John Bowness
Verified
As seen in:
BBC Radio Cumbria,
Yahoo Life,
BBC,
BBC News,
Yahoo Canada,
Yahoo News,
Yahoo News Australia,
Yahoo News Malaysia,
Yahoo News New Zealand,
Yahoo Singapore,
Aol
and
Proud Cumbrian broadcast journo: reporter, producer, newsreader @BBC_Cumbria. Trained @LeedsTrinityPGs In another place I'm @JohnBowness@mastodonapp.uk
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by John Bowness
Repair work starts on city's iconic chimney
Follow Repair work starts on city's iconic chimney John Bowness; Federica Bedendo - North East and Cumbria Tue, August 18, 2026 at 12:13 PM EDT Dixons Chimney has stood tall above the skyline in Carlisle for almost 200 years [BBC/John Bowness] Work has started to repair a city's landmark, which has been a feature of the skyline for almost 200 years.
Consultation on railway station upgrade plans
One option would create a public square between the rebuilt station and the nearby Booths supermarket People are being invited to have their say on plans to "transform" the way rail passengers arrive into a national park. Westmorland and Furness Council is setting out three options to rebuild and change the layout of Windermere Station in Cumbria, aiming to make it a more welcoming arrival point for visitors to the Lake District.
Residents 'horrified' at state of pollarded trees
Margaret Morgan said the pollarding on Main Street had been "savage" [BBC] Residents have hit out at the "savage" cutting back of trees in a process known as pollarding. Lime trees lining the conservation area of Main Street in Cockermouth had their upper branches removed by Cumberland Council, with the authority saying the work was necessary to improve visibility at the zebra crossing and pavement surface issues.
Plan to bring more beavers back takes step forward
Forestry England wants to start releasing the beavers in September 2027 [Forestry England/Sam Oakes] Beavers could be closer to being released in a new area as plans progress. The large rodents were reintroduced in the Lowther Estate near Penrith, Cumbria, in 2020, but Forestry England said its initial expression of interest for a similar plan in Ennerdale had been successful and it had been invited to convert it into a full application.
Inside healthcare centre preparing for busy winter
As the NHS prepares for its busiest period, Radio Cumbria spent the day at a healthcare centre to find out the pressures staff are facing. Carlisle Healthcare looks after more than 40,000 patients, nearly half the population of Carlisle across three sites. On this morning the Locke Road centre has already received 194 phone calls and 245 online messages asking for appointments.
Views sought over cross-border power line
The National Grid said electricity demand was expected to increase by 50% over the next decade [National Grid] People are being asked for their views on plans for a long-distance power line linking England and Scotland. The National Grid said it was considering two possible routes, between a new substation in the Carlisle area and the England-Scotland border, close to Cumbria's most northerly point.
Views sought over cross-border power line
People are being asked for their views on plans for a long-distance power line linking England and Scotland. The National Grid said it was considering two possible routes, between a new substation in the Carlisle area and the England-Scotland border, close to Cumbria's most northerly point. The company said the high-voltage line was needed because electricity demand was expected to increase by 50% over the next decade.
Storm Amy rescue pushes team to 'very limit'
Mountain rescue volunteers said a call-out during Storm Amy had put them "at the very limit" and at "real risk" of harm. Patterdale Mountain Rescue said 13 members went up to Great Dodd, near Keswick, in torrential rain on Friday afternoon and were blown over by winds of up to 80mph (129km/h). A fell-runner who had set off from Ambleside in the hope of making it down before the storm took hold had called for help after twisting an ankle.
Storm Amy rescue pushes team to 'very limit'
Mountain rescue volunteers said a call-out during Storm Amy had put them "at the very limit" and at "real risk" of harm. Patterdale Mountain Rescue said 13 members went up to Great Dodd, near Keswick, in torrential rain on Friday afternoon and were blown over by winds of up to 80mph (129km/h). A fell-runner who had set off from Ambleside in the hope of making it down before the storm took hold had called for help after twisting an ankle.
