2025 was my 15th year to be involved with the Kendal Mountain Festival. Over those years I’ve seen a great deal of change, as the festival continually expands and evolves.
Presenting is my cup of tea, and I’ve never had a film in the festival before, but this year we launched ‘Frostbitten’ as the festival opened on the Thursday evening. I wasn’t sure whether to be apprehensive or excited, but the Studio packed out and we received rapturous applause as the closing credits ran. Helen joined me for the premiere and after a busy Q&A, we retired to the bar for a long evening of conversations, well oiled with local beer.
Friday is always my favourite festival day. I can catch up with folk, before the hoards arrive for the weekend, and generally relax. I did have two sessions to open, the highlights for me being the films – A Hundred Words for Wind, Hughsey’s Tri-Nation Triathlon, Arctic Alchemy, and The Fast Line. Venues were full to bursting with plenty of the film makers there for the Q&A sessions.
When I speak professionally, I know that my story is good, but it’s the Q&A which engages with the audience. I find working in education incredibly rewarding, as many youngsters have few inhibitions when it comes to asking the searching questions. I’ve had everything recently from ‘how do you tie your shoelaces’, to ‘how can you walk without toes’. Engagement is everything.
Saturday was a strange one. I’ve never had a festival day without films to present. Fear not, there was plenty to fill my time, as I recorded a podcast for the Joe Brown Outdoor Academy, caught up with the lovely folk at Terra Nova Equipment and Grangers, and discussed future projects with the Bendrigg Trust. Being in the proximity of so many similar folk happens rarely, and I took every opportunity to catch up with friends – old and new.
Talking of old friends, I ended the day with a few drams of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling 161.2 – Rebellious Raisins.
Sunday morning felt quiet, but I knew the day would be a busy one. I’m still old fashioned when it comes to the festival. Up early, prepped, films watched and ready to go, whilst the lightweights lay in bed, nursing their hangovers. I had great conversations with the Mountain Bothy Association, CAN, and the BMC, before attending a session with the BMC Access Team. I make it no secret that I’m involved in field sports, deerstalking and fly fishing. At times these fields have historically clashed, but we must engage with everyone who loves the outdoors, if we are to move forward. It will be a difficult path to negotiate, but I’m prepared to put folk together, whatever their background for the good of the countryside.
I also had a session with The Altitude Centre, and hope to go for more formal training soon, but thats for another story…
My final session was a late evening Best of Kendal, held in the Studio at the Brewery Arts Centre. I had started my Kendal career in 2010 in this very venue, and here it would end. I’d taken the decision a few weeks earlier, and after 15 years, it’s time to hand the baton to others, and spend more time with my remaining limbs. Over the years I became a core presenter, sped around town on a Brompton Bicycle, consumed more than my fair share of Scotch Malt Whisky Society drams, eat pies, partied, hosted dinners, and opened a long list of speakers and events.
This may be the closing of a chapter, but it’s not the closing of a book…
