taking
scenery and confidence that all profits were destined to local charities (First
Responders and Mountain Rescue), what more could one ask from a festival?The popular Bower House Inn is a hostelry situated in the picturesque rural landscape of Eskdale and over the last few years has been the venue for some of West Cumbria's best musical talents as well as acts from Lancashire and elsewhere. This pub had big ideas and has turned them into a big success, attracting crowds of what must have been well over two thousand on the Saturday alone and playing host to over thirty acts, which ranged from folk to punk rock on the two music stages, plus silent cinema and comedy tents.
The festival was a mass of colour with fancy flags, dozens of tents and numerous ‘stalls’ to satisfy the desires of a range of ages, including face painting, tombola, arts and crafts, excellent freshly cooked food, and a range of liquid refreshments - this year including a tent solely for the sale of a range of Hesketh Newmarket real ales. Fun for all the family!
Unfortunately the minority may have spoiled it for the majority, for on the Saturday night there were reported to be eleven arrests, with over twenty-five police called out and the ‘rave’ music tent was closed down. It seems likely that this was all due to excessive alcohol although it should be noted that I, like 90% plus of the audience, saw nothing but good humour and high spirits.
It is rumoured that because of this trouble next years B-Fest is under threat. I for one sincerely hope not: if the likes of Glastonbury and Leeds etc. can control crowds of many tens of thousands of people then surely we can at the B-Fest? It would be a travesty if this family based festival that wonderfully combines local talent with local beauty should be lost to us by the actions of a few idiots.
What more could one ask from a festival? Well for the B-fest, that it’s on next year.
We warmly welcome this contribution from Hannah, a Year 13 student from the West Lakes Academy. Our columns are always open to such gifted young writers.
Just send your material to
Egremont2@aol.com
and
everyone managed to finish the course of just under 300 miles. The actual ride
was superbly organised for Macmillan by The 'Discover Adventure' Company which
did a marvellous job in providing masses of food and drink along the way for
cyclists in various stages of physical collapse, expert mechanical support for
bicycles in various states of decomposition and guiding us through remote
countryside, lovely villages, busy towns and congested cities. The riders had
good weather throughout, particularly for the final day, which included the ride
into Paris, and meeting friends and relations at The Eiffel Tower.