Tek thesel' a deek at whut we'z upta this 'eer. Fra tarks t'competitions, the's sommet fur ivveryan.
Cumbria Crack kem along tu oor Members Dya und Dialect Competition. If the's wundering what we deue the'can hev a leuk.
Over the last couple of years, I have been struggling with fine motor skills, and find writing in particular a problem. I therefore feel that it is time to look for someone who would be prepared to take over the role of secretary.
I know that this will sound like an impossible ask because I have been doing it for over 25 years.
However, I can assure anyone who would like to consider the role, that they do not need to be able to read, write or speak dialect. Our long-time secretary Nan Dawson did none of these things but was a most efficient secretary - and all before the days of computers.
What is needed are administration skills, and if possible, experience keeping a database. There would be a lot of support and guidance on offer.
Jean can be contacted if you'd like to talk a bit more about this.
Sue Wilkinson, studying with the University of Cumbria, is currently researching the Grasmere Dialect Plays. They were last produced in the 1930s and Sue would love to speak to people who have an interest in, or any information, about these plays. Do you have parents, grandparents or relatives that remember them or perhaps even took part?
If you email pg-cumbria@gmx.com - I'll collate the replies and put you in touch with Sue. (If anyone has a copy of the script they could email, as a part time actor I'd be keen in seeing it too!).
Ray Griffiths lairned uz all aboot t'history ovt' Mountain Rescue, wid tyales und auld pictures ov hoo things hev changed ovver t'eers.
Ray also shared hoo the team foond fowk und got thum doon fra t'fyell side.
It wuz oor fust meeting oft'eer, und efterwads we took chance fur a laal bit ovt'a natter ovver tea und cyake.
Nine months ago, our Society started using a Facebook group to help us promote the interest and great enjoyment to be had from Cumbria’s various versions of dialect. And since this began, things have happened better and faster than we had dared hope.
After just nine months, the group has now exceeded 500 members and it gets new posts (topics and discussions) every day, with plenty of fun, dialect quizzes, too.
We invite all existing members of the Lakeland Dialect Society, as well as anybody else who is interested, to come and visit this extension of the LDS to have a lot of fun.
If you’ve never used Facebook before, simply click on the following link and follow the cues until it asks you to ‘Sign Up’ for an account (it’s all FREE). If you have problems and need help, just contact this website’s manager and he will put you in touch with someone who will guide you through it. It is definitely worth it, and it is also a great way to get new, and younger new people involved.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/955149792566979/
The Featured Page for January had a receipe on how to make the Cumberland National Dish - Tattie Pot.
At the back end of 2023 after we roked our hands in the briers blackiting we also featured the recipe for a Traditional Cumberland Blackite Broonie.
If thats mekking the mooth watter click on our Recipes page (under Dialect) und divvent mislikken ta say Grace afore the gits yer brossenful!
Our very own Jean Scott-Smith has been writing in the Dec 2023/Jan 2024 - Discover Britain Magazine.
If you want to read about 7 of the most unusal Cumbrian Traditions you can go to their web-site: https://www.discoverbritainmag.com/cumbrian-traditions/
The magazine itself also includes the article - In a Word - on our Lakeland twang.
We met ower ut'Victory Hall in Dalston fur a grand dowin' und crack wid fowk.
Efter we hed oor brossenful we hed yan ur twa wurds ov business afore competion started furt' Len Hayton trowphy.There were tyales, breks und poems. Langest roond of applause won und this 'ear it wuz fur John Hindson, wid his brek aboot a farmer und a poem aboot Eden Beck.
T'phowto shas John gittin t'Len Hayton Trowphy fra last 'ears winner Dickon.
Members ov oor Society wer fair capped at' chance tu gah t'seaside at Bridlington und hev a barrie tyam wid fowk fra al ovver England tarking ther ahn twang.
