News & Events

Meerkats flood Coniston

Following their TV debut a gang of Meerkats have congregated in Coniston Tourist Information Centre prior to their departure to the rest of the country. Some have already set off for London and others may go further. Some of their relatives have been seen in Harrods but they are believed to be very scarce elsewhere except in Coniston. Philip Johnston, Managing Director of Coniston Community Tourist Information Centre said: This is clearly the answer to the South Lakeland TIC issue; in accommodating cuddly meerkats we have easily kept the centre running during the difficult winter months. They are a delight for children of all ages and can be taken home by anyone as a pet for Christmas.


Project Your Event For 2009

If you would like to advertise your event for free on our website under 'Information Tab', please dont hesitate to forward the details to mail@conistontic.org giving all specific information. As we carry a network of contacts we can also forward it to them to help you even further!!

Samworth Brothers Charity Challenge 2009

Coniston good causes benefit from Samworth Brothers Charity Challenge event

Three Coniston good causes benefited from a recent Coniston based Charity Challenge event organised by Samworth Brothers, the Leicestershire based food manufacturer.
The Challenge event which was held over two weekends (6th and 13th June) with more than 73 teams taking part raised a total of 340,000 for charity. Team members set off for each part of the Challenge from the Coniston Sports and Social Centre grounds.
The Coniston Mountain Rescue Team, which helped to marshall the event, was presented with a 13,500 donation from Samworth Brothers to help with the purchase of new vehicles. The Coniston Football Club, whose members helped support the cycling section of the event, received 2,500 for giving their time. Coniston First Responders also received 7,000 worth of vital equipment including life-saver training Anne mannequins and defibrillators.
Samworth Brothers Group Chief Executive, Brian Stein commented; We are always keen to put something back into the local community when we stage our Challenge event. We are delighted to be able to support the Coniston community in this way.
A total of 292 participants took part in the Samworth Brothers Charity Challenge, split over the two weekends, with teams of four competing against those from other Samworth Brothers companies, customers and suppliers. Teams took part in Tough and Super Tough challenges in the Coniston area. The Tough course involved cycling 40km, paddling 11.5km in a canoe and hiking an impressive 13.9km, up to a height of 1063m, all within a 12 hour target. The Super Tough course target was also 12 hours; but included 46km by bike, 15km by canoe and 21km on foot rising to 1300m.
Designed by Distant Horizons, which provide a wide range of outdoor activities, journeys and expeditions, the course was created by expert professional & highly qualified instructors ensuring that all the participants had an exciting, memorable, and safe experience. Distant Horizons designed the challenge routes and ran the outdoor activities for the previous challenge, and Jason Beverley led the team of highly qualified instructors to deliver another exciting and memorable Samworth Brothers Charity Challenge.

The event website can be found at www.samworthbrothers-challenge.co.uk



TWINS ARE BORN - WE BECOME TWINNED

Since the dawn of the European Community in the 50s it's been heavily underlined that the objective of twinning is not so much to stabilise alliances between states as to create a true community of peoples.
Twinning can be of interest to citizens of two, or perhaps more, local communities. These are called, respectively, bilateral or stellar twinnings.
The twinning contract constitutes a formal attestation of reciprocity of privileged relations agreed for the intensification of cultural, social, political and economic contacts alongside constant reference to communal action for peace, solidarity and meeting half way between peoples.
The friendship pact constitutes, instead, a formal gesture which Prefigures a certain continuity of contacts in preparation for the twinning, or else the defining of relationships with places with which it's not possible or not worthwhile proceeding to the full twinning.
The European Parliament has formally insisted that the activities of Twinned places are 'of vital importance for the citizens of Europe'; an important affirmation which underlines the new role of regional organisations as bearers of a 'diplomacy of towns', which, without removing the diverse constitutional competencies within individual countries, opens up new prospects for the influence of these organisations in the area of relationships between peoples.
On Friday 21st November in the council chamber the first official act to launch the basis of the twinning with Coniston in the north of England, in the presence of the English delegation, took place. They described their district and were guests of Solto for 5 days. Everything began on 19th April 2007 with the objective of improving local tourism, strengthenin links of a cultural nature, in the widest sense of the term, from art to gastronomy, from nature to traditions.
At the beginning of this adventure we had to find a district similar to Solto Collina. On the return from a journey to Scotland made by the mayor and thanks to Jane Sutherland, a British citizen based in Solto Collina since 1993 and who suggested Coniston, about 100 km from Newcastle, we realised that this was more or less what we were looking for. The same number of inhabitants, in the hills, with a lake: in their case an economy based on sourcing copper, in ours of working sandstone, and they produce beer where we produce oil.
The analogy and the affinity are there. Over and above, the low cost flights which use Orio al Serio facilitate in no small way the creation of links with England. In spring, a delegation from Solto Collina is going to Coniston and on this occasion the charter to support the twinning will be signed.
I thank very sincerely Emanuele Guizzetti and Sylvia Marni for hosting the British delegation and Jane Sutherland, Giovanna Contessi, Diego Capoferri, Daniela Strauch, Franca Guizzetti, Sara Del Bello, Graziella Benzoni, Francesca Romeli, Andrea Pedemonti, Giorgio and Gabriela Lottici, Maurizio and Tina Ranzanici for accompanying and making pleasant the stay of our British friends in Solto Collina and its surroundings. Pierantonio Spelgatti, Officer for Tourism and Information

