Latest news with #CUMBRIAN
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Cumbria church to raise £500,000 to restore historic stained-glass windows
A CUMBRIAN church is to raise £500,000 in order to restore and repair its historic glass windows. A recent survey found that many of the windows at St Mary's Church in Wigton were in need of repair. The church has a number of historic stained-glass windows including three locally-designed windows donated by Wigton-raised broadcaster Melvyn Bragg and a 1926 William Morris window. One of the windows donated by Wigton native Melvyn Bragg (Image: Supplied) The clear glass windows in the church are the most in need of repair but the parish has already raised around £175,000 towards their target of £500,000. In order to raise more awareness and money the church is holding a series of free events of the weekend of June 6, 7 and 8. The clear glass windows are most in need of repair (Image: Supplied) On Friday, June 6, BBC antiques expert Paul Laidlaw will be valuing antiques and collectors' items, including jewellery, watches, militaria, and any antiques. There will also be an organ recital by David T Shingler on Friday, June 6. On Saturday, June 7, there will be a performance by the Border Concert Band and Sunday, June 8, at 3.30pm, there will be a Songs of Praise session hosted by two members of the Salvation Army. The fundraising weekend will end with a quiz night hosted by comedian and musician, Tom Elliott. St Mary's Wigton is run by the Reverend Richard Corrie who said that the fundraising effort was harbouring 'community spirit' in the town. Reverend Richard Corrie (Image: Supplied) 'Church buildings take a lot of upkeep,' said Rev'd Richard. 'A lot of fundraising is needed to keep church buildings going these days, so it is hard work. 'The church here at Wigton is at the heart of the town and the community is pulling together to help. READ MORE: Carlisle Castle to host UK Proms in the Park tour this July | News and Star 'A lot of the pubs have got our little collecting boxes in them, and people often pop into the church and just put the odd pound in our buckets. 'We're specifically putting these events on as most of them are 'non-churchy' because we want all the community to be involved, as the church building gets used by community groups and the schools all the time.' St Mary's will continue to raise money throughout the next year and donations can be made online.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cumbria firm awarded £4.5 million grant from government
A CUMBRIAN manufacturing company has been awarded a government grant of almost £4.5million to try and convert waste gas at the plant into energy. Futamura Chemical UK, based in Wigton, a leading global manufacturer of sustainable cellulose films and materials that employs 270 people in the town, has been awarded a grant of £4,486,851. The money is part of a £14million project that will see the Station Road plant convert waste gas to energy. The grant will help the company to reduce carbon emissions, improve efficiency and cut energy costs, support jobs in Cumbria and 'promote growth as part of the Government's wider economic plan'. Futamura, based in Wigton for over 90 years, manufactures flexible packaging films that are derived from wood-pulp, with the firm said to be 'excited' following the announcement of the grant. The company's managing director Adrian Cave said: "I don't think in my career, there has been a project that I have been more excited about. "At Futamura we are passionate about our NatureFlex and Cellophane products, and that includes ensuring we continually evolve and utilise greener manufacturing processes, to further reduce our environmental footprint. "Transformational projects such as this WSA installation invariably are expensive and have a medium to long term payback. "Companies like ours do require support financially and this IETF energy efficiency grant has resulted in this project coming to fruition. We are very grateful for this support." The cash is part of the government's Plan for Change to support low carbon projects in energy intensive industries through the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF). Markus Campbell-Savours, Member of Parliament for Penrith & Solway, welcomed the news. He said: 'I congratulate Futamura on securing this investment, one of the largest grants to be issued in this round of IETF funding. "This government is committed to helping industry reduce its energy consumption and this project will enhance the sustainability and future of this 90-year-old business. "This is a huge boost to Wigton and the hundreds of workers employed at the site."
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cumbrian man who was suspected of drug trafficking apologises to Indonesian court
A CUMBRIAN man on trial for drug offences has pleaded for leniency in a court on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali after a charge that could carry the death penalty was dropped. Thomas Parker, originally from Workington, was arrested on January 21 at a villa near Kuta beach, a popular tourist spot, after he allegedly collected a package from a motorcycle taxi driver at a nearby street. According to the court document obtained by the Associated Press, Parker was noticed 'acting suspiciously' by officers. He allegedly discarded the package in a panic and fled when police approached him. He was traced back to the villa where he was staying and was arrested. The court document said a lab test result confirmed the package contained slightly more than a kilogram of MDMA, the main ingredient in ecstasy. Parker was initially charged with drug trafficking and could have faced the death penalty by firing squad if found guilty. However, the trafficking charge was dropped after police investigators determined that the package was not directly linked to him. The case went unreported until authorities showed a handcuffed Parker at a news conference on March 6. During the police investigation, the 32-year-old electrician was able to prove that he did not order the package. It was allegedly sent by a drug dealer friend, identified only as Nicky, who Parker had known for around two years and spoke to regularly through the Telegram messaging app. During the trial that began last month, Parker told the court he initially refused to collect the package but later agreed to do it after Nicky assured him that the package was safe and would not put him in danger. Parker was told someone would pick it up shortly from him, his lawyer, Edward Pangkahila, said. Parker was not promised money or anything else by Nicky in return, Mr Pangkahila said. Authorities reduced the charge from trafficking to the less serious offence of hiding information from authorities. Prosecutors on May 6 sought a one-year prison term for Parker. However, under Indonesian legal system, judges have an important role as legal determinants in a trial. They could seek further charges if applicable laws are unclear or non-existent, meaning that the trafficking charge could be reinstated. Mr Pangkahila said that Parker last met Nicky a year ago when he was on holiday in Thailand. As his friend was a dealer, Parker worried the package was filled with drugs and he panicked when he saw police officers on the street and was approached by them, Mr Pangkahila said. Wearing a white shirt and black trousers, Parker repeatedly expressed his remorse in his final plea on Tuesday and asked the panel of three judges in Denpasar District Court to consider his situation and impose a lenient sentence. 'I am very sorry and apologise, I know it was a mistake,' Parker said. 'I promise not to repeat it again, because I really didn't know that (the package) was drugs.' READ MORE: Cumbrian, 32, facing death penalty for 'drug dealing' in Bali After Parker read out his plea, Presiding Judge Gusti Ayu Akhirnyani adjourned the trial until May 27, when the judges will read out their sentence in a verdict. 'Until now, they (prosecutors) cannot prove that our client is a middleman or trafficker,' Mr Pangkahila said. 'He has no connection with any drug network, we hope the judges will come to the same conclusion.' He said his client is nervous and depressed as he faces trial. Indonesia has very strict drug laws and convicted traffickers can be executed by a firing squad. About 530 people are on death row in Indonesia, mostly for drug-related crimes, including 96 foreigners, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections' data showed. Indonesia's last executions, of an Indonesian and three foreigners, were carried out in July 2016.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Cumbrian motor club raises over a thousand pounds for vital Cumbrian charities
A CUMBRIAN motor club has raised over a thousand pounds for a number of Cumbrian charities. Wigton Motor Club's Cumbria Drive It Day raised over a thousand pounds for this year's nominated charities, Every Life Matters (Cumbria) and Hospice at Home North Lakes. Over 200 cars gather at Dalemain Mansion near Penrith for the annual gathering that marks the start of the classic car season. Drive It day is a national event co-ordinated bt the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs with regional meets through the UK. There were also some visitors from Japan who were following up their visit to the Dalemain Marmalade Festival. Wigton Motor Club is the largest car club in the region with over a thousand members and promotes a wide range of motorsport and classic car events. A presentation of donations wo the two charities will take place in November. You can find out more at
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cumbrian McDonald's reopens after seven-week revamp
A CUMBRIAN McDonald's restaurant has re-opened to the public following a seven-week revamp. The fast food chain at Derwent Drive in Workington, which is owned by Victor and Karen Arciniega, is now back up and running, following the temporary closure. The revamp programme combines a new restaurant layout with the latest technology (Image: Newsquest) The 'Convenience of the Future' redesign promises to deliver a better customer experience for all. The ambitious revamp programme combines a new restaurant layout with the latest technology to 'create a more seamless and enjoyable experience for customers'. Improvements include a redesign of the kitchen and dining areas, a dedicated courier area and redesigned crew rooms. Staff at the revamped Workington McDonald's restaurants ahead of re-opening on Tuesday (Image: Newsquest) The Workington restaurant, which employs about 140 people, is the first in the North West to be given the 'Touch of Archery' design. Victor and Karen Arciniega, who own and operate 11 McDonald's restaurants in Cumbria and Lancashire, said: 'We are proud to reinvest in our Workington restaurant. Victor and Karen Arciniega, who own and operate 11 McDonald's restaurants in Cumbria and Lancashire, including the Workington restaurant (Image: Newsquest) 'The dining area is more contemporary, and we now have separate facilities for our dine-in customers and our couriers leading to a better experience for everyone. READ MORE: Whitehaven McDonald's restaurant reopens after major transformation 'It's exciting to see the fresh new look and feel of our Workington restaurant and we are confident the changes will not only benefit our customers but also our staff as they will help make their jobs a little easier.' Inside the newly refreshed Workington McDonald's restaurant (Image: Newsquest) While the traditional walk-in and Drive Thru remain core to how customers order, the redesign of McDonald's kitchen and dining areas as part of 'Convenience of the Future' will better integrate digital sales channels, the McDonald's App and make smarter use of internal space to enhance the dine in experience. With dedicated areas for the different ways to order, along with the removal of the front counter, the revamp will offer a more efficient way to order and will leave customers with more space to enjoy their meal.
