Isaac Cooper

The national rise in cases on whooping cough is ‘concerning’ according to the director of public health for Cumberland Council.

Reverend Richard Corrie has been appointed priest-in-charge of the benefices of both Wigton and Thursby. Since September 2023 Revd Richard has been temporary curate-in-charge of both benefices, taking the regular services during the interregnum following the retirement of Canon Geoffrey Ravalde. Already well-known locally, during the past eight months Revd Richard has befriended and cared for the communities in both places; his appointment as permanent priest-in-charge was announced on Sunday morning. Born in Carlisle, Richard is perhaps best-known in Cumbria generally as the voice of the early morning programmes on BBC Radio Cumbria – until last year when he moved into full-time ministry. His broadcasting career began in the 1990s with voluntary work for Carlisle’s hospital radio before landing a role as a presenter for CFM. He moved to Radio Cumbria in 2008. Throughout his broadcasting career, Richard felt a definite vocation for ministry in the Church of England. He began this journey as a server and assistant organist at Currock Methodist Church, moving on to St Herbert’s Parish Church in Currock and later St Michael and St Mark’s Church in Stanwix. Having become a licensed lay reader in 2004, Richard continued to pursue his vocation alongside his busy radio schedule and in 2019 was at last accepted by the Diocese of Carlisle to train for ordination. Having spent a short period as curate at Carlisle Cathedral, Richard was ordained priest in 2022. Following his ordination, Revd Richard was Assistant Curate for the Warnell Parishes (the churches of Westward, Caldbeck, Rosley and others) before becoming temporary curate-in-charge of Wigton and Thursby last year. 1 Following a lengthy appointment process - which included community consultation and an interview with the Archdeacon, Rural Dean and representatives from the congregations of Wigton and Thursby - Richard was offered the permanent position of priest-in-charge on Thursday last week. News of his appointment has been greeted with innumerable expressions of delight from the Richard’s congregations and the wider communities of Wigton and Thursby. Richard is particularly well-known in Wigton as the owner of Bryce’s Chippy for nearly 20 years. Before selling this business earlier this year, Richard was regularly to be seen behind the counter (sporting his ‘dog collar’) serving fish and chips – and agreeing to take baptisms and weddings for his customers too! When interviewed by the Wigton Newsletter in October 2022 about his busy triple-life as a minister, broadcaster and business owner, Richard said: “I see it all as ministry,” observing that hospitality - in a Christian sense - is common to his activities in both the church and chippy. Besides regular services(and a considerable number of baptisms) in both Wigton and Thursby, Revd Richard is now also embarking on a new journey into podcasting. The Cumbrian Faith Podcast, launched earlier this month, features faith stories from around Cumbria, interviews with local ministers and lay people, plus a round-up of church events taking place in the area – all presented by Revd Richard. The first episode has already been downloaded over 200 times. Revd Richard continues as curate-in-charge of both Wigton and Thursby until his official licensing service as priest-in-charge, which will take place in St Mary’s, Wigton, on Tuesday 8th October 2024.

A former nun, turned writer and therapist, has written a murder mystery novel, set in a convent.

Three local artists are opening their studios in Tirril and Sockbridge, offering visitors an opportunity to see their new work, and how it’s created. Their work includes sculpture, painting and hand-made prints.

Carlisle Socialist Party is to host another stall in Carlisle city centre on Saturday aiming to garner support for its ‘save our NHS’ campaign.

Gretna couple George Topp and his wife Rosalind have just completed their toughest motorsport challenge to date.

All the latest breaking news and traffic updates from across Cumbria for Wednesday, May 15

A Carlisle man has started his own business just weeks after being made redundant.

A SPRING craft fair and open garden weekend is taking place at Netherby Hall this weekend (May 18 and 19).

Fewer babies in Cumbria were vaccinated against whooping cough last year than a decade ago, new figures show.