David Allen vs. Aspatria Rugby Club Cricket Challenge

A slightly overcast and chilly Friday night was the setting for the cricket rematch of David Allen vs. Aspatria Rugby Club. Despite the weather both sides seemed up for it. The 2010 winning team from David Allen included a few novices this year; Kevin Batty our Agricultural Consultant and Bart Centlewski, our IT Consultant - nonetheless we were definitely up for the challenge.

The David Allen team were the first to the crease, with Kevin Batty and Mark James opening the score... they set us off well - the rest of us following with a mixture of runs; the top scores being 24 from Danny Roper and 20 from Michael Peile. With a few more runs under our belt and my contribution of a duck, we were left with an all out final score of 96.

Then it was our turn to bowl.

Sam Verry opened the bowling with some very accurate pitching which meant that Aspatria didn’t get off to the best of starts. They soon got into the swing of things and with a contribution from ‘Reidy’, they started to tally up the runs. Once he had retired after scoring 25, the David Allen fielders had a lucky streak, with wickets falling left, right and centre. Once Reidy returned to the crease for his second stint, we were unsure which way this came was going to go. When the final wicket fell, it was shouted over that they had scored 95, which was a win for us by 1 run. It was a much closer contest than the previous year, but fun was had by all and a tasty barbeque was provided by Barney Clegg. The night ended well... bring on next year!

Leanne Donald

A Day at the Races

On Monday 23 May Julie Taylor and I attended Carlisle Races as guests of Sid and Andy from Explosive Productions Limited. I am not sure what has happened to the weather lately, as we were hoping for a balmy summers afternoon but alas it was raining again! The weather was awful... it was extremely windy and at one point we thought the racing was going to be cancelled.

We enjoyed lunch in the hospitality suite before the racing started and this gave people time to place their bets. Several quests joined Sid and Andy at our table and it gave us a great opportunity to meet new people and also catch up with people who had just come for a ‘day at the races’.

Due to the weather conditions it was proving quite difficult to pick a winner... however, despite this, many did win and we all had a fantastic day. Julie and I would like to thank Sid and Andy for inviting us to join them.

Alison Welton

Installation of the Mayor of Carlisle

I have spent the last 12 months on the fundraising committee for the Mayor of Carlisle, Mary Styth and what a fantastic year it has been... with all of the fundraising events that have taken place; including a charity dinner and a sky dive, the total amount raised was £159,200 with the main beneficiary being Carlisle Youth Zone. This is a fantastic achievement. Mary stood down as Mayor on Monday 23 May at a ceremony at the Civic Centre to elect the new Mayor of Carlisle. Part of the ceremony paid thanks to Mary for all of her hard work as Mayor of Carlisle and also all of her work on the Council.

The Annual Meeting of the City Council and also the Election and Installation of the Mayor of Carlisle took place in the Council Chambers at the Civic Centre... I had the pleasure of watching the ceremony from the viewing gallery seating area... it was really interesting.

The newly elected Mayor of Carlisle is Barry Earp, a Conservative City Councillor for Wetheral. Barry will be the 425th Mayor of the City of Carlisle. His designated charities include Hospice at Home, the NSPCC, Citizens Advice Bureau and Community Project Carlisle – an initiative to help young people.

The new mayor had to swear the historic mayoral oath, which requires him “to receive none of the town’s monies, rents, fines or other duties” and to “administer justice as well to the poor as the rich”. He must also “cause to be seen nightly watchmen on the walls of this city”.

I have had a fantastic year working with Mary Styth and am honoured that she asked me to be part of her fundraising committee and wish Barry Earp a successful year ahead in office.

Alison Welton