SOLWAY CAMRA

THE FIRST MEETING IN CARLISLE

30 years ago in February 1976 at the WOOLPACK, this meeting was to test support for a CAMRA branch and, as more and more people crammed in to the darts room - support was obviously there!

 

Our first AGM was held in June that year, electing:

Ken Bonsor – Chairman

Peter Derrick – Secretary

WHAT WAS CAMRA LIKE 30 YEARS AGO?

The 1976 GBG ….  was somewhat slimmer than the current hefty tome …. it included 99 Cumbrian real ale outlets; 12 in what is now our branch area.

If today’s GBG has overly verbose pub descriptions, early “camranauts” were masters of brevity; they could get EXTRA meaning into three words using a little known code …. for example:

“an untouched pub” really meant a total dump, not been cleaned or painted for at least 100 years;

“an old local” – the pub was literally  frequented by AN old local, and nobody else! Please don’t sit is his chair!!!

“well furnished pub”  was code for a posh place, get someone else to buy the round!

and then there’s my wife’s particular favourite,

“a back street local”  which quite simply meant, no ladies toilets!

Maybe there was some sort of competition going on, I don’t know.

For the record, in 1976, the Woolpack was the only entry for Carlisle.

Well, THE BRANCH has tried to keep people guessing by changing our name a few times from Carlisle, to North Cumbria and then Solway.

In common with most voluntary organisations, the branch has had its ups and downs in terms of an active membership.

At the moment, however, the branch is thriving and I’d like to thank all members for supporting CAMRA, especially those who come along to our socials and meetings.

 

Branch History

Campaigning for Real ALE in North Cumbria

30^th

Anniversary
year

Carlisle

Beer

Festival