Open Circle Dufton is a friendly social group who have been established for about the last twenty years. We meet on the second Wednesday of the month for 2 hours in Dufton's comfortable, refurbished Village Hall for a talk lasting about an hour, with a good speaker or an entertainer, and then afterwards we have a pleasant social time together. At gatherings, free refreshments are available or you can bring your own bottle. We also have an occasional outing or coach day trips at additional costs.
​
Membership runs from January to December and currently (2025) costs £20 pa payable in January, then pro-rata (subject to group review annually in October). If you have not joined up you can attend as a guest for the small cost of £5 on the night. Donations towards the cost of speakers are also welcome!
​
The programme of events is below. You can also request one from the Events Co-ordinator, Ges Quarmby, ges789@gmail.com or 017683 52628.
​
​
Open Circle Club Programme for 2025
meeting every 1st Wednesday of the month in Dufton Village Hall [CA16 6DB] at 7.30pm
Events Co-ordinator – Ges Quarmby – 017683 52628 Email ges789@gmail.com
January 8th The Strolling Magician – Stuart Bowie
[2nd Wednesday] Part talk, part demonstration, the Magician’s Art explained gives a unique and fascinating insight into performing magic! The talk looks at the history of magic and how famous performers have entertained and baffled audiences.
February 5th The Highway Cellist [Act II] – Kenneth Wilson
[1st Wednesday] We are in for a further treat from our favourite Cellist who is returning to continue to play for us and enchant us with further stories after last March’s performance.
March 5th Breeding Fell Ponies – the Challenges of
[1st Wednesday] Establishing a Hill Herd - Libby Robinson
Libby bought her first fell pony in 1979 and they have been an important part of her life ever since. For 50 years she has worked with them on farms, running courses and teaching carriage driving. She lived in France for 19 years where she bred Fell Ponies and only returned to Tebay with her ponies in 2018. Libby works with the Fell Pony Hertitage Trust based in Tebay, providing information about the native pony of the Cumbrian Fells. Talk will include a 10 minute award winning film – “Tails of Cumbrian Heritage” created by Abby Wilkinson and Georgia Costin.
April 9th The Landscape of the Lowther Estate from
[2nd Wednesday] Ancient Times to Today – Ian Jack
Ian is returning to us once again from talking to us about red squirrels, to talk about his knowledge of the Lowther Estate where he also worked for several years.
May 7th Barrow to Baghdad & Back Again – Philip Caine
[1st Wednesday] Philip’s work has taken him to many countries around the world, the last 10 years of which were spent in the Middle East. Since retiring in 2015, he has become an Novelist and Guest Speaker and will tell us how a career that began in Barrow in Furness, ended in Baghdad.
June 4th Cumbria Action for Sustainability –
[1st Wednesday] Helen Attewell – Penrith
A greener future for Cumbria with Cumbria’s climate change charity. They are here to help Cumbrians to reduce their carbon footprint and prevent climate change. Helen is going to tell us how to achieve this.
Second Half of the Year for Open Circle 2025
July 2nd Minnie’s Scrapbook – Gary Johnson -
[1st Wednesday] Hayton/Carlisle
Minnie (1880-1980) was an artist and teacher at Barrow School of Art who travelled the world alone painting the places she visited as well as the area in which she lived. An exhibition of her artwork took place at the Dock Museum in 2022/23 after research done by Cumbrian resident Gary Johnson who came across a scrapbook filled with postcards from all over the world and beautiful watercolour paintings at an aution in Carlisle. Gary has made a film and his book Minnie’s Scrapbook was shortlisted for Lakeland book of the Year 2023. see Facebook Minnie’s Scrapbook.
August 6th Boccia – Anne Cradock – Kirby Stephen
[1st Wednesday] Our lovely Anne is back again to organise us in the game of Boccia. This is a fun game rather like petanque but with soft balls, thrown at the jack from a seated position. It is in fact a paralympic sport, but is suitable for all ages and abilities. Previous evenings of Boccia have been great fun so do come along and join us again.
September 3rd First Foosteps On Land –
[1st Wednesday] Tom Challands - Peebles
The transition from water to land by the earliest tetrapods is seen as one of the greatest steps in evolution. Tom from the University of Edinburgh is one of the leading experts in the School of Geo Sciences and knows a thing or two about Dinosaurs, which he is going to share with us this eveing.
October 1st
[1st Wednesday]
November 5th The German Miners in Elizabethan
[1st Wednesday] Keswick - Mark Hatton - Ambleside
The arrival of specialist Copper Miners in Keswick in 1564 sparked a Baby Boom in the area and led to violence, culminating in a villainous murder. But it also ushered in the transition of England from an Agrarian Nation to an Industrialised Nation, founded on Capitalism. This talk explains this revolutionary period in the social and industrial history of England and the largely forgotten role Keswick played.
December 3rd Christmas Evening Meal
[1st Wednesday] at the Stag Inn Dufton
Open Circle Dufton – Day Trips Out 2025
1. Saturday 24th May, 2025.
Leaving Dufton at 10.15am. Cost: £1.50 pp [4 people sharing a car]
Part One: 3 hours - 11am to 2pm – Caldbeck Village
Shared car trip to the lovely village of Caldbeck [CA7 8DR 016974 78707 www.woolclip.com] (50 minutes drive) for a 2 hour visit to the beautiful shops of The Wool Clip and Hesta Scene and two other shops. The Wool Clip is a Cumbrian co-operative, producing original and creative craftwork using British Wool and promoting traditional woollen skills. The shop is set in a beautiful old Water Mill and is very picturesque. The Hesta Scene is a magical gift shop selling unusual products which definitely has that wow factor. There is also a Fair Trade shop which has set up in a converted bus shelter! (just wonderful) and another shop selling traditional giftware which is well worth a visit. All set in a beautiful village with the lovely church and churchyard of St. Kentigern dating from 1112, but built on the site of an original church from the sixth century.
For those not interested in shopping, Andrew will organise a two hour walk in this beautiful area.
Allowing 1 hour for lunch, we can visit the Watermill Cafe, located in the Wool Clip complex, serving a great selection of homemade tasty salads, sandwiches, puddings, cakes, etc. [I have eaten there and it is very good]. Coffee is excellent and a wide choice of beverages. [Please book with me for the cafe].
Alternatively, there is the Jennings Pub – The Oddfellows Arms [01697 478227] – please make your own arrangements for lunch.
Part Two: Leaving Caldbeck around 2pm travelling for 15 minutes to Upfront, Unthank, CA11 9TG 017684 84539 on the B5305 towards home.
Upfront has an Art Gallery, a Gift Shop, an Exhibition and a Vegetarian Cafe, and is a very interesting and peaceful place to walk around and relax.
Nearer the time I will find out what is showing and will let you know.
Leave for home whenever you are ready. Upfront closes at 4.30pm.