The Amazing Stan Walmsley

Everyone in Furness should know about him - but sadly they don't because he keeps a low profile and just gets the job done.

He's the guy who has worked every week over the last forty years to make the Dalton Recreation Leisure Centre and New Park, the attractive place it is now.

Not only are the Baths and Leisure Centre financially successful but even Barrow Council, far from supporting it,  are trying to siphon off £10,000 from their funds.

Even Dalton Town Council refuse to support it out of the rates.

This centre only survives and does well because of the unstinting work of their voluntary supporters.

Learn a bit more about this truly amazing organisation:

http://www.daltonleisurecentre.co.uk/about.php

An interview with Jackie Williams - in 2007

Digging around on my computer, I discovered this gem - an interview done at the Ford Park Market stall in June 2007.

This was my first meeting with Jackie - on a market stall in June 2007. Here she talks about the plans for converting the Ford Park Centre into a Youth Hostel and community facility - a project she put an enormous amount of work into. In spite of detailed plans being drawn up and a strategy involving a comprehensive consultation and a bid to attract funds, this project failed to attract the approval of the people awarding grants.

Never-the-less, as a result of Jackie's will to succeed, this scheme has now morphed into a visitor's centre which has been built and is about to open. All credit to her determination and will power to not be defeated in the face of many obstacles and problems. Compare the person we have now with the one we had in 2007 and you will see the effects of years of struggle.

Jackie's enthusiasm shines out as a beacon for the rest of us.

A visit to the Ulverston Scrap Store

This organisation is run and funded by a remarkable woman who has decided to do this demanding project to enable us to use, at very low cost, materials and products that would otherwise be thrown away.

We in Ulverston are very lucky to have her come here to her store every Tuesday afternoon between 2 and 5pm every Tuesday whatever the weather.

There are lots of other interviews of people in Ulverston on this blog:

Click the label "interview" or this link to past interviews

An interview with Ulverston's Doll's House Man

At Rhubarb and Custard in Queens Street

Brian Simpson of Ulverston has a thrilling enthusiasm

I love people who are really enthusiastic about something. Anything.

Brian is the Welsh champion of racing on a motorbike up and down mountains.

Here I ask him how and when he gained this enthusiasm. He also does Drag Racing. . .

Just watch the last ten seconds of this video and you get a taste of what Brian is talking about:

Just imagine the muscles he must develop to keep his head still attached to his body when being subjected to this level of acceleration

The Monday Interview - Anita - Ale Wife of Ulverston's Micro Brewery

So where are you?



The site of Ulverston's old cattle market.

And what makes a good beer?



Anita Garnett and Paul Swan (son of the strict and imposing Glaxo 'boss' for Pen Extraction ) have set up their brewery - The Ulverston Brewing Company - on the site of the Old Cattle Market across from the bus station and Peter's Kiosk.

The Monday Interview - Peter from the Kiosk

Best cuppa in town - where you need it - at the bus station by the library.

First Peter tells us of the hiccups in the bus service, leaving travellers stranded if you want one of the services. If we're trying to encourage others to avoid using our cars, we need a reliable service.

He goes on to tell of an amazing act of helpfulness to one family with children.



Second Peter brings us up to date with his aim to have a bigger cafe´facing onto the small park which would be brilliant for the town especially if there could be somewhere for the kids to do tricks on their bikes or skateboards to entertain onlookers.

The Monday Interview - Thursday Market Bookseller

We have strong connections with Literature in the town:

Good bookshop down Market Street,the cafe´below, the stalls, and the Word Festival

Browse through the new and second hand books with a cup of coffee at the Novel Cafe´in in the Market Square if the market is not on. Comfortable chairs access to the Internet upstairs. Arts and crafts on display. Special area upstairs for the kids. An amazing place.

The Monday Interview - David Gardner -final

The value of a team, disagreements, flexibility in a family run business.

Will it survive - you can bet your bottom dollar it will - in some form!

"We're not brilliant; just very determined."

The Monday Interview - David Gardner continued

The familiar face of David - our friendly gardening consultant.

We think of him as living down the road but in fact it takes him an hour and twenty minutes to get here.

So how come he chose Ulverston market to trade at?

Are there many others like him?

Or is this quiet unassuming man part of a well honed team and a real expert at survival?



A quick look at the range of plants on offer.

Who needs a flash garden centre when the quality , range and price are all in our favour when we shop at David's stall.

Worth a trip to Ulverston on a Thursday or Saturday just to buy here, don't you think?

The Monday Interview - The Egg Man introduced by David Gardner

David talks about the future of Ulverston Market in this last part of an impressive interview.



Next week we'll have the first part of David's interview. We all think of David as being a local man - well the next town at least - but just how far does he come:

from 10 miles; 20 miles; 40; 80; or maybe even 160 miles away ? You may be surprised!

Now, a little about someone who has marketing flare though some might think his eggs aren't quite what they appear- brown they certainly are.




To see our other Monday Interviews click here or on the "interview" label below.

The Monday Interview - Nigel Potter

Nigel discusses the effects of the melting of masses of ice and its effect on sea levels.



Nigel now talks with optimism about humans pulling together to deal with a crisis. The mix of cultural backgrounds in The States will be more positive than the mono culture of the Chinese. Men and society would benefit by them having more testosterone which together with exercise will help to counter the increasing anxiety in our society by encouraging more risk taking.



Thanks Nigel. It's good to listen to someone who spends time thinking about what is happening around us.

The Monday Interview - Jude Godden

Thanks to her and her team we have some attractive adult education courses to go to in the autumn.



They put many unpaid hours in to get this service up and running. Made all the more time consuming with ridiculous CRB checks that in many cases are completely irrelevant.

Details of their courses are available on line. The brochures for the two areas, they cover, are available on two downloadable files.

The Monday Interview - Allan Wilson photographer

The camera that Allan started with in his early teens.

Poor representations of some of Allan's favourite pictures

Forty five minutes of pleasure

Listening to this very wise and thoughtful woman and her choice of music is something I plan to repeat soon.

Dr Gwen Adshead on Desert Island Discs

The Monday Interview - Snails - Do they have a homing instinct

On the Hop with Jennie - all in a days work!

If you've missed previous interviews click on the label "interview" below.

Interview with an amazing multitasker

parent/scientist/reporter/researcher/cook/toddler pacifier/ rescuer/mediator

Yes she's got to be female. She's our Monday interview of the week on . . . .

Monday.

Our Monday morning interview - Mr Chirpy

Each week, someone from Ulverston will appear here.

Here's our first one - a little early!

Don't we all look forward to seeing him here every Thursday and Saturday Market Day?