I heard first hand today

From the grass roots workers at Wax Lyrical, what a great firm and bosses they have at their thriving company at Lindal.

I talked to someone who had worked for the changing business for eighteen years and how Mike Armstead with his team of dedicated people had turned the ailing company Colony Candles round into what is now Wax Lyrical.

And people there certainly do - Wax lyrical about their company and what great treatment they receive from each other and the people at the top.

Photo Allan Wilson October 2010

Co-director Joanne Barber remembered me and gave us all we asked for in terms of wax, wicks and already formed candles that helped us make our lights in jars. I came away loaded up now looking forward to ways to use the lights we could now generate to and a bit of sparkle to what can sometimes be a grey frustrating world.

It felt good that even at this moment to pots for those lights had just been taken up to 1,000 deg C ready for there first use this next October and then beyond.

A memorable evening

Rita and Hilary started us off

Followed by Naomi's choir

Then followed by Mark and partner with fiddle and recorder

And finishing up with a song and dance

A wonderful event

We all enjoyed it immensely.

The sixteen keen workers, the three groups of musicians and most important the four hundred and fifty people who came.

The feedback has been tremendous.

To find out more visit the Ulverston Candlelit Walk Facebook page

I'm always amazed how you can revisit a place that had so much activity the night before and next morning there's not a trace of all that activity. All the candle jars and pottery lights have gone, The music and "grandstand" is as it was - a lot of choppy grass.

What happened the night before is totally in the memory of those that took part and even then every single person has a different memory of what happened. One of the things that impressed people is the kind of people who they came across. Everyone was so appreciative and enjoying the wonder of the event.

Sadly those that hear about it from others who were there will never have the chance of witnessing a similar event. Next year will be totally different even though someone may attempt to repeat the magic: it just can't be done. In fact next year may not happen unless new people get involved in the making and planning, prior to the event as I will only be present as a helper - if in fact help is needed.

If you want something to happen next year, now is the time to say so, so that those willing to get involved can make tentative plans.

What is tangible today is that  Gill Banks upper and lower paths are totally dog shit free. Much of the paths have been swept and the stretch by the first picnic table where the two paths join, have had mud and weeds removed with spades by some very hard and dedicated workers. One discovers that actually the path is now quite wide!

Enjoy Gill Banks if you're out for a stroll.

Join us next Monday evening - even if you have no kids around

The Candlelit Walk promises to be a magical experience again.

Quite different from last year.

This time more dramatic with the powerful flickering wax flames that rage and spit in wet windy weather, as they illuminate the beck and surrounding wood.

Trying to record the effect doesn't work on camera - you have to be there.

Shimmering lights in the high branches of the old trees,  reflections off the babbling water and the eerie sound of a group of wailing singers and musicians who are making music specially for this event.

The combination of sight, sound and friendly people makes this early evening event very special.

Read what David and Janet Fellows had to say about their experience last year!

Here are the words of an enthusiast who has been to every event:

Along with the visual spectacle of all those flickering candles,
musicians will also be adding to the spooky atmosphere. Ulverston
singers Geertje Baugh and Naomi Edwards have been working on some
bewitching ballads with a folk flavour to fill the night with haunting
melodies.

“It gives me tingles seeing all those candles lighting up the woods,”
said Gill resident Jennie Dennett who's helping organise the walk.
“And the donated wax is also scented, so there's that brilliant smell
of burning wax, wet leaves and then the sweetness of cake shops all at
the same time. It's a real multi-sensory experience!”

It's an easy walk with lots of quiet very aware people. Parking in The Gill right at hand.


6:30 pm Gill Banks off The Gill, Ulverston this next Monday 31st October.

To keep in touch Go to our Facebook Page

For more information : Contact me by email - gd at tygh.co.uk (written this way to avoid spam) or by phone 01229 480347

The background to Ulverston's Candlelit Walk - Monday 31st October at 6:30

It all started on 22nd March 2009 with an email from Sue Sellers suggesting that I might be interested in a community pottery project using what turned out to be one ton of Terra Cotta clay  that Susan Thwaites of Dalton  wished to find a home for.

All this clay has now been used (and fired!)  and  a second ton was started three months ago.

In subsequent months the project grew from pottery on the garden wall to pottery on the wall of Union Lane, to The Railings , Gill Banks and then  Lightburn Park and Mill Dam  - much of this is documented on this web site

Having found a way of attaching pottery to the railings,  presence of spikes provoked the though that they needed covering. A few things were made but quickly got nicked because they were attractive including a hiker made by Jennie Dennett.

The though occurred that the railings could be used along their full length - lower path and upper path. The idea of the candlelit walk was born.

