Finsthwaite & Lakeside Village Hall
Community Activities
The hall provides a focal point for a number of village and local community activities. Currently these include:
Book Swap Scheme
Our Book Swap is held monthly on the second Wednesday from 10.15 to 11.45 am, and is an opportunity to meet neighbours, catch up on local news, share refreshments and exchange books. It revolves around the village’s free library consisting of books donated over the years.
Books can be borrowed and returned without any checking system. Fresh donations are always welcome and ensure a constant turnover – and also a regular surplus of books which are sold in aid of St Mary’s Hospice. It is valued as one of the few regular social gatherings for the local community, albeit at a time of day not convenient for some. Books can of course be borrowed, returned or donated whenever the Village Hall is open and at other times by arrangement.
Current organisers are Ro & John Whitley (015395 30183) with much help from others. Additional help is always welcome.
New Ventures
New Ventures was set up in 2016 in the hope that the residents of Finsthwaite and Lakeside would pool their many skills, interests and expertise in order to develop small interest groups that could be self-organising. Early focuses included felting, fly fishing, painting, making cards decorations and moss gardens. Local walks, cider making and cookery demonstrations were also enjoyed. The Afternoon Tea and laughter are key features of the meetings
In 2018 the pattern changed to less regular events. There have been fund raisers, for example a Grand Puddings evening to support MND that researches Motor Neurone Disease. Visits to local places of interest such as the Bobbin Mill and Furness Abney were also enjoyed especially as they always concluded with Afternoon Tea in the village hall.
The intention is that New Ventures will continue in some form when we emerge from the present constraints . In the pipeline were visits to Rookhow and Windermere steamers.
More ideas and new members welcome.
Contact paulettebisell@hotmail .com
Oxen Park Cinema Club
Oxen Park Cinema Club was started in 2003 showing films in local village halls using a large mobile screen, sound equipment and a high-quality projector. This has proved very popular and even though the regular winter season of film-shows now has a permanent home at the The Carthouse Cinema in Oxen Park there is also a special annual film-show and supper in the Village Hall.
Website: oxenparkcinemaclub.org.uk
Contact: rogerlayfield@btinternet.com
The Big Breakfast
This hugely popular annual event in October is attractive to locals, the wider community and visitors alike. From a bowl of porridge and a slice of toast, to a full English breakfast accompanied by Buck’s Fizz, all possible breakfast options are catered for – and Sunday papers provided too.
Shared Meals and Celebrations
The excellent kitchen with separate eating area in the hall makes the hall an versatile venue for a wide variety of events such as the above.
Sales and Exhibitions
Craft Fairs, Christmas Fairs, Garden Sales have all been features of village hall events over the years and in good weather, the yard and garden provide additional space for stalls and activities.
St Peter's Church
Situated next to the hall, the church is an important feature of the village’s community life.
"St Peter’s Church was built in 1874. It was designed by Paley and Austin and won a prize in a competition to design a church suitable for an alpine area and is graded as a 2* building. It is beautifully decorated inside and well worth looking at. A set of ten tubular bells is housed in the tower and these were restored and electrified in 2011. We believe they are currently the only set of such bells working in the Carlisle Diocese. We are happy to play them when requested and they are very popular at weddings."
For more information on the church click here.
Resilience Plan
The 'Finsthwaite and Lakeside Resilience Plan' is designed to support the local population in the event of emergency situations, including loss of power and water supplies, phone and internet connection. It also guides action in situations such as flooding and snow/ice etc. The plan is lodged centrally with Support Cumbria in order that it can be accessed by emergency and other support services when necessary.