Sum ov us competed int' Bill O'Bowes und Eric Toppin trowphy und alt'oor society's marras wah med it to Bridlington hed a part in a sketch fur t'Fair Weltered Trophy ont'Satduh neet. But it wuz oor friends fra t'Northumberland Language Society thut kept hod ovt' trowphy furt' second year int'row.
Here are oor pictures oft'judges and winners. T'Fair Weltered Trowphy ist'yan ont'reet
Ah'll pass the ovver t'Edward fra the host society who lairn the mowre aboot t'event.
We ‘ad a reight gooid do at t’Expanse ‘otel at Bolliton for yet another National Dialect Festival. Abaht sixty fowk attended all together. There were three trophies on offer. Brendan ‘Awthrone from t’Black Country won t’Bill O’Bowes Trophy for writing ‘is own dialect poem. Anne Lamb of Durham won t’Eric Toppin for a gradely performance of another’s dialect work. Judy Barker from t’Eeast Riding won t’Sam Laycock Trophy for ‘er own poem in Yorkshire Dialect. They call it t’Sam Laycock Trophy ‘cause, mich like Sam Laycock, it moves about from area to area.
Ast'flyer promised - we al hed a barrie tyam ut this 'eyers Dialect Competition up 'et Silloth. Ta agyean to Silloth Rowtary Club fur being grand hosts tul uz al und Christ Kirk fur t'venue.
Thethra prizes wur up fer grabs fur the nue writing.
Dot Tudhope won best newcomer.
Dick Gargett won most humorous.
Mike Naylor wuz Best Ovveral.
Keep a deek oot' fur a turbo charged grey fergy tractor. It mebbe Mike Naylors shot t'hev a gah driving it!
We hed a grand time up ut' Loweswater Village Hall on Satduh 16th September. Chance fer a good bit of scran, tea and a natter.
Judith Benn telt us al' aboot Loweswater und Lorton dales fra back int' dya. If the thowt life on't farm wuz all tups, yows, hosses und coos, then hev a deek at this phowto.
There wuz a tyale aboot a la'al Shetland hoss too. Und whilst I can think on me Mudder and Fadder wid stories oft gas lighting on Cockermuth Myan Street - Ah didn't ken thut mains electric didn't git to Loweswater until t'early 1960s.
On Saturday 1st July, twenty members gathered for a summer outing to Threlkeld Mining Museum. This had been arranged by our Chairman Donald Angus, who gave an introductory talk about the quarry before everyone boarded the little train for a trip into the quarry itself, viewing many old examples of equipment on the way. The train was hailed by a diesel engine driven by Dickon Chaplin-Brice one of our members. Back in the engine shed Dickon gave a history of the engines at the quarry including a steam locomotive 'Sir Tom' which was undergoing some maintenance. Everyone then returned to the museum for refreshments and a look around the fascinating displays.
Our president Tommy Coulthard presented a tree to the Sunbeams Music Trust at Redhills near Penrith. This was to mark the King's Coronation; he officially planted the tree watched by Annie Mawson MBE founder of Sunbeams and users of the facility. The tree chosen was a Cumbrian species of Apple - A Keswick Codling. A few Society members attended and had some fun activating the large sound installations on the lawn; xylophone, trumpets, drums etc.
Lovers of dialect from all over England gathered in the glorious setting of Shap Wells Hotel for the National Dialect Festival weekend. This year's event was hosted by the Lakeland Dialect Society which is now in its 83rd year.
The annual event was started in 2009 by Lancastrian dialect expert Sid Calderbank, with the first two events being held in Lancashire, since then it has been held in Lincolnshire, Northumberland, Devon, Lakeland, Black Country, Yorkshire, Cornwall and Blackpool. Regions represented at Shap included Lincolnshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Northumberland and of course Lakeland. The last event was held in 2019, so this was the first time many friends had met up for a long time.
On the Friday evening a concert of dialects by the Lakeland group and friends. The President, Tommy Coulthard, welcomed everyone before reading one of his own poems. The MC for the event was Donald Angus the Chairman.
