Broadcaster Clare Balding has joined the list of celebrities supporting the new Ambleside Together organisation.
The award-winning journalist and author currently presents for BBC Sport, Channel 4, BT Sport and “Good Morning Sunday” on BBC Radio 2.
On a recent visit to the Lakes she walked up Loughrigg Fell with magazine editor Simon Ingram. Now Clare has sent a message of support to the Ambleside team: “Don’t miss what’s on your doorstep. Feel wild and free in the Lakes.”
Clare Balding: Feel wild and free in the Lakes
She joins comedian Rory Bremner who has also been in touch with Ambleside Together.
The political satirist and impressionist, who is to put on a show in Kendal to raise money for flood victims, told Ambleside Together: “I have great memories of Ambleside from teenage climbing trips and recently filming Great British Views in the area. The recent flooding must have been devastating but the recovery is inspiring.” And he promised: “Visit soon!”
Rory Bremner: climbing holidays in Ambleside
Ambleside Together was created by a group of local business people, with the backing of South Lakes District Council, as a response to the winter storms and their impact on tourism and visitor numbers.
One of the group’s challenges will be to tell the world that Ambleside – like the rest of the Lake District – is open for business and ready to greet visitors with open arms.
“We are confident that our regular visitors will come back this spring to enjoy their usual pastimes, walking, climbing, cycling and so on,” said chairman Andrew Hewitt. “But we also saw this as a good opportunity to come together as a community and jointly promote all that’s great about Ambleside, while at the same time looking at new opportunities and new events that will, perhaps, bring new visitors here as well.”
A packed meeting at the Regent Hotel heard of plans for films, social media campaigns, promotional stickers, and an events calendar.
Rory Bremner and other star comedians will be at the Brewery Arts Centre on Wednesday, February 24 and all proceeds from the show ‘Come Hell and High Water’, will go to the Cumbria Community Foundation.
He said: “At times like this the community rallies together. The floods are the opposite of funny but one of the ways of overcoming adversity is with a sense of humour and looking on the bright side – that’s the reason to come to the comedy show.”
Mr Bremner, 54, described the Lake District as “a fantastic part of the world” and said “there is nowhere else like it”.
Follow the Ambleside group on Facebook and Twitter @loveAmbleside
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