27/09/2008 - Nick Crane at Coniston Walking Festival

We were pleased to welcome BBC presenter Nick Crane to Coniston today. Nick talked to a packed Coniston Institute tonight about filming his well known programs and showed many amusing 'out takes' and embarrasing experiences ! The Festival has been supported by many well known businesses including The Coppermines, and organised by The Coniston Association, with Kendal Arts. Seen here are Michaela Markland (Kendal Arts), Phil Johnston, Nick Crane, Dare Holland (Sec.Coniston Assoc) and Richard Leafe (CEO Lake District National Park)


New TIC Volunteer- Kim the Collie!

Kim has joined the team here at Coniston TIC to add to the natural, warmly environment we are trying to create. She is a well trained rescue dog given to us by the RSPCA. She is a very friendly dog and her shinny coat is testiment to how many people stroke her daily. Probably the most popular dog in the country at the moment! Kim hopes that you will come in to visit her at the TIC where she 'meets and greets, everybody to the area!


Walk to the Summit by Trekker

The Tourist Information Centre Director, Mr Ron Rutland (Summitreks, Coniston) has been given the task of trekking up Mount Everest with a 'Herdwick Sheep'. He has started his 3 month walk last March, he is reported to be doing very well and we all wish him the best!

WiFi For The Area!

WiFi Wireless Internet Now Available for a Small Donation to the TIC
This has been installed due to many requests from locals aswell as visitors to the area. We are happy to provide this technological improvment for use in the TIC.
A small donation is requested & a password to access the Internet will be available.


David Mundell MP 'Shadow Scottish Secretary' Visit

20/10/06
David Mundell MP is currently the Shadow Secretary for Scotland. His visit to our TIC was openly welcomed & shows that our efforts & the popularity of the TIC has been noticed wide & Far.
Born in Dumfries in 1962, son of an hotelier, David is also chairman of the Scottish Conservative Candidates Board which has to select candidates for the Scottish Parliament elections in 2007. He is well known as a community campaigner in his constituency. He has spoken out on regeneration of rural areas, road improvements, more affordable housing, and cuts in rural services.
His visit will further boost the TIC and its develpoment.
Pictured-left to right; Ted Walsh, Bill Wearing, Anne Hall,Chase Seargent,Philip Johnston,Geoff Dowker, David Mundell MP, Eric Right & Richard Bell.


First Day !

After 6 long weeks of meetings, business plans, staff training and business advice, the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) handed over their TIC to the Coniston community.
We have set up a "not for profit company" to run operations and have recieved much help, encouragement and advice from the former TIC staff, Coniston Parish Council (CPC) the LDNPA, Cumbria Tourist Board (CTB) and Graham Lamont of Lamont Pridmore Chartered Accountants all of whom have given their valuable advice free of charge.
We thank them all !
The handover photo shows left to right -
Harry Lakin (Director & CPC Rep)
Caroline Watson (Director)
Jean Smith (CTB -Staff Training)
Philip Johnston (Manging Director)
Ron Rutland (Finance Director)
Catherine Webb (CTB)
Gordon Hall (Director & Company Secretary)
Bob Moore(Former TIC Manager)
Tim Hailey (LDNPA Manager)















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