River floods hiking path ahead of weather warning
A usually calm river has flooded a mountain path, making it dangerous for hikers to scale the summit. A group attempting to complete the Three Peaks challenge had to turn back while climbing Scafell Pike, in the Lake District, on Friday due to the bad weather. The hikers managed to cross the river but halfway up the mountain were forced to retreat after conditions worsened.
Speedway event in memory of shot boy
A speedway event is to be held in memory of an eight-year-old boy who died on a rabbit hunting trip last year. Jay Cartmell, of Frizington in Cumbria, was shot in the head on 28 September in Warcop, near Appleby. He was an avid speedway fan and his parents James and Leigha worked with his beloved Workington Comets team to put on a tournament in his memory, which takes place on Saturday.
Big Issue sellers escape to the Lake District Original
Big Issue sellers escape to the Lakes By John Bowness, BBC Radio Cumbria BBC The landscape in the Lake District helped the men take stock People who sell the Big Issue have escaped city life to take part in an expedition in the Lake District. A small group of men spent two nights in a climbing hut to give them space to think and "get some clarity".
Former mayor walks hundreds of miles for Keswick rugby clubhouse rebuild
Ex-mayor completes walk for new rugby clubhouse By John Bowness, BBC Radio Cumbria Alan Dunn Alan Dunn has not played the sport since his school days but says his family is "steeped in rugby" A former town mayor has raised almost £6,000 for a new rugby clubhouse after walking between all 20 of Cumbria's rugby union clubs. Alan Dunn said although his planned route was 259 miles (417km), he ended up covering just over 400 miles (644km) over 29 days.
Cumbrian couple left out of rural fast internet scheme
Couple left in slow internet limbo By Annie Bowe & John Bowness, BBC Cumbria BBC Iona Giagnoni and her husband Ricardo say the situation is "very frustrating" A couple say they are not getting a fast internet connection being offered to people in their village because they live beside a railway line. Government-appointed contractor Fibrus will not connect a cable across the line to Iona and Ricardo Giagnoni's home in Crosby, Cumbria, and they are not eligible for help with a satellite connection.
Village pub in Nenthead reaches share target towards buyout
We and our 42 partners use cookies and similar technologies to collect and process personal data from your device, such as your IP address and the pages you visit. We use this data to help us to better understand our audiences and to improve and personalise your experience. We also use this data to manage the advertising shown on our services. We make money from these ads, which in turn helps to fund our services and the creation of more BBC content.
Cold June weather hits Cumbria's outdoor swimming pools
Chilly summer cools fortunes of outdoor pools By John Bowness, BBC Radio Cumbria Shap Open Air Swimming Pool The volunteer-run pool at Shap is usually open from late May until the beginning of September Open-air swimming pools in Cumbria are struggling to cover running costs as unseasonably cold weather is putting off customers. At England's highest pool, in Shap, volunteer Briony Newsome said "hardened Shap kids" will brave any weather but some visitors are finding it "too bracing".
Chilly summer cools fortunes of outdoor pools
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments.
Banksy sale funds upgrade at children's hospice
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments.
Banksy sale funds upgrade at children's hospice
John Bowness - BBC Radio Cumbria June 14, 2024 at 2:35 PM·2 min read Almost half a million pounds has been spent upgrading a children's hospice thanks to the sale of a Banksy artwork. "Game Changer" was given to a hospital charity in Southampton during the Covid pandemic and sold at auction, with the money raised distributed across the UK. A share has been used by Jigsaw Children's Hospice in Carlisle to carry out renovation work.
Cumbria's Hartside Cafe to be rebuilt on hill-top site Original
Popular hill-top cafe to be rebuilt John Bowness,Samantha Jagger DAVID BRITTON ESTATES The cafe stood atop the summit of Hartside at 1,904ft (580m) above sea level A former cafe famed for its views of the Lake District and North Pennines is set to be rebuilt after it was destroyed in a fire six years ago. Hartside Cafe, located on the A686 between Alston and Penrith, was a popular stop for motorists and cyclists until it was gutted in a blaze in 2018.
Popular hill-top cafe to be rebuilt
June 4, 2024 at 10:39 AM The cafe stood atop the summit of Hartside at 1,904ft (580m) above sea level [DAVID BRITTON ESTATES] A former cafe famed for its views of the Lake District and North Pennines is set to be rebuilt after it was destroyed in a fire six years ago. Hartside Cafe, located on the A686 between Alston and Penrith, was a popular stop for motorists and cyclists until it was gutted in a blaze in 2018.
