosepipe ban) will definitely affect our plant sales. People will be reluctant to buy plants if they are unable to water them in.”

The Met Office says that although the weather is to become unsettled over the next few days, heavy showers are not predicted.

And with no rain expected and reservoir levels continuing to fall, UU may soon need to access more of the area’s water resources from lakes such as Windermere, Ullswater and Ennerdale.

The Environment Agency is expecting to receive an application from UU tomorrow to increase the amount of water it can remove from lakes and rivers in North West England.

After the very wet Autumn last year the weather pattern has changed dramatically and since December there has been only half the average amount of rainfall.

“It’s been an unprecedented period of dry weather since December 2009, and we need to take action now so we can tap into available water resources if the dry weather continues,” said John Sanders, UUs Water Regulation and Strategy Manager. “Now, more than ever, we need people to use water wisely. We’re monitoring the situation day by day, but if we don’t have any significant rainfall by the end of this month we will need a hosepipe ban to conserve essential supplies.”

A UU spokesman said a hosepipe ban will prevent people from watering their gardens and washing their cars with a hosepipe but businesses will not be affected.

The lack of rainfall has also caused the fells to be “exceptionally dry” and the fire service has warned of the threat of wildfires.

There was a major grassland blaze over the weekend in the Muncaster area affecting 1,000 acres and the fire service also attended to a fire on an island in Thirlmere using buckets of water to bring the flames under control.

The re-appearance of Mardale has excited tourism bosses. A spokesperson for Cumbria Tourism said: “Sightings of Mardale are rare so if the low water levels continue and the village fully emerges we imagine many people will make a beeline for Haweswater to catch a glimpse.”

Prime-time ITV show The Lakes will return for another 12 episodes after the success of the first series, which drew in more than four million viewers each week.

Leeds-based company Shiver Productions returned to Cumbria this week to begin filming. Presenter Rory McGrath will revisit Lakeland hotelier, Thomas Noblett, who was last filmed during his attempt to swim Windermere, and Grasmere tour bus guide, Sue Todd.

Mr Noblett, who owns the Langdale Chase Hotel, near Windermere, said: “The last series was a good window into the Lakes and the hotel industry. It showed a broad spectrum of the Lakes and helped to increase the profile. I think we will be busy in the summer period because of it.”

Mr Noblett said he has gained celebrity status since his appearance in the show. He said: “I have become particularly famous when I’m swimming Windermere. You see people peeking over the edge of the cruise ships to have a look.”

Sue Todd, who runs Mountain Goat coach and bus tours, at Grasmere, said: “We have had a number of bookings on the strength of the programme. Hopefully it will let people know that the Lakes is open for business.”

Shiver is also filming a similar series based in the Yorkshire Dales. The Dales, fronted by comedian Adrian Edmondson, will focus on lives of people living and working in the picturesque county.

BRILLIANT’: Sam Rayner, centre, celebrates with staff, from left, Zoey Burgin, Sandra Kennedy, Hayley Baldwin, Stella Wilson, and Helen Burrow, after the firm came top in the Which? survey

A SOUTH Lakeland retailer has trumped giants Marks & Spencer and John Lewis to be voted Britain’s best shop.

Windermere-based family firm Lakeland came out on top in a survey of 14,000 customers by independent watchdog and consumers’ body Which?

It is the first time the 49-year-old firm has scooped the Which? award, after customers taking part in the survey gave the company a 78 per cent approval rating.

Lakeland has attributed its success to good customer service and the fact that, at a time of recession, people are concentrating more on their homes. The firm sold practical and innovative goods – the type people ‘did not know they needed until they discovered them.’

Three brothers, Martin, Julian and Sam Rayner, built up the business started by their father, Alan Rayner, an animal feed salesman, who set up the company in 1961 to provide local farmers with polythene bags to pack chickens.

Julian Rayner helped develop the business, originally called Lakeland Plastics, into a global company after the brothers took over 32 years ago. He said: “We were genuinely surprised to receive this accolade, but it’s great to hear we’re highly regarded by our customers. It has been brilliant for the morale of our staff. Even though we source our products from across the world, we are first and foremost a Cumbrian business. About 30 years ago we considered moving our headquarters elsewhere – and we were even offered grants to do so – but we knew some of our staff wouldn’t be able to come with us. Every business depends on its people, so we decided to build our firm up here, and it was a great decision.”

While Lakeland has become a household name, famous for innovative gadgets and quirky household items, like banana guards, poaching pouches and ‘magic’ oven liners, owners say their success has been largely due to providing household essentials, like greaseproof paper.

Mr Rayner said the company had responded to difficult economic times by focusing on products that cash-strapped customers were interested in. He added: “Even young people are becoming more home-centric at the moment. People are nesting, rather than going out. They shop for kitchen foil and, increasingly, baking utensils too. It used to be nerdy, but people are beginning to take pleasure in making preserves and jams again.”

Lakeland’s 47th store opened in Dubai earlier this year and results show it is trading well. The company plans to increase its overseas interests with a shop in Bahrain opening this year, and up to eight more stores across the world next year.