Performers mainly came from the society, and opened with Dickon Chaplin-Brice singing the well-loved poem by John Richardson, 'It's Nobbut Me'. There was some stand-up comedy by Dick Gargett before he took part in a sketch with Jean Scott-Smith, 'Husband and Wife' by Tom Twistleton. Kim Bibby-Wilson from the Northumbrian Language Society explained the features of the Northumbrian pipes, and played a traditional piece.
Donald delighted the audience with the Stanley Holloway classic 'Three-Ha'pence a Foot'. Jean then recited a 19th century dialect poem by Anthony Whitehead of Reagill 'An Address to Tourists' which mentioned staying at Shap Wells.
Tim Barker from Silloth gave a recitation from his Shakespeare for Shepherds collection - as he transported everyone to Agincourt with his dialect version of Henry the Fifth.
Alex Fisher from Lancashire gave a background to clog dancing and then performed a dance accompanied by Julie Proctor on fiddle.
Dick returned with a few more hilarious tales, before Donald performed another monologue, 'Albert and the Lion'.
The final act was by Mark Carruthers from Wreay who sang his own song 'Joss Naylor - Iron man'.
The main events took place on Saturday with competitions for four trophies.
The morning began with a keynote speech by Professor Rob Drummond, from Manchester Metropolitan University about his research work with Manchester accents and voices. It was accompanied by maps and recordings, which illustrated the diverse mix of speech to be found in Greater Manchester.
The Eric Topping Trophy for performing any English dialect piece saw seventeen entries, and was won by Sally and Ron Williams from Ramsbottom, with their account of a hazardous trip on a boat.
The Samuel Laycock Trophy for original writing in the dialect of the host area performed by the author, attracted six contestants; Donald Angus, Philip Gate, Jean Scott-Smith, Pauline Mole, Dick Gargett and Mark Carruthers.
The winner was Jean Scott-Smith with her poem 'Shepsters et Darknin' describing the starling murmuration around her house.
The Bill o' Bowes Cup for original writing in any English dialect performed by the author saw entries from Lancashire, Northumberland, and Yorkshire; this was won by Bill Rhodes from Chorley who told a tale about not fitting in.
The judges for these competitions were Professor Rob Drummond, Tim Barker and Louise Green the Society's Editor from Ireby. The trophies were presented by Sid Calderbank, founder of the Dialect Festival.
In the evening there was a concert performed by visiting groups, competing for the Far Weltered Trophy, which was judged on audience reaction.
One brave person represented Lincolnshire, before a small group flew the flag - quite literally - for Yorkshire. A large group showcased Lancashire talent with song, dance, music and recitation. The Northumbrian Language Society, a team of three wearing traditional black and white plaids, entertained with their well known songs that the audience could join in, a talented musician, singer and a great story teller, concluding with a challenge to the audience in a session of 'Whoa's Tellin Hoafies' where they gave three definitions for several Northumbrian words.
The final result saw the Northumbrian Language Society take the trophy which was presented by Mr Angus.
Throughout the weekend delegates had been able to explore the hotel grounds resplendent with autumn hues. On the Sunday morning there was an opportunity to visit Shap Abbey before everyone departed for home. The visit was led by Jean, who is a local historian, who ended the visit with another of Whitehead's dialect poems 'An Address to Shap Abbey'.
Next year the event is to be held in Bridlington, Yorkshire.
Festival delegates in the sunshine at Shap Abbey.
Winners of the trophies with the founder: Bill Rhodes, Jean Scott-Smith, Sid Calderbank, Sally and Ron Williams. Donald Angus is at the rear.
Secretary: Mrs Jean Scott-Smith, Gale View, Main Street, Shap, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 3NH. Phone: 01931 716386
Email: lakespeak.jean@gmail.com
Journal Editor: Mrs Louise Green, Overdale, Ireby, Wigton, Cumbria CA7 1EQ. Phone: 01697371710
Email: louise.green2608@gmail.com
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