Carlisle United take down 100ft floodlight tower
Image source, BBC / Paul Newton Image caption, The floodlight pylon was dismantled as part of a refurbishment of Brunton Park They have been an outstanding feature of Carlisle skyline for more than half a century and are visible for miles around. But one of the three remaining floodlight pylons at Carlisle United's Brunton Park has been taken down this week. At more than 100ft (30m) tall, the floodlights were at one time the tallest in the English Football League, the club said.
Bowlers 'aghast' at closure of local rink
April 10, 2024 at 10:16 PM Bob Fleet says bowling helped him back to health after a triple bypass [John Bowness] A group of Cumbrian bowlers have started a campaign against plans to repurpose their rink into an indoor sports pitch. They said it would leave elderly people in Cleator Moor with less opportunities to socialise and exercise. The town deal board, which is renovating the centre, said a long mat option to play indoor bowls would be available during the off-season.
Volunteer pedalling to raise funds for conservation
April 3, 2024 at 5:50 AM Rhiannon Ridgewell says she is hoping to hit her distance target before the end of June [BBC/Nick Brownlee] A woman is cycling thousands of miles to raise money for a charity, marking her own half century of volunteering in conservation. Rhiannon Ridgewell said she was hoping to cover 3,500km (2,175 miles) in a year, as there are approximately 3,500 plant species in the UK. She also wants to raise £3,500 for Cumbria Wildlife Trust (CWT), for whom she volunteers.
Volunteer pedalling to raise funds for conservation
A woman is cycling thousands of miles to raise money for a charity, marking her own half century of volunteering in conservation. Rhiannon Ridgewell said she was hoping to cover 3,500km (2,175 miles) in a year, as there are approximately 3,500 plant species in the UK. She also wants to raise £3,500 for Cumbria Wildlife Trust (CWT), for whom she volunteers.
People flock to see Campbell's Bluebird at museum
People queued "out the door" to see Bluebird as Donald Campbell's famous hydroplane went on display at the Ruskin Museum, in Coniston, on Tuesday. The boat returned to the Lake District on 9 March after a legal battle over its ownership. Museum visitors told the BBC it meant "a lot" to see Bluebird. Tracy Hodgson, director of the Ruskin Museum, said people had been "queueing out the door" since the opening on Tuesday morning.
Charity opposes Elterwater Quarry 'zip wire' attraction plans Original
Charity opposes 'zip wire' attraction transport plan John BownessBBC News, North East and Cumbria Getty There are plans for a zip wire attraction in caverns at Elterwater Quarry A landscape charity in Cumbria says revised plans for a tourist attraction in the Lake District National Park are "woefully inadequate". The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) is considering the revised scheme, after turning down a similar application last year.
Cargo ship runs aground for second time at same port
The Zapadnyy ran aground on its way to Silloth, in Cumbria A cargo ship has run aground for the second time at the same UK harbour. The Zapadnyy ran aground on sand as it made its way to Silloth, in Cumbria, from Bremen, in Germany, according to online ship tracking information. The coastguard said the ship ran aground on Saturday as it approached the harbour at around 12:00 GMT. It was refloated on the high tide, shortly before midnight, and is now in port at Silloth.
Sub-postmaster quits after Post Office TV drama
Graham Livesey will close his village Post Office branch in the summer A sub-postmaster has decided to close his branch after being "reduced to tears" by a TV drama about the Post Office accounting scandal. Graham Livesey - who also experienced issues with the Horizon software - said he would be closing the branch in Staveley, near Kendal, Cumbria, in July. Mr Livesey said it had been a "hard decision" but he could no longer work with the Post Office, which is wholly-owned by the government.
Local Election Results 2015
Dave Budd at the first preference count received 16,680 votes with an additional 2,858 second preference votes for his 19,538 total.Andy Preston at the first preference count received 14,265 votes with an additional 5,017 second preference votes for his 19,282 total.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with John
Contact John, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack