Since my last column in Lookaround you have elected yourselves a Liberal Democrat District Councillor, very well done. Thanks to everyone who went out on and voted for Craig I hope that over the next four years you feel that your actions were justified. As I am sure you are aware you were not alone in supporting a Liberal Democrat councillor and for the first time in its existence South Lakeland District Council now has a Liberal Democrat majority.
  I read an article in last month's Lookaround expressing a degree of cynicism over the behaviour of politicians at election time; the author asked why is it only at election time that politicians promise to sort out things that should have been sorted out years ago and also why candidates for the local election stood on the basis of national policies? Although I understood these sentiments, I was disappointed to read them. I have a profound belief that political decisions should be kept as close as possible to the people affected and that politicians have a duty to do their best to help the people they represent as long as they represent them. In fact I believe that even if you don't currently represent a ward or constituency then it is no bad thing to still work to help that area as much as you can. That way people have a reasonable idea what they will be getting if they decide to support you. Maybe the
author has just been unfortunate in the politicians he has come across.
  I hope that with Craig you find you have elected someone who will work hard for the next four years to achieve the best for the Sedbergh and Dent area and that his next election address tells you not just what he wants to achieve should he be re-elected but also what he has achieved locally over the previous four years. It will certainly help me a great deal to have a councillor who shares a lot of my views on what needs to be done in this area.
  For my part much I have been lending all the support that I can to the efforts to keep the Sedbergh Auction alive. It will not be easy and, as with many of these local services that face a threat in rural areas (Post Offices are another example) success will depend upon the support and hard work of local people and farmers in particular. At least some things are going better for the farming community, after much pressure, most of the single farm payments should have arrived by the time you read this. I have asked the Government whether they will compensate farmers for the interest they have had to pay on their overdrafts while their payments were delayed.
  As ever, if I can help you with these or any other issues I would love to hear from you, you can reach me here at Tim Farron MP, Yard 2, Stricklandgate, Kendal LA9 4ND or by email at tim@timfarron.co.uk
Thanks for your support                                                                                                                                                                                  Tim Farron MP

Local Mum brings affordable Greeting Card Service to the Dales
  Trish Woof solved several problems at once when she responded to an advert in February's "Lookaround" and became an Independent Phoenix Trader. Not only has she found a fun way to work from home and still look after daughter Abbi, she's now never short of a greeting card, no matter what the occasion or how last- minute she is!
  Trish. from Sedbergh, wants to tell "Lookaround" readers about the launch of her hew convenient card-buying service and the various ways she can adapt it to the needs of the local community.
  Phoenix Trading is the No. 1 direct card selling company in the UK. Started by three mums in 1995, its success is driven by their focus on quality, style and exceptional value for money. Phoenix publishes a superb range of exclusive greetings cards, invitation packs, charity Christmas cards and gift wrap that sell at up to 50 less than shop prices.
  When Trish first saw a Phoenix brochure and sample card she couldn't believe the price (all cards are £1 each or 90p for 10 or more) when the quality was so high. "How many times have I had to travel miles to a card shop only to be faced with very high prices when I got there? And that was when I remembered birthdays with time enough to plan a shopping trip!" says Trish. She immediately saw there was a need for someone to supply quality inexpensive
stationery products direct into her local community. The first event she did was a charity coffee morning in the local Methodist church and she intends to use sales to raise funds for the local playgroup next.
  That's not all, Trish is keen that people see her product samples and is happy to drop some off and leave them for a few days with no obligation; she also can bring them when you have friends around for a coffee morning or cards and wine evening. If you collect orders from others, Trish offers 20 discount off your own purchase. If you want to become a trader yourself, Trish can help get you started. She has received very positive feedback from her customers about both the products and the service ~ Trish will take orders by phone, post or email and deliver to your door or place of work.
  To see the full product range, ask Trish for the latest brochure or visit www.phoenix-trading.co.uk then get in touch - maybe you would like to host a card party or have a fundraising need?
  Trish Woof (Independent Phoenix Trader 12321): Suncroft View, Dowbiggin, Sedbergh etc. Tel: 015396 21644 or e-mail:  Trishwoof@hotmail.co.uk

Dent Concert
  On Wednesday 26th April the Town Band visited Dent for the fourth successive year to give a concert.  In April 2003 the Band played in the Memorial Hall as part of the fund raising activities to improve the Hall's facilities.  This was a ground breaking venture as far as the Band was concerned being the first occasion on which it had given a concert outside Sedbergh.
  The intervening years have seen a wide diversity of venues, none more exotic than those of the six concerts given in Slovenia last summer.  However it was still a great pleasure and privilege to return for the third year running to the delightful setting of St. Andrew's Parish Church.
  A fair sized audience heard the Band graciously welcomed by David O'Brian who complimented Bandmaster and Conductor Alan Lewis on the spectacular advances made by the Band in the few brief years since its inception.
  The first half of the programme began with the rousing march, "Tarker 1,2,3," composed by Alan Lewis, and concluded with the every popular "Great Escape" in which the Band exhibited their whistling as well as instrumental skills.
  The second half likewise began with a bang as the Band regained the audiences attention after a break for refreshments with their vigorous rendition of 'Bandology'.  A feature of the second half was Sam Bottomley's solo spot in 'Drummer's Delight':  her confident, enthusiastic playing of this item fully justified the recent award made to her of the President's Cup for the most significant progress made by a band member in the course of the past year.
  Numbers new to the Band's repertoire featured strongly in this second half:  'Hello Mary Lou', two pieces of film music, 'Beyond the Sea' and 'The Day After Tomorrow', and the rejuvenated 'Is This the Way to Amarillo?' were warmly appreciated by the audience.  The demand for an encore was satisfied by the playing of the band favourite 'Instant Concert'.
Band News
  Cadet's Success.  The Town Band percussionist Samantha Bottomley attended a CCF/ACF Combined military and music course during the Easter holidays held at Altcar, Liverpool.  The musicians were divided into four bands starting with the least accomplished, one star, up to the more advanced, four stars.  Samantha was placed in the top category and in spite of fierce competition was awarded a gold medal as the student who had made the most progress.
  Blackpool Trip.  On Tuesday 30th May most members of the Band will be going to the Norbreck Castle Hotel in Blackpool for three nights. The mornings and evenings will be given over to lessons, rehearsals and sectional practices in the hotel's conference room where they will be joined by members of the Blackpool Brass Band.  This brief stay will culminate in a concert to be given in the hotel.
  Band Family Increases.    Our congratulations go to Mark Hodgson (Cornet) and his wife Liz (Flugle) on the birth of a daughter, Esther Rose.  Esther is a sister for Hannah (Cornet) and Christopher who has just joined the beginner's class, also playing the cornet.
Cobwebs Orchestra.  On Saturday and Sunday 6th and 7th May the Cobwebs Orchestra (based on the Sage, Gateshead) held a course in Sedbergh School's Powell Hall.  Regular members of the orchestra were joined on the Saturday by Sedbergh School pupils, Pepperpot players and four band members, Hilary Hodge, Sue Cox and Jaimie Wallace-Woodroffe all cornet, and Sandra Cotterell (tuba).  The day was spent rehearsing pieces for a concert given in the evening.
Textile Exhibition.  The wide ranging talents of euphonium player Laura Rosenzweig will be demonstrated in the textile exhibition in the Kendal Brewery Arts Centre which she shares with two other exhibitors.  The exhibition has been described by a critic as "three distinct voices explaining their individual journey amongst the stones to arrive at an harmony of expression with tactile qualities in abundance.
Parish Councillor.  Our congratulations go to indefatigable band secretary and cornet player Hilary Hodge on her election to the Parish Council in the recent elections.  She also takes up another post as a member of the People's Hall Committee.
Dent Heritage Centre.  The Town Band willingly responded to an invitation to contribute to the celebrations attendant on the opening of the centre on Saturday 13th May.
  Members of the Band erected their marquee on the exhibition site on the preceding afternoon in glorious, hot sunshine.  It was disappointing to wake up on Saturday to rain and a dramatic plunge in temperature.  However, although the temperature remained low and cloud cover persisted all day the rain petered out in time for the commencement of the entertainment.
  The thirty five strong Band played a varied and lively selection of numbers from eleven until twelve after which half an hour's break was taken for refreshments and the official opening of the centre by local M.P. Tim Farron.
  After the break the Band demonstrated the full range of their repertoire during a further hour's play.
June Programme of Events.  The Band have three engagements in June.  On Sunday 4th they will be accompanying the hymns in a joint Church Service.  Saturday 10th sees the Band opening the Sedbergh Music Festival in St. Andrew's with a concert.  The third engagement is the Annual Summer Concert on Monday 26th in the People's Hall.