By September 2009 we had set ourselves the target of making 100 pots to hold Candles in Jars  - one every ten metres so as to light the upper and lower paths of Gill Banks which we achieved with some hard work from Geoff who made nearly all the blanks whilst Bernard and Elisabeth Ellis  decorated about 25 about forty people in all decorated the pots - many of them children. See this Youtube video.

October 31st 2010 saw the raising of the target for candle lights raised from 300 to 1000 - some of these still remain upside down in the bushes.

Wax Lyrical (Colony Candles) of Lindal provide the thousand candles). The concept of filling loo rolls was used then for the first time came from Gladys Hobson whose son revealed the concept. 20 larger spike lights were used to dramatic effect above the pottery on The Railings - wax overflow still to be seen.

The visual effect in 2010 year was intensified by having a small talented musical group of three musicians who played music to enhance the experience.

Because the 2010 candle lights still had many burning hours available they are again being used. Also because of the high work intensity using of candles all over the wood and the lack of helpers these are being kept for the paths. What is new is having some 60 larger flames which are being used for the first time to light up the beck as it runs along close to the beck.

The making of new spike lights has been limited to 15 this year made by six potters and one family.

What is very special is that we now have two musical groups playing involving with some very talented new singers who know how to create eerie music suited for the occasion.  Rita Baugh is one of them.

We anticipate to have about 10 helpers on the Monday afternoon .

As much work as possible will be done over the Saturday and Sunday in preparing the path  making it safe, free of slippery leaves and dog dirt.

Most people make a real effort to dress up - so much so it's difficult to tell who is who. At this time many parents are making costumes for themselves and their children.

There is no charge for the event which will cost very little to actually run this year as most of the pottery and candles were made last year and the year before. The walk itself costs are about twenty pounds with additional low costs for drinks afterwards. Some funds will be need next year for pottery and candle supplies.

No policing is required for the event : the numbers so far have been in the vicinity of 200 participants. who walk without torches in order to see the lights more effectively.

The greatest need is for involvement in making pots, candles and wax flames and musicians  and workers on the night, not for money.

Next year's event will be on a Tuesday evening.

The event now has it's own  Facebook page : " Ulverston Candlelit Walk"

October 31st 6:30pm

Our next community activity

We're putting a fair bit of work in preparation for the Walk in the Dark lit only by burning wax on October 31st at 6:30pm

Here's what someone has written about their last year's experience:

ALL-HALLOWS EVE & A VERY SPECIAL WALK

Last year we saw a little note in the Evening Mail from Geoff Dellow asking for donations of jam jars. Some 800 were needed to light the path up Gill Banks. We were so pleased that we’d remembered to go there on the Sunday evening, All Hallows Eve. It was magical and such an antidote to all the commercialism and hype that now surrounds what is often known as “trick or treat night”.

Not only was the path lit but there were lights dotted above and below it in the woodland. Accompanying us was the sound of running water in the Gill. At the place in the circular walk where you turned back musicians were quietly playing. At the finish there was a sight to attract the children, a haunted house with evil scarecrows peering out of every window. Nearby were some attractively carved pumpkins along the wall.  Finally were greeted by a cheerful group of helpers offering us a choice of welcome refreshments.

It was such a peaceful sociable event underlining the communal spirit of Ulverston and such an appropriate event ……. lights in the darkness.   Just as we remember the first lantern procession that is now part of Ulverston life it would be good to think that this one too will become a local tradition.

I’ve just met Geoff who tells me that the event will be on again this year on Monday 31st October. They don’t need and jars but the musicians have moved on to college so some new players would be welcome. Other help is needed too. Should you be interested or just like to know the opening time Geoff can be contacted at gd@tygh.co.uk or Tel. 480 347.

David and Janet Fellows.

Note : you may wish to follow the latest activities of this event on our new Facebook page where there is a lot of information.

Candlelit walk on Monday 31st October at 6:30

Plans are well under way to repeat this very successful event for the third time when we walked up Gill Banks in the dark lit only by candlelight with drinks and goodies afterwards.

Last night we did a test run in the wood with the extended use of the flames that we used last year. The results were quite spectacular.

We appear to be attracting two groups of musicians to play and sing on the night.

Our very small team are working very well. Let us know if you'd like to get involved - the more help the better the show! We are at present restricted to what we can do by the number of helpers available on a this Monday afternoon.

Thanks to you - 600 lights ready for use in a month's time

These are the boxes of jam jars that have been left by you over the past four months, now filled with wax and wicks, donated by Wax Lyrical of Lindal, ready for our candlelit walk up Gill Banks into the wood and back.

It's not too late to bring your jars to be filled and made into lights.

New ceramic lights have been made for the event in our pottery workshops during recent months.

A meeting is being held in the Gill to fine tune the planning for the event this next Monday evening at 8 pm. Let me know if you want to help.